The Chicago Bears will open their training camp in less than two weeks, with the main storyline being on the quarterback competition between Nick Foles and Mitchell Trubisky. Regardless of who the starter is for week 1, Chicago’s wide receivers will play a vital role in the success of the quarterback. One wide receiver especially will need to prove himself this season to warrant a contract extension from the team heading in 2021.
Third-year wide receiver Anthony Miller will have an expanded role in the team’s offseason this season after being the primary slot receiver during his first two seasons in the league. In his rookie season of 2018, Miller showed a lot of promise as he led the team with seven touchdown catches and averaged 12.8 yards per reception. The rookie receiver demonstrated versatility lining all over the field and making all types of plays.
Heading into 2019, Miller was supposed to make a big jump as the offense had another year under Matt Nagy’s playbook. The former Memphis Tiger receiver got off to a slow start as he caught only eight passes for 80 yards through his first five games. Furthermore, there were times during the beginning of the season, where it looked like Miller was immaturity and lacked field awareness. Against Oakland in week five, There were a couple of times where it appeared that he ran the wrong route, one instance which led to a game-ending interception.
For as bad as 2019 started for Miller, he made up for it in the second half of the season. In the team’s last seven games, the receiver caught 35 passes for 438 yards along with two touchdown catches. With the Bears’ deep threat receiver in Taylor Gabriel sidelined for the second half of the season, Miller became the team’s big-play wide receiver. He would have a reception of 20 yards or longer in four of the last six games of the season. Against Detroit on Thanksgiving, Miller hauled in two 30-yard receptions on the Bears’ game-winning drive late in the fourth quarter.
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In 2020, Chicago needs the former second-round selection to step up and become a more consistent play-making threat. When Chicago drafted Miller, the team viewed him as an explosive player that could make different types of catches. Through his first two years in the league, he has demonstrated that ability but has yet to become fully reliable. Too often in parts of 2018 and 2019, Miller would have a game with five or more receptions followed by a game with three or fewer catches. Opposing defenses this season will double-team the Bears’ best wide receiver in Allen Robinson on every play. None of the other Chicago receivers have proven the ability to take advantage of coverage paid to Robinson. Miller has the potential and needs to be that receiver for the Bears offense to be successful and for the team to win games.
General manager Ryan Pace gave up several draft-picks to trade up and draft Miller back in 2018 because he believed that the wide receiver would be a difference-maker. If 2020 isn’t a stand out year for the receiver, it may lead to a very tense offseason heading into the 2021 season. Miller may want a contract extension, and the Bears may not want to provide it to him, which could lead to a holdout or trade.
Whether it is Foles or Trubisky as the starter, when the season begins, Miller needs to be productive to form the necessary one-two punch with Robinson. If that happens, Chicago’s offense could be dangerous, and the team could find themselves with double-digit wins once again. The end of the 2019 season was a sign of what Miller is capable of, he now needs to perform that way for the entirety of the 2020 season.
