Miller open to both OT positions in NFL
Clemson offensive tackle Blake Miller sits down with Connor Rogers to discuss to advantages of being a four-year starter with the Tigers and what he learned experiencing the highs and lows of the program.
Video Transcript
Connor Rogers here at the NFL Combine alongside Clemson tackle Blake Miller.
Blake, four-year starter on the offensive line in one program.
It's almost unicorn status.
How much did that help you throughout your college career to get ready for this?
Yeah, I mean, you know, just four years is a blessing from God and, you know, I gotta give the thanks to the man upstairs.
And, you know, it's just been awesome.
You know, being able to play a lot of football, learn a lot, have a lot of game reps at things and, you know, feel like just kinda accelerate where I'm at.
I w- I was laughing when I read a quote that you first toured Clemson when you were a freshman- Yep in high school, and you were like, "Man, I like it here, but I d- I don't know.
We'll see if I can play here."
Yeah.
You end up playing so much more than everyone typically gets to.
What was that like as a freshman?
'Cause now it's, we've seen you grow throughout the years.
You've gotta hone in on technique, but being thrown out there as a freshman and be like, "All right, I'm, I'm the right tackle," for Clemson, a team with such high expectations all the time.
Yeah, you know, kinda fall camp, was out there repping with the twos a little bit, and then our number one guy goes down and, you know, it kinda threw me in there.
And kinda just said to myself as I'm jogging out there, like, "All right, like, here we go."
Yeah.
"Let's make the most of this."
And, you know, just kinda tried to give it everything I had, and, you know, come game one I was number one on the depth chart, and it was, you know, it was a dream come true.
It was awesome.
So talking to teams, you've had I know you've started a couple games at left tackle, but you've played so many snaps at right tackle.
Is there any interest in being able to play on both sides, or it's like- Yeah, it's something- Okay I've been working.
Okay.
You know, I wanna w- wherever a team needs me, I wanna be able to go out there and be the best left tackle, right tackle I can be.
What are the challenges of that for people that don't understand offensive line, especially it's so routine to you playing so much right tackle?
Yeah.
the easiest way I've put it to people, you know, is trying to write with your non-dominant hand.
Got it.
That a lot, yeah.
You know what you're, you know what you're supposed to do, but it's kinda getting the muscle memory and coordination to do it.
So I've had a couple of the Clemson guys on here, Antonio this week, Cade.
You know, something I've liked to ask them is they've seen the highs of the program, and they've seen the tough moments as well.
This season, where it was kind of a rollercoaster, what can you learn from that?
'Cause NFL teams, they actually like when guys go through adversity in college rather than figuring that out for the first time in the NFL.
So what could you take away from this season?
Yeah.
you know, it really kinda puts into perspective, coaches talk about execution, but to be able to kinda see it out there, and y- you learn a lot more when you don't win a game.
You know, you see something on film and, you know, that could've been a touchdown if we would've executed this properly.
It really kind of puts that emphasis that much more on being able to execute every play and have 11 guys doing the right thing.
I feel like so much of offensive line, especially tackle, is the mental warfare as well.
What is your week to week like when you start on Sunday to get ready all the way for the following weekend?
We- some guys have told me, they're like, "I need all these cutups the first day."
Some guys are like, "I need to recover Monday and start getting ready Tuesday."
What was it like for you?
You want, like, the full schedule, film, breakdown, everything?
Yeah, yeah, let's do it.
All right.
So Sunday I like to get in there, do a little recovery lift with the strength coaches, kinda get moving, get the blood flowing, jumpstart that recovery process.
Get some, physical therapy as needed, and then go up there, watch the game, kinda write my notes down on the game, things I like, things I didn't like, things I need to improve going into the week.
Monday, kind of before practice, get, just a couple games in, just see who our opponent is, you know, who they are base down, that sort of thing.
Tuesday, kinda look more second and short, second and medium, third and medium.
Kinda see who they are on those downs, get a feel for them still.
Wednesday, start looking more into kinda pass rush downs, that sort of thing.
Get a feel for who their rushers are.
Kinda write down some ideas I have, things I like- things I think will work against them, things I think I should probably stay away from.
W- start working those in in practice against our scout team guys.
They always did a great job helping me out.
And then Thursday is just kinda going over IDs with our center.
That was a big thing.
I wanted to be able to get up to the line, kinda make the ID in my head.
Sure.
I'd joke around with him and say, "You should let me make a few of them," so.
How often do they allow that for a tackle?
No, he always told me that was his job.
He took good, r- really, took a lot of pride in it, so, you know, big guy was out there.
He was the, the point guard of the O line is what we called him.
Yeah.
But, yeah, going over IDs with him, making sure I was on the same page.
And then Friday was just, you know, anything that we still had questions about, which normally it wasn't very much.
For sure.
Just kinda going over that and watching a couple more games, and just the goal was watching the game knowing what to expect almost, you know, down in distance before you even press play.
Right.
Man, it's, it's crazy how much I've seen it change been doing these interviews for a couple years now, and the amount of resources in college is There's just so much on everybody's plate, especially while being a student.
But now it turns to the athletic testing.
It just feels so much different than football when you're training for this.
What has the routine kinda been like just training for this?
Some guys have told me they've had crazy diets.
I don't know if you've had to do the same thing, but it's, it's been really interesting to hear about.
What's it like for you?
Yeah, I mean, nothing crazy in the diet world.
Just trying to make sure everything I'm putting in my body's helping me, you know?
Yeah.
being, being really intentional about that, and then just, you know, I trained out in California, just really enjoyed my time there.
Great group of guys, you know.
Love the coaches, and just kinda getting to do something a little different, you know?
Yeah.
Like you said, we're used to playing football and kinda preparing for a track meet a little bit.
That's right.
It's a little different, so change of pace.
Any notable pass rushers th- from college that you kinda remember going against?
I remember, from Louisville, guy's name was Kleven, I believe.
Kleven Lubien.
Yep.
Yeah.
I believe, he was, he was very notable.
I thought that he was very, very talented.
You know, his motor was very impressive, and, you know, I thought he worked really well with his hands, so.
So you get drafted.
You finally get a chance to celebrate.
Is there a, a cheat meal or a dream meal that you get to do, or is it just kinda right back to business?
might get a steak, you know, with the family- There we go.
It's a good place to do that, by the way and the buddies, but, you know, it'll be good.
All right.
What does Blake Miller get to do off the field?
Off the field, play some golf, you know, fishing a little bit, just hanging out with the guys, whether it's go getting a meal with everyone, sitting down grilling out, watching some TV, watching a movie, whatever it is.
It's been really fun watching you at the college level, man.
Appreciate the time and can't wait to see you in the NFL.
Thank you.
