it’s almost Miller time for the NFL
By Darren Foss
Of the Kmerald
One week from today, the suspense will end.
Oregon quarterback Chris Miller's dream of
becoming a professional football player will come
one step closer to reality when he finds out which
team has drafted him.
This is the date of the National Football League’s
drafl of fop college players. Based just on Miller's
performance this season, he was projected to be
selected anywhere from a second to fifth-round
But after great performances in two of three post
season all-star games, Miller has attracted the atten
tion of many of the top teams in search of a quarter
back including the Atlanta Falcons, San Diego
Chargers. l,os Angeles Haiders. San Francisco 4Hers
and Dallas Cowboys. The New Orleans Saints, Pitt
sburgh Steelers and Seattle Soahawks also have
shown interest in him.
Miller is projected now to be the second quarter
back selected behind lleisman Trophy winner Yin
nie Test a verde of the l Inivnrsity of Miami, who has
already been selected and signed a multi million
dollar contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
owner nt the first pick
“My goal is to be drafted somewhere in the first
round," Miller said And with the high need for
quarterbacks his wish most definitely will come
true.
According to Mel Riper, a Maryland analyst for
Kntertainrnenl Sports Programming Network
(FSPN). the Atlanta Fall ons are the frost bet to selei I
Miller Fhe Falcons control the t;tth pick in the first
round
On the other hand, analyst |. David Miller in
Sport Magazine's draft preview thinks Miller will
still be around at the 1 f»th pick and w ill bo selected
by the I,os Angeles Raiders.
But ai cording to a Raiders scout. “We don't draft
through Sport Magazine. He (Miller) sure shows a
lot of ability and is going to help whoever takes
him At this point. Rusty Hilger is listed as our
number-one quarterback,“ he said.
Miller could go as high as the fifth pick in the
draft to San Diego and join former Oregon quarter
back record-holder Dan Fouls. The Chargers,
however are looking for defensive help and will
probably select a cornerback or linebacker. "But if
he's the best guy available at the fifth pick we'll take
him," said Roger Theder, San Diego's Offensive
Coordinator.
According to Miller, if he had his choice of NFL
teams to play for, "I’d like to stay on the West Coast
and play for the 49ers, Raiders or Chargers. I guess
the Seahawks wouldn’t lx? too bad either." he
added.
The 4?Jers an* showing int«?r«»st in Miller because
of their uncertainty about veteran quarterback Joe
Montana's health. Even though the 49ers have two
first round picks (22nd and 2f>th), the chances of
getting Miller appear slim since they are late in the
first round.
Since his all-star performances, the Dallas
( anvtMivs have recognized Miller's ability and could
sneak in with the 12th pic k and snatch Miller from
Atlanta.
Atlanta scout Bob Higgle sums up the draft pretty
well: "You can't predict who’s going to be
available. Our priority right now is tor a pass-rush,
defensive tvpe o! guv. but we're not counting out
Miller."
The all-star games that made Miller a sure-fire
first round pick took place in December and
January.
I was real pleased with my overall porformant e
in the all-star games.' Miller said, "doing into the
Hlue-dray game I just had to get used to playing
around different people, a different system and dif
ferent terminology.”
Miller got off to a shaky start in his first all star
game on (ihristmas Day in Montgomery, Ala., com
pleting only six of lfi passes lor (»7 yards, with one
interception and one touchdown pass. Mis Mine
squad went on to win 31-7.
Following his first-game flop. Miller caught the
eyes of the scouts in his last two all-star ap
pearances putting on amazing performances.
Miller's resurgence began in the Honolulu sun
shine in the Hula Bowl on jan. 10. He completed to
of Iti passes for 214 yards and one touchdown as he
led the West all-stars to a 10-14 victory. Miller was
selected the Outstanding Offensive Player of the
(lame for the West squad.
In this game Miller showed the pro scouts his
deep pass ability with completions of 55, 4H and 47
yards.
Then the following week Miller returned to
Alabama, this time Mobile, to give the scouts and
pro coaches their last chance to see him in action Hi
the Senior Bowl.
“The Senior Bowl is the most important because
pro scouts are there observing everything you do,”
Miller said.
Once again Miller put up impressive numbers for
the pro scouts, completing to of 20 passes for 174
yards, three touchdowns and one interception. But
it wasn't enough as his North squad lost a wild
42-38 game. It was the highest-scoring game in
Senior Bowl history.
I'ln* Senior Howl was coached and organized I v
pro coaches to showcase the best college seniors. It
was also Miller's first pro football experience as lie
received $1,500 lor being a member of the losing
squad and an extra $1,000 for being selected most
valuable player of the North squad.
doing into the all-star games, Miller was con
sidered the third best quarterback in the draft
behind Testaverde and University of Michigan's
}im Uarhaugh. Hut Miller outplayed Harbaugh in
front of the pro scouts to earn his number two posi
tion according to scouting reports.
Miller will leave a giant imprint on the Ducks’
record book as he tied, or broke. 15 Oregon passing
records in his four years at Oregon. Most were held
by Dan Fonts, who has gone on to set over a dozen
NF1. passing records and currently ranks third on
the all-time yards gained passing list with 40.2H7
total yards through the 1‘tHti season. Could Chris
Miller follow in his footsteps?
"Miller had a great < areer at Oregon and provided
exciting football foi the Ians of Oregon to watch."
commented head football coach Rich Brooks. "A
quarterback of his talent comes to us about once
every decade.”
Miller says he admires Fonts. Joe Montana and
Dan Marino’s game and tries to pattern his game to
theirs as much as he can.
“Fonts is a good drop back passer and can read
the field well. That’s something 1 need to get better
at. Even though I’ve come a long way, and become
better at that. 1 can always improve.’’ admits Miller.
Miller’s record-breaking performances and col
lege carver did not go unnoticed. He became the
first quarterback since Jim Plunkett at Stanford to be
selected to the Pacific 10 Conference First Team two
years in a row.
1 hen at the 30th annual Oregonian newspaper
Banquet of Champions in Portland. Miller won the
Hayward Award, the most prestigious award given
to an athlete from Oregon.
According to both coach Brooks and offensive
coordinator Bob Toledo, Miller is the best quarter
back they have had the chance to work with.
Miller has great vision, great instinct and has
made an awful lot of great plays. He’s a Joe
Montana-type quarterback with the ability to scram
ble, throw on the run and move the pocket.” Brooks
sa id.
“When I first started working with Miller I knew
he had the potential to be a great quarterback if he
worked hard at it.” Toledo said. “He's going to be a
very rich young man.”
Miller has already selected his agents — Frank
Bauer and Mike Blatt of Stockton, Calif. —* to han*
die his contract negotiations and the business side
of his professional career. Both have experience
working with Oregon athletes, having worked with
ex-Duck linemen Mike Walters and Steve Baack.
“He'll do very well in the NR..” commented
Toledo. "He’s a good passer, and understands the
game very well. He’s a real talent.”
Miller attributes much of his improvement as a
quarterback to Toledo. “He’s done an incredible
amount for me as far as teaching goes. He taught me
many defensive strategies, like how to read
coverages, and has strengthened my fundamen
tals.” Miller said.
Before becoming a strong football prospect.
Miller was a major league baseball prospect at short
stop and was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the
fifth round of the 19H4 draft.
Due to this, the Mariners' Professional Baseball
Scholarship Plan paid for Miller's first two years at
Oregon until bis junior year when his football
scholarship paid for the rest.
bast summer Miller played three games for the
Mariners Class A minor league team in Bellingham.
Wash., batting over ,300. Then lie was moved up to
Class AA in Salinas. Calif., and in 17 games Miller
hit only tot. but had an impressive ,‘03 fielding
percentage.
“As far as batting, 1 was in over my bead since I
hadn’t played since high school, but defensively I
did well." Miller said
According to Miller, the Mariners sent him a con
tract and asked him to report to spring training in
Arizona, but Miller said, “1 know I won't sign the
contract now, because I don’t want to be committed
to the Mariners. I'm going to wait until the NH,
draft.”
So based on bis summer experience with the
Mariners it wasn't bard tor Miller to < house football
over baseball.
“Unless something goes haywire in football, 1
want to play football over baseball I've had the
most immediate success in football and feel good
about what I am doing. I'm also getting good feed
back from the pro scouts,” Miller said. “I love pla\
mg both, but I can't play both.”
Miller is very close to bis family and bis parents,
less and Jane Miller who live in Kugene They have
followed bis progress over the years and given him
the support be deserves.
"I'm not suprised at his success in football. It's
just what he loves to do." said his mother, Jane.
"Hut his recent success hasn’t changed him. it’s
just a progress from one level to the next.
"His goal has always been to become a profes
sional athlete. I'm proud to see he is finally achiev
ing it."
The day of the draft Miller will be at home with
his parents and his closest friends, gathered around
the television set watching KSPN’s live coverage
from New York starting at am Pacific time.
1 he suspense will finally end. and he will know
where his pro football career will start.
All of the questions will be answered: Will
Miller be able to stay on the West Coast? Will he
follow in Pout’s footsteps?.. .stay tuned.