The Jacksonville Jaguars raised eyebrows for letting linebacker Devin Lloyd leave in free agency. However, they believe that Ventrell Miller can step into his shoes, and it's easy to understand why they're so high on him.
Miller has flashed when thrust into action and could experience a surge under Anthony Campanile like the one Lloyd enjoyed last year. That said, there's still skepticism about his ability to replace Lloyd and play at a high level. However, head coach Liam Coen sounds confident he'll pull it off.
Ventrell Miller has shonw growth at Jaguars mandatory minicamp
Liam Coen met with reporters after a minicamp practice. He said that Ventrell Miller has done a good job of dealing with assignments of communication, but you won't truly be able to see what the fourth-year linebacker does best until training camp.
"Yeah, Ventrell, he's continuing to get those reps again. It's been different with Foye not being in there, right?" Coen responded when asked what he's seen in Miller (5:56 mark). "So that has put a whole onus on those other guys, Ventrell, Jack, and Branson, to step their game up, and I don't mean in terms of really play, I just mean alignment, assignment, communication, checks, all that stuff. So I don't think we're able to really see what Ventrell does best right now, right?"
Coen continued, "That this is not a setting in which we're gonna feel him do what he does best, which we know is thump, stop the run, be somebody that can run sideline to sideline and get come downhill. So we're trying to stress him and stress those guys in coverage a lot more this spring, and I think he's responded."
A sixth-round pick in 2023, Miller missed his rookie season with an Achilles tear but had a substantial role the following year and even outplayed Lloyd. Surprisingly, though, Lloyd started at linebacker last year. But now that he's out of the picture, Miller will get a golden opportunity to prove he can also have an impact.
The Jaguars expect Ventrell Miller to make an impact next season
Earlier this year, Liam Coen heaped praise on Ventrell Miller, arguing that he should be thrilled the Jaguars didn't bring anyone to compete with him. Fast forward to mandatory minicamp, and things haven't changed.
Sure, the Jags did draft Parker Hughes and also re-signed veteran Dennis Gardeck, but neither will be competing with Miller for snaps, so he will enter the regular season as the unquestioned starter next to Foye Oluokun, something he hasn't done in his career. This puts him in a position to have a breakout season.
The only potential downside is that Miller could leave in 2027 if he takes off, as Lloyd did. Then again, the Jags may already be bracing for his potential departure, as Hughes and Jack Kiser could be waiting in wainting in the wings.
This wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing, though, because it would mean that Ventrell Miller lived up to expectations.
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