The Chicago Bears have high hopes for wide receiver Anthony Miller going into 2020. It's not hard to understand why. He finished 2019 with one of the best stretches of his career. This includes 438 yards and two touchdowns over the final seven games. Rumors persist that if the team can get the QB situation settled down, he has the capability of topping 1,000 yards.
For his part, Miller knows he can do more to make himself better. What often separates the good from the great in any sport is their work habits in practice and the weight room. It turns out, the third-year receiver is getting an unexpected education from the unlikeliest of sources. The critically-acclaimed ESPN documentary series "The Last Dance" detailing the reign of Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in the 1990s.
According to Colleen Kane of the Chicago Tribune, Miller isn't just enjoying the series. He's learning from it.
Miller, who is from Memphis, Tenn., has always been a fan of Jordan, but as he has watched the series the last several weeks, the Bulls great’s drive has drawn him in.
“Michael Jordan is the greatest athlete of all time in my eyes,” Miller said by phone Monday. “Just seeing what he went through to achieve his goals and to get everybody on his level, it was amazing. He’s a guy you can emulate your game off of, your mentality off of.”
One way he's renewing his efforts is by intensely studying current and former great receivers.
As he rehabs from left shoulder surgery for the second straight year, he said he’s studying other NFL receivers to see how he can raise his game in his third season. Steve Smith, Isaac Bruce and Stefon Diggs are among those he likes to examine.
Anthony Miller finally understands what he needs to be great
Miller is a smart guy. Smith, Bruce, and Diggs all have the same thing in common. While good athletes, what made them truly special is their superb route running prowess. That is what separates the top receivers in the NFL. It looked like Miller figured that part out towards the second half of last season. Now it seems he's more committed than ever to master the craft.
If it ends up working out, maybe the Bears should make "The Last Dance" mandatory viewing for their players each year. Miller is currently rehabbing his shoulder after offseason surgery. He's expected to be 100% ready to go for training camp this summer.
