It came as quite a surprise to people around the league and even Seahawks' fans that Zach Miller bolted from Oakland and landed in Seattle, signing a 5-year deal with Pete Carroll's rebuilding team. The signing immediately sparked rumors that incumbent starting TE John Carlson would be put on the trade block, an assertion that was denied wholeheartedly by both Pete Carroll and Tom Cable.
Miller was on the Kevin Calabro show recently and spoke about the Hawks plans for two tight end sets:
"We have a good idea (of how we'll be used). There's a great way to use two tight ends. They can run down the field a lot together, they complement each other. We both have different skillets. Obviously, we can both catch the ball, and block, and it's going to be great for our offense, because we can put defenses in a bad position. They're never going to know whether they're going to get the ball run on them, or have the ball thrown over the top of them. So it's going to be really good for our offense."
Love this, and it's something that I'll try and delve into a little more later. The thought of using the two of them on the field this season is pretty intriguing, and I'm sure they'll get creative with two and even three tight end sets.
Miller, at 25, joins a very young offensive line, anchored by the wily veteran Robert Gallery. A lot of people are nervous about the combined inexperience along the line, but Miller asserted that the scheme will be effective:
"Yeah, we're young up front, with the exception of Gallery, but you know, with the zone scheme, I've seen it work for the last four years. It's a great run system, it wears down opponents, and I think it's going to be really successfully here, especially with the running backs that we have. Especially Marshawn Lynch, I think he's going to be a really good zone back, and I'm excited to see it happen. Tight ends are a big part of that run game.
"He has that innate ability to just get yards, you know, however he has to get them: running guys over, you know, making them miss, he has that. That's what you love for your running back to do."
The conversation moved on the new Seahawks quarterback Tarvaris Jackson. Miller hasn't had much experience with the Vikings former QB, but had this to say about the early impressions:
"He knows the offense so well, obviously. He's lucky. You know, I have to learn some of that passing game stuff, but he's been calling all the plays, getting us together, getting all that going. He did really well with everything, and getting a chance to catch balls with him was really great. He hit me a few times on some really nice reads, and he puts a lot of zip on the ball. So I've been really impressed with his decision making and how he's finding the open guy and throwing it in there."
Check out the rest of the interview with Miller here.