Saints planning to use rookie RB in Alvin Kamara-like role
When the New Orleans Saints took TCU running back Kendre Miller in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, they liked the idea of pairing him with five-time Pro Bowler Alvin Kamara.
But as Miller gets acclimated to the team, he’s come to find out the Saints may just need him to do his best Kamara impersonation while the 27-year-old sorts out his offseason legal trouble.
"How they use (Kamara) is kind of unique,” Miller said, via the team’s official website. “And watching film every day, we watch a bunch of clips of him. How they use him in the pass game, that's pretty cool. I feel like I can step in and pretty much do the same thing."
Kamara pleaded not guilty in March to charges of conspiracy to commit battery and substantial bodily harm from an incident before the Pro Bowl in February 2022. His trial is set for July 31, and if he’s found guilty, the NFL could suspend him for a lengthy part of the 2023 season.
In preparation of the worst-case scenario, the Saints have been experimenting with Miller in several Kamara-like roles, including as a high-volume receiver out of the backfield. Although he had only 29 total receptions for 229 yards at TCU, Miller believes his receiving skills are highly underrated.
"It was something I never got to show (at TCU)," Miller said of his receiving skills. "The coaches here, they've got me on the Jugs (machine) and the tennis ball machines. They were like, ‘We knew it was in you, that's why we drafted you, we know you can catch.’ Just showing everybody else in the world my ability will be a big thing for me, and I'm ready to get out there and compete.”
In three seasons with the Horned Frogs, Miller rushed for 2,410 yards and 26 touchdowns, including a 1,399-yard, 17-touchdown season in 2022. While the strength of his game is his downhill running ability, Saints head coach Dennis Allen has seen plenty to like about what the 20-year-old RB adds to the team.
“I think he's got really good contact balance,” Allen said. “And he's got the speed to take it the distance if he breaks free in the open field, so there's a lot of qualities about him that I like.”
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