Miller Works to Put Last Year Behind Him

On the eve of the election, Charger wide receiver Anthony Miller spoke like a politician trying to put last year’s scandal behind him.

When asked about last season, by far the worst of his four-year professional career, Miller avoided the subject.

“I don’t want to talk about last year,” he said. “It’s forgotten. It’s a new year.”

Miller has caught 36 passes through eight games, more receptions than he has had in the first half of a season and only eight less than he caught all last year. His six catches for 105 yards Sunday against Indianapolis gave him consecutive 100-yard games for the first time.

In the past four games, which the Chargers have won, Miller and quarterback Stan Humphries have hooked up 24 times for 423 yards and three touchdowns.

Suddenly last season seems like a long time ago.

Humphries even mentioned Miller in the same breath as the 49ers’ Jerry Rice.

Said Humphries: “He’s got the kind of capability that every time he catches the ball he can score with it or take it 30, 40, 50 yards.”

Miller is taking it an average of 16.1 yards, the third best average in the NFL for those who have at least 36 receptions. His average per catch is also only .6 yards lower than it was when Miller had his best year as a pro--1989, when he caught 75 passes, 10 of them touchdowns.

Charger Coach Bobby Ross said Miller’s speed causes teams to think twice about single coverage.

“When he’s out there, I think it’s the red flag,” Ross said. “They say, ‘We’ve got to be alert. Stop this guy.’

“Some of the time, he draws double coverage. When he does, that singles up somebody else and it makes it easier on somebody else.”

On Sunday, that somebody was Nate Lewis, who had two touchdown catches.

But Humphries has not been concentrating solely on Miller. He threw to eight receivers Sunday.

“A variety of people are catching the ball and that just opens it up probably a little bit more for me,” Miller said. “They can’t always say, ‘Oh, Anthony’s going to get the ball, let’s stop him.’ ”

It was easier to stop Miller early in the season when he and Humphries were adjusting. Through four games, Miller had only 12 catches, one more than he had at that point last season.

“We didn’t get a chance to go to training camp or minicamp,” Miller said. “So right now is part of our camp.”

But Humphries figures camp ended about the time he threw a 67-yard dart to Miller for a touchdown against Seattle.

“I just threw it out there and he went and got it and took it the whole way,” Humphries said. “The guy can go get it.”

But Miller said at times he couldn’t go get it last year.

“I had a lot of injuries last year,” said Miller, who played through injuries to his hamstring and thigh before finally being sidelined the last three games with a knee injury. “A lot of injuries kind of got my confidence down. Right now, I have a lot of confidence.”

So much confidence that Miller is playing through injuries like they aren’t even there. Miller broke his left thumb three games ago against Seattle, but it hasn’t been a factor.

“I’m just glad it’s my hand and not my leg,” he said.

Miller is just glad when he’s talking about anything but last year.

Quarterback Stan Humphries’ knee is stiff and sore after he had it drained at halftime of Sunday’s game, but Ross said Humphries should be ready for Sunday.

Guard Eric Moten’s knee was not hurt after all. Ross said Moten suffered a bruise on his leg when he was hit by a teammate. Moten, who left the game in the second quarter did not return, is listed as day to day.

Running back Eric Bieniemy’s ankle is also day to day, but Ross said he expects Bieniemy to play Sunday.