Allen Park — Blake Miller is calm before the storm. Only 22 years old, there’s an uncharacteristic maturity to the Detroit Lions rookie offensive tackle.
Miller, who logged nearly 4,000 snaps across four seasons at Clemson, has approached football like a professional long before he became a professional. That attitude, paired with a prototypical frame for his position, elite athletic traits and admirable durability — he didn’t miss a game at Clemson — made Miller an easy choice for Detroit in the first round of April’s draft.
Miller was the pièce de résistance of the Lions’ offensive line makeover this offseason. That retooling also included the signing of free agent center Cade Mays and the addition of veteran depth to challenge for Christian Mahogany’s left guard job.
The overhaul’s unveiling is temporarily delayed with Mays shelved by a wrist injury and the left guard job still in flux heading into Week 1, but Miller is ready to make his NFL debut on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints.
A few days ahead of the matchup, Miller is simultaneously relaxed and all business. That’s not to say there won’t be some inevitable nerves that will bubble to the surface ahead of kickoff, but he’s counting on his daily approach — mentally and physically — to counter the emotions of the moment.