LAMEDA, Calif. _ Raiders left tackle Kolton Miller attributes part of his success in 2019 to "not listening to the noise."
And that's too bad.
Miller, if he put an ear to NFL news feeds, would probably enjoy reveling in the silence.
That's how it works for an offensive lineman like Miller, particularly one who protects a quarterback in Derek Carr who has been sacked only eight times in seven games. Or has committed only two penalties _ a holding call in Week 3 and a false start in Week 4. Or has gone toe-to-toe with Khalil Mack and lived to tell about it _ even if he won't brag about it.
The seemingly weekly social media and analytics-based reviews questioning the Raiders' sanity for taking Miller as their first-round pick out of UCLA have vanished. So have all the questions about leaving him at left tackle even after signing Trent Brown to the largest contract ever given to an offensive lineman.
"You keep sharpening your sword," Miller said Monday, the day after a 27-24 loss to the Houston Texans. "You try and get better each week and make the best for yourself."
Likewise, Miller isn't interested in saying "I told you so" or claiming vindication.
"You do that and it plays into ego," Miller said. "You try and stay as close-knit as you can and focus on the team aspect as compared to the individual. That's what's important."
The Raiders' line has been a strength in a 3-4 start despite constant flux. Center Rodney Hudson was lost after 10 plays against Houston due to an ankle injury of undetermined severity. Coach Jon Gruden said X-rays were negative but other damage may exist. Brown was out last week with a calf strain. Right guard Gabe Jackson missed the first five games with an MCL strain. Left guard Richie Incognito opened the year with a two-game suspension.
The only constant has been Miller, who has made all seven starts and hasn't missed a snap.
Oakland Raiders' Kolton Miller (77), right, blocks Los Angeles Rams' Ethan Westbrooks (95) in the second quarter of their NFL game at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, Sept. 10, 2018. (Randy Vazquez/Bay Area News Group) Randy Vazquez/Bay Area News Group
The Raiders' fill-ins have been very good. Undrafted free agent Andre James, a college teammate of Miller's at UCLA, played in place of Hudson and could end up starting against Detroit Sunday at the Coliseum. David Sharpe filled in admirably for Brown last week. Jordan Devey (since put on injured reserve) and Denzelle Good have stepped in without a dropoff.
Miller isn't surprised.
"With the guys that were brought in and with the talent we have, we were bound to be good," Miller said. "I'm just trying to build off of every game and to keep grinding, keep getting better. It's almost like a climb, you keep chipping at the rock and get better each week."
As a rookie, Miller started all 16 games at left tackle, the last 12 of which he played with a knee injury incurred in Week 4 against Cleveland. To put it mildly, Miller took his lumps on a line that gave up 52 sacks.
Fast forward a year, and the 6-foot-8 Miller has gone from 309 pounds to 325 while still appearing lean and mobile.
"It was fighting injury and heaving to deal with that and having to play some of the best guys every week," Miller said. "Playing each week just gets you more and more confidence. I was glad I got to build off that and show improvement this year."
