Any rookie season is a trial by fire – perhaps especially so for rookie tackle Kolton Miller.
The UCLA product was selected in the first round (No. 15 overall) of this year's draft to be the Oakland Raiders left tackle of the future, but the future came in a big way – and in a hurry – for Miller in 2018, as he's started all nine games thus far for the Silver and Black.
And while the results for the team haven't materialized just yet, the progress that both Miller and fellow rookie tackle Brandon Parker have made since Week 1 has been a storyline worth watching this year.
"He [Parker] and Kolton, together, they had their physical ailments against the 49ers. I thought Parker, other than a few plays, handled his own, did well," said Head Coach Jon Gruden when discussing the rookie linemen. "Showed some progress."
As Gruden alluded, both Parker and Miller have dealt with their fair share of injuries this year, but as far as Miller in particular is concerned, the Raiders head coach has been encouraged by not only the physical, but mental toughness, that the young lineman has demonstrated.
Asked about Miller's mental makeup in dealing with injury, Gruden offered high praise for No. 77.
Take a look through the top images from the Raiders' game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 10 at the Coliseum.
Oakland Raiders tight end Lee Smith (86), Martavis Bryant and Jared Cook before the Oakland Raiders regular season game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Oakland Alameda-County Coliseum on Sunday, November 11th, 2018, in Oakland, California. The Oakland Raiders lost 20-6.
Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) walks out of the locker room during the Oakland Raiders game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Sunday, November 11, 2018, in Oakland, California. Oakland lost 20-6.
Oakland Raiders linebacker Marquel Lee (55) leads the huddles with the team during the Oakland Raiders game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Sunday, November 11, 2018, in Oakland, California. Oakland lost 20-6.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Martavis Bryant (12) makes a play during the Oakland Raiders regular season game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Oakland Alameda-County Coliseum on Sunday, November 11th, 2018, in Oakland, California. The Oakland Raiders lost 20-6.
Oakland Raiders running back Doug Martin (28) makes a play during the Oakland Raiders regular season game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Oakland Alameda-County Coliseum on Sunday, November 11th, 2018, in Oakland, California. The Oakland Raiders lost 20-6.
Oakland Raiders cornerback Rashaan Melvin (22) makes a play during the Oakland Raiders regular season game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Oakland Alameda-County Coliseum on Sunday, November 11th, 2018, in Oakland, California. The Oakland Raiders lost 20-6.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Martavis Bryant (12) makes a play during the Oakland Raiders regular season game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Oakland Alameda-County Coliseum on Sunday, November 11th, 2018, in Oakland, California. The Oakland Raiders lost 20-6.
Oakland Raiders punter Johnny Townsend (5) runs a fake punt back during the Oakland Raiders game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Sunday, November 11, 2018, in Oakland, California. Oakland lost 20-6.
Oakland Raiders running back Doug Martin (28) during the Oakland Raiders regular season game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Sunday, November 11, 2018, in Oakland, California. The Oakland Raiders lost 20-6.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver and return specialist Dwayne Harris (17) during the Oakland Raiders regular season game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Sunday, November 11, 2018, in Oakland, California. The Oakland Raiders lost 20-6.
Oakland Raiders linebacker Jason Cabinda (53) during the Oakland Raiders regular season game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Sunday, November 11, 2018, in Oakland, California. The Oakland Raiders lost 20-6.
Oakland Raiders safety Erik Harris (25) and linebacker Tahir Whitehead (59) during the Oakland Raiders regular season game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Sunday, November 11, 2018, in Oakland, California. The Oakland Raiders lost 20-6.
Oakland Raiders center Rodney Hudson (61) during the Oakland Raiders regular season game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Sunday, November 11, 2018, in Oakland, California. The Oakland Raiders lost 20-6.
Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) during the Oakland Raiders regular season game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Sunday, November 11, 2018, in Oakland, California. The Oakland Raiders lost 20-6.
Oakland Raiders punter Johnny Townsend (5) during the Oakland Raiders regular season game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Sunday, November 11, 2018, in Oakland, California. The Oakland Raiders lost 20-6.
Oakland Raiders linebacker Marquel Lee (55) during the Oakland Raiders regular season game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Sunday, November 11, 2018, in Oakland, California. The Oakland Raiders lost 20-6.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Martavis Bryant (12) during the Oakland Raiders regular season game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Sunday, November 11, 2018, in Oakland, California. The Oakland Raiders lost 20-6.
Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) during the Oakland Raiders regular season game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Sunday, November 11, 2018, in Oakland, California. The Oakland Raiders lost 20-6.
Oakland Raiders running back Doug Martin (28) during the Oakland Raiders regular season game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Sunday, November 11, 2018, in Oakland, California. The Oakland Raiders lost 20-6.
Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) during the Oakland Raiders regular season game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Sunday, November 11, 2018, in Oakland, California. The Oakland Raiders lost 20-6.
Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) scrambles during the Oakland Raiders game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Sunday, November 11, 2018, in Oakland, California. Oakland lost 20-6.
Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) makes a play during the Oakland Raiders regular season game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Oakland Alameda-County Coliseum on Sunday, November 11th, 2018, in Oakland, California. The Oakland Raiders lost 20-6.
Oakland Raiders tight end Derek Carrier (85) during the Oakland Raiders regular season game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Sunday, November 11, 2018, in Oakland, California. The Oakland Raiders lost 20-6.
Oakland Raiders linebacker Tahir Whitehead (59), linebacker Marquel Lee (55), defensive tackle Maurice Hurst (73), and linebacker Jason Cabinda (53) during the Oakland Raiders regular season game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Sunday, November 11, 2018, in Oakland, California. The Oakland Raiders lost 20-6.
Oakland Raiders defensive end Arden Key (99), linebacker Tahir Whitehead (59), and defensive tackle Maurice Hurst (73) during the Oakland Raiders regular season game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Sunday, November 11, 2018, in Oakland, California. The Oakland Raiders lost 20-6.
Oakland Raiders strong safety Karl Joseph (42) and Nicholas Morrow make a tackle during the Oakland Raiders regular season game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Oakland Alameda-County Coliseum on Sunday, November 11th, 2018, in Oakland, California. The Oakland Raiders lost 20-6.
Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) during the Oakland Raiders regular season game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Sunday, November 11, 2018, in Oakland, California. The Oakland Raiders lost 20-6.
Oakland Raiders running back Doug Martin (28) and quarterback Derek Carr (4) during the Oakland Raiders regular season game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Sunday, November 11, 2018, in Oakland, California. The Oakland Raiders lost 20-6.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Martavis Bryant (12) during the Oakland Raiders regular season game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Sunday, November 11, 2018, in Oakland, California. The Oakland Raiders lost 20-6.
Oakland Raiders safety Marcus Gilchrist (31) intercepts a pass during the Oakland Raiders game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Sunday, November 11, 2018, in Oakland, California. Oakland lost 20-6.
Oakland Raiders tight end Derek Carrier (85) and linebacker Kyle Wilber (58) during the Oakland Raiders regular season game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Sunday, November 11, 2018, in Oakland, California. The Oakland Raiders lost 20-6.
Oakland Raiders defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins (90) during the Oakland Raiders regular season game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Sunday, November 11, 2018, in Oakland, California. The Oakland Raiders lost 20-6.
Oakland Raiders defensive tackle PJ Hall (92) during the Oakland Raiders regular season game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Sunday, November 11, 2018, in Oakland, California. The Oakland Raiders lost 20-6.
Oakland Raiders running back Doug Martin (28) during the Oakland Raiders regular season game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Sunday, November 11, 2018, in Oakland, California. The Oakland Raiders lost 20-6.
Oakland Raiders tight end Jared Cook (87) during the Oakland Raiders regular season game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Sunday, November 11, 2018, in Oakland, California. The Oakland Raiders lost 20-6.
Oakland Raiders tight end Jared Cook (87) during the Oakland Raiders regular season game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Sunday, November 11, 2018, in Oakland, California. The Oakland Raiders lost 20-6.
Oakland Raiders running back Jalen Richard (30) rushes during the Oakland Raiders game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Sunday, November 11, 2018, in Oakland, California. Oakland lost 20-6.
Oakland Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson (8) during the Oakland Raiders regular season game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Sunday, November 11, 2018, in Oakland, California. The Oakland Raiders lost 20-6.
Oakland Raiders defensive tackle Frostee Rucker (98) during the Oakland Raiders regular season game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Sunday, November 11, 2018, in Oakland, California. The Oakland Raiders lost 20-6.
Oakland Raiders defensive tackle Frostee Rucker (98) makes a play during the Oakland Raiders regular season game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Oakland Alameda-County Coliseum on Sunday, November 11th, 2018, in Oakland, California. The Oakland Raiders lost 20-6.
Oakland Raiders defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins (90) and linebacker Shilique Calhoun (91) sacks Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers (17) during the Oakland Raiders game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Sunday, November 11, 2018, in Oakland, California. Oakland lost 20-6.
Oakland Raiders linebacker Shilique Calhoun (91) during the Oakland Raiders regular season game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Sunday, November 11, 2018, in Oakland, California. The Oakland Raiders lost 20-6.
Raiders line up during the Oakland Raiders game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Sunday, November 11, 2018, in Oakland, California. Oakland lost 20-6.
Oakland Raiders return specialist Dwayne Harris (17) runs back a kick off during the Oakland Raiders game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Sunday, November 11, 2018, in Oakland, California. Oakland lost 20-6.
Oakland Raiders linebacker Nicholas Morrow (50) and strong safety Karl Joseph (42) during the Oakland Raiders regular season game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Sunday, November 11, 2018, in Oakland, California. The Oakland Raiders lost 20-6.
"I think what you're dealing with Miller is one of the most mentally tough kids that you will find," Gruden explained. "I think he's gaining strength from playing. I think he's really learning a lot about this business the hard way. Not only losing, not only playing hurt, playing from behind a lot, but learning how to play well against great rushers when you're not at your best. That's really the definition of a lot of these great pro football players. A lot of these guys don't feel good after Week 2 or 3. For that young man to go out there and give us all that he's given us under these circumstances is really exciting."
The fact that Miller played all 63 offensive snaps in Sunday's matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers is impressive, but even more impressive when you realize that just a week-and-a-half ago, the rookie wasn't healthy enough to play even half the reps against the San Francisco 49ers.
Sitting at 1-8, the positives for the Silver and Black are hard to see right now, but with seven games left on the docket, we're going to learn a lot about what the Raiders have to build on going forward.
Next up for Miller, and the rest of the lineman? A Week 11 clash in the desert against the Arizona Cardinals.
