In his second NFL season, linebacker Von Miller has picked up right where he left off as a rookie when he earned the Associated Press’ Defensive Rookie of the Year Award.
In 2011, Miller finished with 11.5 sacks, tying the Broncos rookie record. Through half the season in 2012, Miller already has nine quarterback takedowns, which ties for second in the NFL.
During the offseason, Miller focused on cutting down on mental errors that he saw on tape from his rookie campaign. That work has paid off as he has emerged as a complete linebacker that can apply pressure on the quarterback on one play, then drop back in coverage on the next.
“I want to be a linebacker, not a rush guy, not a pass specialist or a run specialist,” Miller said. “I want to be the linebacker for this Broncos organization and my teammates. I think if I just take it one day at a time, I can achieve that goal of being a true linebacker that can play all four downs if it goes four downs.”
Miller joins Texans defensive end J.J. Watt as the only players in the NFL to post nine sacks and double digit tackles for a loss through Week 9. Of Miller’s 33 tackles, 17 have come behind the scrimmage, which ties for tops in the league.
Between Miller and defensive end Elvis Dumervil, opposing offensive linemen have had their hands full trying to keep the Broncos out of the backfield. Miller and Dumervil have combined for 15 sacks, the most by any pass-rush duo in football this season.
Miller’s continued growth has been fueled by the coaching he’s received from Linebackers Coach Richard Smith and Defensive Coordinator Jack Del Rio, who was an NFL linebacker himself.
“Coach Smith, he’s more of a technician,” Miller said. “Left foot, right foot, left foot, right foot. He stays on top of me on everything. Coach Del Rio, from a player’s point of view, he says, ‘You’ll be OK with those movements if you just get this done.’ You combine them both, we have a great defensive coaching staff here at the Denver Broncos.”
Though Miller has found success early, he knows there are still improvements to be made – and his position coach makes sure to remind him of that as well.
“I think it’s OK, but Coach Smith, my position coach, he’ll tell you, I have a long way to go,” Miller said. “I don’t think I’ve been taking strides or huge bounds on reaching that goal, but I think I have taken steps. And as long as I’ve got some positive progress, I think I’ll be alright at the end of the day. Just keep on working, taking it one day at a time.”
Tags: Von Miller
I miss the “EATING GREEDY” move. Go get some sacks Miller!!!
Dont know if its cool to say it here but,
KEEP IT RUNNING GRAY
If Cam Newton is Super Man then…….
Von Miller is………..CAPTAIN KRYPTONITE!!!!!!!!
We all know what happens when kryptonite touches Super Man!!
ILMSDB
You rock Miller. You are already an elite LB. I know you are still developing your game. We love having you on this team.
Hey Cat, you impressed me in the last blog. you really know your stuff.
These are some thoughts about the Oline last year and leading into this one.
LT Ryan Clady had a down year, which still put him in the top 10 or so of players at his position. His foot quickness has never gotten back to what he showed in his first two seasons, and sometimes he gets beat with quickness. LG Zane Beadles and C J.D. Walton don’t anchor well enough, and both need to get significantly stronger as their careers progress. RG Chris Kuper was the best of the bunch, but he’s coming off of a broken leg, which is a significant injury. Finally, RT Orlando Franklin buried guys in the run game, but his foot quickness needs a lot of improvement if he’s going to play outside.
This year.
Give these guys a lot of credit. Also give credit to the coaching staff. As discussed in this article about Miller, these guys also showed a want to improve their game and they did. Walton was worlds better before his injury. These guys are all stepping up in a big way.
A lot of credit to Rahim Moore as well in this department, and of course Chris Harris.
The culture has changed in this organization and it is leading everybody in the right direction.
Mike and Mike in the morning on ESPN had Dick Butkus on today and asked him who he liked to watch play and he included Von Miller.
Now THAT is a compliment coming from probably the best ever.
EAT GREEDY VON!
Go Broncos
Also need to include Tony Carter. A four year journeyman who could have easily been sent packing. This coaching staff saw the intensity he played at and the athletism he had and developed it quickly. Carter has been ballin’. He almost opened last weeks game with a pick six. Im sure in film study he saw that Dalton liked to get the ball out fast and Carter jumped the route, if had held on it would have been a TD.
the same time
from PFF:
Denver’s linebackers will be largely responsible for holding the Panthers’ running backs in check. Von Miller might be best known for his pass rushing skills, but his ability to crash to the ball carrier is equally impressive. He has accrued 16 stops in the run game this year, compared with just a single missed tackle. Fellow outside linebacker Wesley Woodyard has recorded a defensive stop in the run game on 12.1% of his running plays, good for third among 4-3 OLBs. Filling in for the injured Joe Mays has been the duty of rookie Danny Trevathan and veteran Keith Brooking. While they haven’t been sensational, neither has embarrassed himself either, with just a single missed tackle between the pair on their combined 326 snaps.
Von… You have to do a CAPTAIN KRYPTONITE move after you sack Cam!!!!!!
Any cool Superhero stance or dance will do!!!!
ILMSDB