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After his six-game suspension for violating the NFL’s drug policy, outside linebacker Von Miller is finally back to his 2012 form. This, in turn, could see the Denver Broncos defence return to their elite status.
The pass rusher had a middle-of-the-road performance in his first game of the season against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 7, but was up to his old tricks against the hapless Washington Redskins in Week 8.
Actually, that might not be fair. Despite failing to register a sack and only having two tackles on the day, Miller had a strong performance against the Colts, frequently drawing attention away from the other defenders and causing penalties.
Coming into Indianapolis, the Broncos had the worst pass defence in the league. And while they lost, they did hold quarterback Andrew Luck to only 228 total yards in the air. Not bad.
This last weekend against the now 2-5 Washington Redskins, Miller managed five total tackles, including a much-needed sack and fumble early in the fourth quarter.
At the time, the Redskins were only down by a single score, 21-28, and Miller’ turnover gave the Broncos the ball and a short field (Denver would score another three points via a field goal).
The Broncos’ ability to limit the high-powered Redskins to only 14 points on offence was in no small part due to the efforts of the two-time Pro Bowler.
Throughout the game Miller moved around the line at will, bringing pressure from all sides. Most impressively, the big play in question came against the Redskins’ best offensive linesman, left tackle Trent Williams.
Williams is having a career season and is considered to be one of the top ten offensive tackles in the NFL, and up until this game he’d managed to give up zero sacks in 2013.
He’s about as tough a pass blocker as you can get, but on the sack Miller easily beat him around the edge (Williams overplayed Miller and fell forward to the ground) and got a clear shot at the back of the quarterback, Robert Griffin III.
Beating Trent Williams isn't easy, but Von Miller just made it look like child's play.
— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) October 27, 2013
It was the sack and fumble that signalled the beginning of the end for the Redskins, and shortly after a flurry of turnovers followed.
The pressure that Miller and the Broncos pass rush managed to put on the Redskins offensive line resulted in five turnovers on the day: Miller’s one forced fumble and four total interceptions (two from the Redskins’ back-up quarterback Kirk Cousins after RG3 was knocked out of the game).
The Broncos should be thrilled at Miller’s strong performance this week. In his absence the team has managed a good-but-not-great effort rushing the passer thus far this season.
The Broncos are currently ranked equal-11th in 2013 with 22 sacks. In comparison, in 2012 they finished first overall after getting to the quarterback an incredible 52 times.
Of course, we shouldn’t ignore the numbers veteran linebacker Shaun Phillips has managed in Miller’s absence.
After being picked up as a free agent from San Diego over the off-season, the 32-year-old Phillips has already managed 6.5 sacks, on track for a career year.
With Miller now working in tandem, there’s no question the team can achieve a similar result to that they had in 2012.
Make no mistake, that’s exactly what the Broncos are hoping for with their young star’s return.
The pass rush was a major reason for their No. 2 overall ranked defence last year, and with Miller’s return to form defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio will be more than willing to get back to what made his defence so great in 2012.
They just did it against the now No. 7 offence in the NFL, limiting the Redskins to only 180 yards in the air. It’s clear they’re back on track to repeat their earlier success.
Obviously, it won’t be easy. They have questions surrounding that secondary, and the loss to the Colts as well as the 48 points they gave up to the Cowboys in Week 5 still stings.
But the return of superstar defender Miller and the pass rush he brings will signal the return of one of the elite defences in the NFL, making an already Super Bowl-calibre team even more dangerous. Look out.
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