Von Miller knows nothing of a sophomore slump
Peyton Manning may be the big name the Denver Broncos are known by, but when they selected Von Miller in the 2011 NFL draft they were selecting a player that would immediately change their defense.
Von Miller knows nothing of a sophomore slump, per the Denver Post, Miller is only the third NFL player since the start of the 1994 season to produce at least 15 sacks, 20 tackles for loss and six forced fumbles in the same season. Miller ranks third in the league in sacks (16) and second in tackles for loss (24), with 12 of those tackles for loss coming against the run.
Before drafting Miller, the Broncos defensive unit were dead last in the NFL allowing 391 total yards per game and almost 30 points per contest. This season, the Broncos are ranked fourth in total defense with 309.4 yards allowed per game, third in yards per play (4.8) and fourth in points allowed per game (19.8).
During college Miller attended Texas A&M and was the 2010 Butkus Award winner as the nation’s best linebacker. Standing up on nearly every snap, Miller had 17.5 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks and three forced fumbles in 2010 while playing through an ankle injury early in the season. His true explosion was on display during his junior season in which he racked up a nation-high 17 sacks to go with four forced fumbles and 21.5 tackles for loss.
He won the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2011 and is within grasp of the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award this season.
“Of course I want to accomplish something as great as that, but it’s one of those things … if I don’t get it this year, God willing I’ll have more chances in the future to get it,” Miller said. “It’s a big deal, but it’s not as big a deal as the type of team that we have and the type of things we can accomplish as a team this year. ” – Denver Post.
Despite his accomplishments in his rookie year, Miller said he wanted to cut down on his mental errors, be more reliable for his teammates and not be “a liability whatever they call,” he said. He has worked on being better in pass coverage and is the only Defensive Player of the Year candidate with either an interception or a touchdown this season. Miller got his first career interception two weeks ago after Broncos defensive tackle Mitch Unrein hit Tampa Bay quarterback Josh Freeman as he was releasing the football. The ball fell to Miller, who ran 26 yards for his first career touchdown.
