Von Miller Ready to Increase Leadership Role with Broncos “To Get This Thing Right” by Ryan O’Halloran Denver Post April 1, 2019
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Von Miller ready to increase leadership role with Broncos “to get this thing right” By Ryan O’Halloran Denver Post April 1, 2019 Even before the Broncos decided to move on from veterans like safety Darian Stewart, linebacker Brandon Marshall and nose tackle Domata Peko, the idea of being a larger voice this year was on the mind of outside linebacker Von Miller. “One hundred percent,” Miller said during a Super Bowl week interview. “With each year that passes, I get more and more confident with the leadership role. I’ve shared a little bit, probably 20 percent to this guy and that guy. But I need to have 100 percent control of it to get this thing right.” The Broncos’ “thing” has been broken the last two years (11-21 record), semi-overshadowing Miller’s combined 24 1/2 sacks, including 14 1/2 in 2018 (his highest total since 18 1/2 in 2012). Miller, who turned 30 last Tuesday, is entering his ninth NFL season. The Broncos’ depth chart will be filled with young players who will look for guidance. Miller is ready to provide it. “I was vocal last year — I think it comes with time and being comfortable,” he said. “There isn’t a trigger that says, ‘Talk to these guys.’ It just kind of happens and you have to go with the flow and be alert of the time to do it. And you have to be on-point when you do it.” Last October, the Broncos were mired in a four-game losing streak as they prepared for a Thursday night road game at Arizona. Miller sounded the bugles and pounded the drums, saying the Broncos were going to “kick their (butt).” The Broncos won 45-10. “I just felt like, at that point of the season, that’s what needed to be said,” Miller said. “I needed to push the chips all in and put myself out there and let guys see that I wasn’t afraid to say we were going to beat their (butt).” Desperation to save the Broncos’ season led to Miller’s prediction. Maybe not to that degree, but it won’t be a stretch to hear him talk about accountability as early as this spring during the offseason program. Bidding for draft. Broncos president/CEO Joe Ellis said at the league meeting this past week that bringing the NFL Draft to Denver remains on the team’s radar. “Every year, it seems like the bar gets set a little higher,” Ellis said. “What are we going to do if we’re in the hunt? I have to figure that out. I liked our approach with Red Rocks, but the league not so much. … I don’t want to go in half-baked (with a proposal) because everybody is knocking it out of the park these days.” Next month’s draft is in Nashville, followed by Las Vegas in 2020. Four-round mock. Hat tip to NFL.com’s Chad Reuter for doing a four-round mock draft. His picks for the Broncos (with our comments). First round (No. 10) — LSU linebacker Devin White (teams would be calling general manager John Elway for a trade, but staying put for White is a slam dunk). … Second round (No. 41) — Kansas State right tackle Dalton Risner (him falling to the Broncos would be a terrific fortune and he could slide inside to compete for the starting right guard spot). … Third round (No. 71) — Georgia center Lamont Gaillard (42 career starts at guard and center for the Bulldogs). … Fourth round (No. 125) — Auburn quarterback Jarrett Stidham (he met with the Broncos at the Combine). Scouting Harry. Elway spent Wednesday at Arizona State’s Pro Day, where receiver N’Keal Harry was among the participants. At the Combine, Harry checked in at 6 feet, 2 3/8 inches and 228 pounds and ran the 40-yard dash in 4.53 seconds. His 27 reps in the 225-pound bench press was tied for first among receivers with Mississippi’s D.K. Metcalf. Harry, 21, had 213 catches for 2,889 yards and 22 touchdowns in three years for the Sun Devils. Around the NFL Who’s still available? On March 11, we identified the top 25 free agents. Less than three weeks later, all but defensive end Ziggy Ansah have signed new contracts. The top 10 players and 20 of 24 joined new teams. The only players to re-sign were Minnesota linebacker Anthony Barr (after originally committing to the New York Jets), Philadelphia cornerback Ronald Darby, Seattle linebacker K.J. Wright, and Indianapolis cornerback Pierre Desir. The top remaining player available is defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. Gronk appreciation. Rob Gronkowski retired last week following a nine-season career. His numbers and dominance should make him a first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee. From 2010-18, Gronk’s 91 touchdown catches (including playoffs) were 13 more than the next-closest player (Antonio Brown) and his yards-per-catch mark of 14.99 yards trailed only receivers Calvin Johnson of Detroit (15.94) and Julio Jones of Atlanta (15.24). Patriots’ upheaval. New England never officially confirmed the hiring of former Rutgers/Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Greg Schiano earlier this offseason. But the Patriots did announce Schiano’s abrupt resignation on Thursday. He cited “a realization that I need to spend more time on my faith and family.” Brian Flores called the defensive plays last year before becoming Miami’s coach. It was assumed Schiano was going to fill that role. The Patriots’ website lists only one defensive assistant (safeties coach Steve Belichick). Helping Bradley Chubb make a big jump in Year 2? Broncos coach Vic Fangio has some ideas By Ryan O’Halloran Denver Post April 1, 2019 Bradley Chubb was easy to find last year. Right outside linebacker. Two-point stance. Period. And it worked for Chubb, who was selected fifth overall by the Broncos. He led all NFL rookies and was tied for 14th overall with 12 sacks (also a franchise rookie record). But more should be expected from Chubb this year and more will be required for the Broncos to climb into AFC West contention. “Overall (improvement), that’s what you want to see,” general manager John Elway said recently. “Even though he played very well his first year, you (should) see a big jump in confidence.” To help fuel the next step, new coach Vic Fangio may have multiple new wrinkles for Chubb. It makes complete sense to add layers to Chubb’s job description. Last year represented a soft transition for Chubb, who played as a 4-3 defensive end for North Carolina State but became a 3-4 outside linebacker for the Broncos. Per the Denver Post’s game charting, Chubb had 38 1/2 pass-rush disruptions (12 sacks, seven knockdowns and 19 1/2 pressures) in 844 snaps. All but three came when he started the play as the stand-up right outside linebacker (92.2 percent). Chubb had two disruptions starting from the left outside linebacker spot (including a clean-up sack to start the Seattle game) and a hit when he lined up at left defensive end. The Broncos kept him at one spot and he used three moves: The bull rush to get into the left tackle’s pads, the speed rush to win around the corner and the inside stunt to knife by a guard. As the Chicago Bears’ defensive coordinator last year, Fangio said he “did a lot of work” evaluating Chubb even though the Bears did not have a first-round pick. Coaches being coaches, they always take a look at the top guys just in case. Fangio’s work became beneficial when he was hired by the Broncos. Fangio used that baseline of knowledge to provide some hints during his two media sessions last week. As a potentially elite pass rusher, moving Chubb around the line of scrimmage to probe match-ups in concert with Von Miller could be a boon for the Broncos. Could Chubb line up inside of Miller on the same side? “Sure, that’s a possibility,” Fangio said. “I think he obviously has the ability to play on the edge of our defense, but I will also be interested to see how much we can move him around. And if It fits what we want to do in that regard, I think he can.” Versatility has become a Fangio buzzword. He wants cornerbacks who are able to play inside and outside. He wants safeties that can play in the box and deep middle. He wants defensive linemen who can play end and nose tackle. And having Chubb and Miller at his disposal will give him myriad options. “I do get excited about it,” Fangio said of scheming pressures for Miller and Chubb. “But until we see them on the field and how 11 all can fit together, anything we might want to draw up (is something) we’ve probably already drawn up in the past.” Translation: Fangio and defensive coordinator Ed Donatell may not reinvent the pass-rushing wheel, but it could look new to Broncos fans. What Fangio shouldn’t do is use Chubb in coverage. A player at 269 pounds is built to move forward, not track a smaller man in coverage or back-pedal into a zone. What Fangio should do: Everything else. Use Chubb as a hand-on-the-turf defensive end, which was his college position, allowing Miller (or another rusher) to line up on his outside hip to give opponents a pick-their-poison option.