Elway Sees ‘Orange Crush’ Status In Von Miller Selection

When a Texas boy’s eyes turn into faucets, there’s good reason.

Von Miller was just selected 2nd overall in the 2011 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos. The tears flowed, the smiles flared, and college football’s best linebacker just became a Denver Bronco. The list of things to celebrate about this draft selection are about a Mile High Long.

With heads on their shoulders and sexy picks nowhere near the brain, the brain trust of the Broncos did a great job with the No. 2 selection in the draft.

Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil to contend with on the defensive side of the ball? One word: Scary!

“Von is the first step of bringing back the old Orange Crush defense that you’re all used to seeing,” John Elway said at a team draft party.

Orange and Crush are two words that sit well with Bronco Nation, and Miller seems like the guy to bring this defense to the next level.

As an Aggie, Miller recorded 178 total tackles, 32 sacks, and 1 interception in his four year career. This is a young guy that is polished, mature, and ready to help take the reins from some of the older guys like Brian Dawkins as far as leadership goes.

Not only does it benefit the Broncos defense, but it will do wonders for the team’s offense as well. An offense that has to practice against Elvis Dumervil, Brian Dawkins, D.J. Williams, Champ Bailey, and now Von Miller can only improve by leaps and bounds. That’s like a runner who trains for a marathon with a weighted backpack on, and then leaves the backpack at home on race day.

Miller is a great pass rusher, but he’s accustomed to a 3-4 defense. We all know that John Fox plans on running the 4-3. The hope here is that Miller is a good enough all-around football player to learn a new style of defense. The 6’2” 237 lb. linebacker will likely line up as an outside linebacker in the 4-3 as D.J. Williams will play the middle. Miller can get in the three-point stance when the team runs the nickel or the dime.

He’s a great pass rusher and he does well against the run as well.

As John Fox looked on as his former team, the Carolina Panthers, picked up Cam Newton with the No. 1 pick, the coach now clad in an orange tie is hoping this is the first and the last time the Denver Broncos select this high in the draft.

Now a Bronco, Miller is hoping the same thing.

There’s a familiar Rocky Mountain thunderous rhythm back in the heart that pumps the orange blood through our veins. The Broncos won big with their first round selection. If you question the Broncos decision at all, watch this video.

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