Don’t worry fellas, I’ll take it from here. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
When the whole sports world learned of Broncos star linebacker Von Miller’s suspension, it was doom and gloom all over the place. Of course without Von Miller, the Broncos’ defense would not be able to overcome the short-comings of the offensive unit.
Either way, as you well know by now, the Broncos have gone 6-0 in Von Miller’s absence and the wait is finally over. A team that looks like the most un-beatable (if there is one) in the league is getting a Defensive Player of the Year caliber guy back on a unit that could desperately use his services.
The Broncos’ pass defense has been atrocious the last two weeks after being pretty good in the first four games of the season. They are going to need all the help they can get going to face Andrew Luck in his home building, but I have full confidence that much of what we’ve seen from the Broncos’ pass defense thus far has been flukey.
With Von Miller back in the fold, Denver is going to be able to get defense in 2nd-and-long situations more frequently. Miller is going to open things up for guys like Robert Ayers, Derek Wolfe, Malik Jackson, and Shaun Phillips. His return is going to allow the Broncos to play more press coverage and less of this zone garbage that teams are getting huge chunks on.
There have been times the last two weeks where guys like Dez Bryant and Justin Blackmon were absolutely uncovered in the Broncos’ zone looks.
Not a good look.
Either way, even the most optimistic Broncos fans thought Denver would–at best–be 5-1 or 4-2 up to this point without Miller having road games against both the New York Giants (0-6) and Dallas Cowboys (near loss). Turns out, the offense is good enough to lift this team when they need it to, even playing the worst defensive game possible (see Dallas game).
I don’t foresee the Broncos playing any more games like they did against Dallas at all this season, and having Miller back, not to mention getting Wesley Woodyard and Robert Ayes, is going to seriously elevate this team defensively and take a lot of pressure off of Peyton Manning and the boys on offense.