Denver Broncos: Jeremiah Attaochu was outstanding vs. Titans

Jeremiah Attaochu was excellent for the Denver Broncos in Von Miller’s place.

When the Denver Broncos lost Von Miller likely for the entire 2020 season, they lost more than just a pass rusher — they lost the most important player to the team on and off the field.

Miller may not have had 17 sacks in 2019, but he was an impactful player as he always is, and even with Bradley Chubb back for the 2020 season, the Broncos knew they were going to have to replace his production by committee.

Jeremiah Attaochu, who re-signed with the Denver Broncos this past offseason after a strong finish to the 2019 season, said to heck with a committee. He took over for Von on 60 of the Broncos’ defensive snaps against the Titans, and he was absolutely tremendous.

In addition to notching the only sack of the game for the Broncos, Attaochu finished the game with five pressures in all, a pair of hits, and a tackle for loss.

He came this close to a strip-sack on Ryan Tannehill as well.

Let’s frame just how good that five pressure, one sack game was for Attaochu.

In 2019, Von Miller finished the season (15 games) with 37 total QB pressures. That’s just over two per game. TJ Watt led the NFL in 2019 with 59 total QB pressures, an average of just under four per game.

As a matter of fact, Attaochu is tied for third in the entire NFL after one week of play with his five total pressures from the Broncos’ week one loss against the Titans.

Considering the Titans’ passing game is based on play-action and getting rid of the ball quickly, Attaochu’s pressures are all the more impressive.

There’s no replacing Von Miller when it comes to his presence on the field, but if Attaochu can even come close to keeping this kind of production up, the Denver Broncos’ defense is going to be tremendous throughout the course of the 2020 season and the pass rush will be way less of an issue than originally anticipated.