Von Miller is important right away for the Denver Broncos
By Hayden Kane
Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Von Miller returns to action this week. If we’re learned anything, we’ve learned that Peyton Manning trumps all when it comes to attention and story-lines.
Miller was all we heard about this past off-season, after all, and so you would think that he would be the focus this week as he prepares to return to action after serving his six-game suspension for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. All it took was a dopey comment by a dopey owner and a couple responses in defense of Manning, and Miller’s return is all but forgotten.
To defeat the Indianapolis Colts in the much ballyhooed match-up Sunday night, the Broncos are going to need Von Miller to have an impact right away.
The San Diego Chargers stifled the Colts’ offense in their 19-9 victory Monday night. They did it by refusing to let Luck get comfortable in the pocket, sacking him once, hitting him six times and hurrying him eight times (according to ProFootballFocus). In total Luck went 18-for-30 for 202 yards, 0 TDs and 1 interception.
Right now the Colts are fighting for an identity on offense, struggling with an offensive line that can’t keep Luck on his feet and running the ball more than some people would care to see. The Broncos are struggling to stop teams through the air, with their safeties struggling in coverage and Champ Bailey looking rusty, to say the least, as Justin Blackmon demolished the secondary last weekend.
Both units (Colts offense, Broncos defense) are in flux, but the Broncos can look more sound for their part if Miller plays a big role right away. The Chargers proved that you can make things hard on the Colts’ offense these days if Luck doesn’t have a clean pocket. Hopefully the Broncos can carry out that plan with Miller back in the lineup.