Miles
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- Mar 18, 2019
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The Lead
After an offseason of collecting offensive weapons, Drew Lock might be feeling some pressure heading into 2020, but NFL.com's Adam Schein is looking on the other side of the ball for the Broncos player facing the most heat: Von Miller.
After Miller failed to reach double-digit sacks for just the second time in his career in 2019, Schein wrote that he'll need to return to his usual standard well above that mark.
"While the hype is understandably building around Drew Lock and the Broncos' offense — after Lock's inspired play last December and an offseason full of weapons upgrades — the calling card for Vic Fangio's team still needs to be the defense," Schein wrote. "And that means Miller must get back to his elite level."
However, no matter how much pressure Miller may feel from external sources, that will be dwarfed by the pressure and expectations he puts on himself.
"Going forward, I have to lead the league in sacks, get a Defensive Player of the Year," Miller said in April. "I have to figure out a way to do that. I feel like sacks and the Defensive Player of the Year Award go together. If I can lead the league in sacks, I think they just go hand in hand. … It's about sacks and winning games.
"I'm just trying to be the same Von that I can be, continue to get sacks and continue to be consistent."
Miller's trophy case is full of awards, but Defensive Player of the Year is something that has eluded him. Entering his 10th season, what better way could there be for Miller to signal to the rest of the league that he still has plenty left in the tank?