Three Broncos who must step up following the Von Miller trade
Nov 2, 2021, 6:21 AM
It was the end of an era on Monday as the Denver Broncos traded away future Hall of Fame linebacker and Super Bowl 50 MVP Von Miller to the Los Angeles Rams. The first pick of former general manager John Elway’s tenure, Miller instantly became a fan favorite when he came into the league in 2011 as the No. 2 overall pick. He may not be what he used to be, but Miller was the team’s best pass-rusher so far in 2021 with 4.5 sacks and fans still love him.
“Von is a special player, a special person and a Bronco for Life.”
You’ll always be a part of the Broncos family, @VonMiller.
#ThankYou58— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) November 1, 2021
The Broncos are now moving on, and they need players to help the big void that is left by Miller’s departure. Here are three players who need to step up with Miller traded away.
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The Rookie
Jonathon Cooper is a player I liked in the 2021 NFL Draft. I thought the Broncos got a steal when they selected him in the seventh round of the draft, and I even liked him dating back to the Senior Bowl when I did an interview with Broncos TV saying he’d be a good fit in Denver.
It’s no surprise that Cooper has ascended the depth chart so quickly as a rookie. He’s started one game so far this year, and Cooper is coming off a game against Washington where he played a season-high 53 snaps. Cooper doesn’t have a sack yet this season, but he does have three quarterback hits and he seems to be getting closer and closer to getting his first pro sack.
In college at Ohio State, Cooper wasn’t racking up sacks left and right. However, he was known to play with a ton of heart, and he would bring pressure that forced quarterbacks into the hands of his teammates. I’m not expecting Cooper to suddenly start getting sacks in bunches. Instead, I know he can play with strength to keep contain while pushing the pocket and being troublesome for blockers tasked with facing him.
Cooper has an opportunity to further make plays for the Broncos. He’s a rookie, there will be inconsistency to his performance as he learns the ropes in the NFL, but the talent is there to be a strong presence who helps get pressure on the quarterback. Not only can Cooper get after the quarterback himself, but he also can create enough pressure that others around him can get free.
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The Dream Killer
Malik Reed has had an up-and-down season in 2021. It’s been mostly down so far, and Reed only had 2.0 sacks before the Week 8 contest against the Washington Football Team. He had been lackluster as a pass-rusher, and Reed is not the force when it comes to run defense that Miller is.
That changed against Washington, and Reed turned in his best game of the season with 2.0 sacks three tackles, a forced fumble and a pass defensed. Is this a one-game wonder against an inferior opponent, or is this big game a sign of things to come?
To replace Miller, the Broncos not only need pass rushers, but they need players who can do that while staying strong against the run. Miller was so good at getting around the corner to get to the quarterback, but he also could cut down the line of scrimmage and was great at snaring ball-carriers or at least tripping them up before they ripped off a big run. Reed, or someone on this team, needs to help the Broncos do that – especially since their rush defense has been an issue in the 2021 season.
MALIK. REED. pic.twitter.com/9XBOnoWSMf
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) October 31, 2021
Reed has talent, and we certainly know he can get after the quarterback. He led the team with 8.0 sacks in the 2020 season, and he’s on pace for about the same number of sacks this year. Without Miller, and until the return of Bradley Chubb we need to see Reed play like he never has before.
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The First-Round Pick
Bradley Chubb needs to get healthy and get back on the field. He’s missed most of the season with an ankle injury that caused him to be placed on Injured Reserve on Sept. 22. The initial diagnosis was that Chubb would need an extended period to recover, around six to eight weeks. That means Chubb may return to the field for the Broncos, if there are no setbacks, around Thanksgiving.
He’s a strong presence who can produce if he stays healthy. Chubb is so strong that he will hold the edge against the run. You can’t push him off his mark, and he’s savvy about peeking around blockers to sniff out the run.
Chubb has done a good job over his pro career of adding more moves to his bag of tricks. He has strength to bull rush when getting after the passer, but now he can engage a spin move, rip move, swim move to counter that initial burst of power. Chubb can stack moves quickly and not lose much speed on his way to the quarterback. This will be great for the Broncos to get back out there – if he can only stay healthy.
Malik Reed today. Bradley Chubb vs. San Fran. pic.twitter.com/Zfn6XCFWSX
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) August 30, 2019
We need to see Chubb stay healthy and produce for the Broncos with Miller gone. He’s not a bust, but the first-round pick in 2018 – selected ahead of QB Josh Allen – has not been a great pick. Chubb is talented, but he’s one of the most oft-injured Broncos on the roster and he’s running out of time to prove himself.
