Could Chubb’s play indicate Miller’s impact for Broncos defense?

Nov 21, 2018, 5:13 PM

Bradley Chubb #55 of the Denver Broncos smiling on the bench with Von Miller #58 during a strong fi...

(Photo by Joe Amon/The Denver Post via Getty Images)

Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller’s body of work, which earned him AFC West Defensive Player of the Week honors on Wednesday, speaks for itself.

But could the strong play of another Broncos defender, Bradley Chubb, indicate just how much of an impact Miller has had this season for Denver?

“Would you say that the reason, maybe the only reason, Bradley Chubb is having this kind of season is because of the presence of Von on the other side?” said “Schlereth and Evans” co-host Mike Evans on Wednesday. “Because, if you can, then I would say Von’s having a great year because of the impact that he’s allowed Bradley Chubb to have.”

Through the first 10 games of his career, Chubb has 9.0 sacks, 26 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, and a forced fumble.

“Bradley Chubb is just coming on like gangbusters,” Evans said. “He’s having a terrific season.”

But Evans’ co-host, Mark Schlereth, said there’s a point in saying Miller has contributed to Chubb’s success by merely playing across the line from him.

“He would not have nearly this good … he wouldn’t be putting up these kinds of numbers had it not been for the complementary nature of having Von Miller on the other side,” Schlereth said.

On his own, Miller has racked up 10.0 sacks, 20 tackles, 16 quarterback hits, one interception, two passes defensed, four forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries.

Together, Schlereth said, Chubb and Miller might end up eclipsing 25 sacks combined.

“In six games, you can’t get another seven sacks? I think that’s reasonable. At least six sacks,” Schlereth said of Miller’s statistics. “So, I think 16, 17 is viable. And I think 12 would be amazing — another three sacks for Bradley Chubb.”

On Wednesday, “Stokley and Zach” co-host Brandon Stokley said he believes Chubb is “more comfortable” and coming into his own and could surpass the NFL rookie record for sacks set by Jevon Kearse (14.5) in 1999.

“I’m expecting to see him go out there and continue what we saw as of late and build off of that,” Stokley said. “I think he does get the record also, which would be a really, really cool thing.”

Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @JohnnyHart7.