Von Miller: “I can still wake up and pressure the quarterback”
The new Washington Commanders linebacker, Von Miller, has no doubts about his ability to perform as a quarterback hunter at 36 years old. He made this clear in his first press conference in Washington.The Commanders seem to appreciate those who can do that. They signed Miller to a one-year contract for $6.1 million, with the possibility of earning up to $10.5 million in incentives. Last season, the Commanders ranked 11th in sacks with 43, but were 30th in sacks in the fourth quarter with only five. Both Miller and the Commanders are looking for the same thing: a trip to the Super Bowl. Miller won a Super Bowl in Denver, where he was named MVP of the game, and with the Los Angeles Rams. Last season, Miller lost in the AFC Championship with Buffalo. Washington hasn’t played in the last game since the 1991 season, but reached the NFC Championship last season for the first time since that season. “You just can’t leave Josh Allen anywhere,” Miller said. “You can’t go from the AFC Championship and go anywhere… This team is about winning. I’m about winning. That’s why I’m here, to win.” Miller explained that he chose to sign with the Commanders, over two other teams, knowing they had a second-year quarterback in Jayden Daniels, who is coming off a difficult rookie season to surpass. Miller called Daniels one of the best quarterbacks in the league. Meanwhile, Miller has been one of the best quarterback hunters since entering the NFL in 2011 with Denver, recording 129.5 career sacks, including six last season with Buffalo. With Washington, Miller will likely be a situational pass rusher: the Commanders have a deeper rotation of ends who can play against the run. Washington coach Dan Quinn said he still saw Miller’s ability when watching him on video before signing him. “What I saw on video, the speed to beat someone on the first hit and that’s what it’s about, pressuring the passer, the first part,” Quinn said. “It’s about making the offensive tackle back up and feel that stress. If you don’t have that, it makes it difficult to put a lot of pressure on a tackle.” Miller stated that, as he has aged, the wisdom he has accumulated has helped, even if he has lost a bit of what made him one of the most feared pass rushers in his first eight seasons. During that period with Denver, he recorded double-digit sacks seven times, and the only year he didn’t, he missed seven games due to injury. Miller said he hasn’t lost any mental “contractions,” and that allows him to keep playing fast. “When I put on my cleats, when I get into my position, I can feel it, still with spasms,” he said, “probably not as many spasms as before when I was 21. That’s life.” “But I still have enough spasms to go out and do what I do and be effective in the game. I still feel like I have something to give to the game. The trick is that you don’t want to be kicked out of the league, but you also don’t want to leave too early. I’m still at that sweet spot and I’m doing everything in my power to stay there.” Miller also said it took him time to adjust in Buffalo to playing less and being a situational hunter. He said he liked playing more because it allowed him to set up certain moves later in the game. Miller then compared his role at 36 to that of a basketball player tasked with making an instant impact off the bench. “My position now, I enter the game and I have to shoot the three at this moment,” he said. “I come off the bench, dribble and shoot the three at this moment. I’m not passing the ball.” Washington hopes Miller’s versatility combined with outside linebacker Frankie Luvu, who recorded a personal best eight sacks last season, will provide more consistent pressure throughout the game. Luvu said that when he played in Carolina, he studied Miller. “He will help us a lot,” said Luvu. “Having him on our defense will bring nothing but energy in winning moments.”“Let me rush, that’s what I do,” Miller said. “I can still get out of bed at 36 with my shoes on and rush the passer. I can do that right when I wake up, fresh out of sleep. I love rushing the passer.”
Von Miller
