Von Miller: Wade Phillips makes Broncos defense more aggressive

Denver Broncos All-Pro linebacker Von Miller believes new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips will make the Broncos defense more aggressive.

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The Denver Broncos have long run a 4-3 defensive scheme, which relied on playing fast, but also gap integrity. With the addition of Wade Phillips as the new defensive coordinator the defense will change to a base 3-4 scheme.

No player figures to benefit more from the change than Von Miller, who told the Broncos’ website he believes Phillips’ new scheme will give him more freedom to rush the quarterback.

In past seasons, under Dennis Allen and Jack Del Rio, Miller has played outside linebacker and moved to the edge in obvious passing seasons. He will do just that in Phillips’ scheme, but will be asked to rush the passer on non-obvious passing downs now as well.

In 56 career games, over his first four seasons in the NFL, the 25-year-old linebacker has accumulated 49 total sacks, including a career high 18.5 in his second season.

Miller was drafted second overall out of Texas A&M in the 2011 NFL draft. As an Aggie, Miller played in a modified 3-4 defensive scheme and displayed protoypical 3-4 edge defender abilities.

Yet similar to Brian Orakpo, he was asked to play as an outside linebacker in a 4-3 scheme early in his career. When the Redskins switched to a 3-4 in Orakpo’s second year, he had some success, but not as much as in his initial NFL campaign.

But Phillips’ scheme is more aggressive than the 3-4 scheme Washington used. In his past three NFL posts, Phillips has overseen defenses which previously ran 4-3 schemes (except Dallas in the middle) and turned them into blitz heavy, pass-rushing terror defenses.

In San Diego Phillips had pass-rush extraordinaire Shawne Merriman. In Dallas he had DeMarcus Ware (whom he also now has in Denver) and Anthony Spencer. In Houston, he relied mostly on the otherworldly J.J. Watt at the defensive end spot.

Few defenses will blitz as often or do so as successfully as a Wade Phillips defense. His success is due in part to great scheme, and the same thing every great NFL unit relies on, getting one-on-one matchups for his playmakers.

Miller is a playmaker as a pass-rusher, as the numbers prove.

In 2014, Miller was coming off a torn ACL. He had no offseason to work on improving, instead only recuperating. He believes being a year removed from the devastating injury will allow him to grasp the new defense and dominate in 2015.

“I think we’ll be a little more aggressive. I’m looking forward to it. It’ll be pretty exciting.”

Miller will be in the final year of his rookie deal in 2015, making him a free agent in 2016.

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