NFL Week 3: Von Miller, Stefon Diggs showcase skills on film

Sometimes, rare talent has to be admired and appreciated. In the case of Denver Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller, this is such a moment.

Last year, Miller was devastating in the playoffs, racking up 4.5 sacks on the way to a Super Bowl 50 MVP award and the largest guaranteed contract – six years and $114 million with $70 million guaranteed – in NFL history for a defensive player.

After getting paid, Miller has done anything but relax. The First-Team All-Pro already has four sacks in two games, including three this past Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts. The reasons for Miller’s success are many, but chief among them are a variance in pass rush moves and guile.

While even a casual football fans knows Miller’s name and understands his greatness, he remains underappreciated for his intellect. Below is the perfect example of why he’s phenomenal.

Von Miller

It’s 1st and 10 for the Colts at their own 25-yard line. With just under two minutes left, Indianapolis trails Denver, 26-20. Andrew Luck is in the shotgun with 11 personnel (running back, tight end). Denver is showing blitz off the left side. Miller is on the right side, excessively wide. He’ll be going against Joe Reitz. The Broncos are in a dime look.

There are a few things going on here. First, Brandon Marshall is blitzing, but when the back releases on a pass pattern, he puts his foot in the ground and drops into coverage. This leaves five blockers on four rushers. The Colts double on Derek Wolfe, with guard Jonotthan Harrison and center Ryan Kelly combining.

This leaves Reitz with Miller, who already has two sacks, one-on-one. For whatever reason, tight end Dwayne Allen is not instructed to chip Miller by offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski. Miller has a clean rush and comes screaming off the right side.

Miller puts his left foot in the ground and fakes a power move. Reitz bites, respecting Miller’s strength. Miller then makes a hard plant with his right foot and heads for the swim move. Look at the next picture to understand how well Miller does this.

Reitz has no chance. Look at the bend Miller gets without losing any speed. Without the chip from Allen or a back staying into block, this play is over without Andrew Luck getting rid of the ball immediately at the top of his drop. The end result is the end of the game.

Miller goes for the ball, crushes Luck in the process and Shane Ray scoops the fumble before running into the end zone. The takeaway from this? Miller’s speed rush worked because of great footwork and a devastating power rush used earlier in the game.

Stefon Diggs

Let’s switch gears to the offensive side. After quarterback Teddy Bridgewater broke his leg a week before the regular season began, most believed the Minnesota Vikings were finished. Instead, a  daring trade by general manager Rick Spielman netted San Bradford, who has developed a quick chemistry with receiver Stefon Diggs.

Diggs, 22, is in his second season after being a fifth-round pick last spring. On Sunday night, the youngster torched the Green Bay Packers for nine catches, 182 yards and a touchdown. Here’s the scoring play, and how Diggs was able to eat the cushion given to him before accelerating. It’s also a good look at Bradford hanging tough, a bad read by a Morgan Burnett, and a fantastic play call against Cover 2 by offensive coordinator Norv Turner.

Minnesota is leading 10-7 with 2:27 remaining in the third quarter. For the Vikings, it’s 1st and 10 from the Green Bay 25-yard line. Minnesota is in 11 personnel with Diggs wide right, matched up against Damarious Randall in man coverage. The Packers are playing Cover 2 out of their nickel defense, with man principles and zone underneath.

Off the snap, Diggs gets a free release from Randall, who is shading to the outside. Randall is expecting help from the Burnett, but he’s focused on Kyle Rudolph. Rudolph and Diggs are running a levels concept, forcing a choice. Burnett bites down, and Sam Bradford knows he has man coverage without help on the Diggs’ post pattern.

At the moment Bradford throws, Randall is committing pass interference by grabbing the streaking Diggs. Meanwhile, defensive tackle Mike Daniels is screaming in off a twist, about to hammer the veteran quarterback. Here’s another look at the pressure.

The end result is fantastic.

Note that Diggs was at the 12-yard line at the release of this throw. He does a great job tracking the pass and keeping concentration on both catching the pass and keeping both feet down. This ended up being the game-winning score.