Bronco Rob
09-03-2012, 08:40 PM
The NFL's top rookie pass-rusher Von Miller on the Denver Broncos' offseason overhaul
By Peter Schager September 2012
All the news out of Denver this offseason was about the arrival of Peyton Manning and the exit of Tim Tebow. But with all due respect to the NFL's future Hall of Fame quarterback, the Broncos season might hinge more on a guy who plays on the other side of the ball: linebacker Von Miller, last season's NFL defensive rookie of the year.
GQ: Who were the pass rushers you grew up watching?
Von Miller: I grew up in Dallas, Texas, so I was always a big time Dallas Cowboys fan. I grew up watching DeMarcus Ware. That was my guy.
GQ: As far as technique goes, do you study other pass rushers' techniques?
Von Miller: Yes, sir. I'll watch DeMarcus Ware's tape and try to pick up little things. We play a similar position, so I'll watch and see what he does off the ball, after the snap. He's a speed rusher like me. I watch his tape all the time.
GQ: You played a unique position at Texas A&M called the "Joker." in which they used you all over the defense—not just at linebacker. How did that versatility help you when you got to the pros?
Von Miller: It was great. Defense is all about rushing the passer, and I got to rush the passer from different spots in college. It's all about getting to that quarterback. When I got to the pros, it was the same thing. Get to the quarterback.
GQ: As your rookie season went on, did you find yourself seeing things differently?
[b]Von Miller: I always preach, "Take it one day at a time." And you know, it wasn't too hard. The hardest thing about it was just being consistent. It's a long season in the NFL. You've just got to keep it up the whole way. Week in and week out.
GQ: Talk about your thought process on each play, trying to get to the quarterback before he can get rid of the ball.
Von Miller: It's a race. How fast can I get from Point A to Point B? Most of the time, I don't even see the offensive lineman or the running back trying to block me. I'm just focused on that quarterback. How fast can I get to him? How can I get a hand on him? It's like getting that last candy bar. You know, those offensive tackles are way bigger than us pass rushers. So, how can I get past him and get his last piece of candy? You've got to get to the ball. You've got to get that candy.
GQ: And when you get to the quarterback, what's that feeling like?
Von Miller: A quarterback sack is like a touchdown for us defensive players.
GQ: What's it like when you see the offensive tackle's spirit being broken after you've beaten him a few times?
Von Miller: That's why you play the game—to beat another grown man against his will. He's trying to do all he can to stop you. And he can't.
GQ: How excited are you to play with Peyton Manning this season?
Von Miller: Oh, I'm really excited. We've got a Hall of Fame player on defense in Champ Bailey. We've got a Hall of Fame quarterback in Peyton Manning. It's incredibly exciting to play with both of those guys on my team.
Read More http://www.gq.com/sports/profiles/201209/von-miller-nfl-gq-september-2012#ixzz25T718Ie1
:~ohyah!:
By Peter Schager September 2012
All the news out of Denver this offseason was about the arrival of Peyton Manning and the exit of Tim Tebow. But with all due respect to the NFL's future Hall of Fame quarterback, the Broncos season might hinge more on a guy who plays on the other side of the ball: linebacker Von Miller, last season's NFL defensive rookie of the year.
GQ: Who were the pass rushers you grew up watching?
Von Miller: I grew up in Dallas, Texas, so I was always a big time Dallas Cowboys fan. I grew up watching DeMarcus Ware. That was my guy.
GQ: As far as technique goes, do you study other pass rushers' techniques?
Von Miller: Yes, sir. I'll watch DeMarcus Ware's tape and try to pick up little things. We play a similar position, so I'll watch and see what he does off the ball, after the snap. He's a speed rusher like me. I watch his tape all the time.
GQ: You played a unique position at Texas A&M called the "Joker." in which they used you all over the defense—not just at linebacker. How did that versatility help you when you got to the pros?
Von Miller: It was great. Defense is all about rushing the passer, and I got to rush the passer from different spots in college. It's all about getting to that quarterback. When I got to the pros, it was the same thing. Get to the quarterback.
GQ: As your rookie season went on, did you find yourself seeing things differently?
[b]Von Miller: I always preach, "Take it one day at a time." And you know, it wasn't too hard. The hardest thing about it was just being consistent. It's a long season in the NFL. You've just got to keep it up the whole way. Week in and week out.
GQ: Talk about your thought process on each play, trying to get to the quarterback before he can get rid of the ball.
Von Miller: It's a race. How fast can I get from Point A to Point B? Most of the time, I don't even see the offensive lineman or the running back trying to block me. I'm just focused on that quarterback. How fast can I get to him? How can I get a hand on him? It's like getting that last candy bar. You know, those offensive tackles are way bigger than us pass rushers. So, how can I get past him and get his last piece of candy? You've got to get to the ball. You've got to get that candy.
GQ: And when you get to the quarterback, what's that feeling like?
Von Miller: A quarterback sack is like a touchdown for us defensive players.
GQ: What's it like when you see the offensive tackle's spirit being broken after you've beaten him a few times?
Von Miller: That's why you play the game—to beat another grown man against his will. He's trying to do all he can to stop you. And he can't.
GQ: How excited are you to play with Peyton Manning this season?
Von Miller: Oh, I'm really excited. We've got a Hall of Fame player on defense in Champ Bailey. We've got a Hall of Fame quarterback in Peyton Manning. It's incredibly exciting to play with both of those guys on my team.
Read More http://www.gq.com/sports/profiles/201209/von-miller-nfl-gq-september-2012#ixzz25T718Ie1
:~ohyah!: