The Washington Commanders have secured veteran linebacker Von Miller in hopes of bolstering their pass rush for the upcoming 2024 NFL season. At 36 years old, Miller is an interesting addition, given the context of the team he’s a key addition. He has tremendous experience and skill, poised to direct his teammates and inflict a high level of punishment on enemy quarterbacks. His experience and skill set should give the Commanders the impact pass-rusher they’ve long been missing.
Miller reunites with the rate of his performance during the 2021 season as part of the Buffalo Bills. He recorded a stellar 25.5% pass rush win rate during the fourth quarter, third-highest in the NFL. In that stretch, he amassed 12 pass rush wins, more than any player currently signed with Washington. This accomplishment served to cement his legacy as the big play go-to-guy in pressure-packed situations.
His unique abilities extend beyond individual performance. Miller’s culture has developed a reputation for refining and sharpening the skills of other pass rushers. His unique skill set makes him a fascinating puzzle piece among his new teammates. He’s already being counted on to help improve their games. “It’s all to make us all better,” Miller said, underscoring the collaborative environment he seeks to foster within the creative team.
In Miller’s past seasons with the Bills, he has shown us what it’s like to be committed to excellence and teamwork. In 2017 he created the Sack Summit. This NFL-hosted competition pits defensive linemen against each other to sharpen their skills for the defensive front’s most important job: harassing quarterbacks. This proposal is an indication of his conviction that working together will produce more winning results on the pitch.
Before joining the Commanders, Miller went through a rough time away from the gridiron. He agreed to a four-game suspension without pay for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy. He recovered and managed to play in all 16 games last season, including the postseason, where he was eligible. “I could have easily sat out all of last season, but I couldn’t do my teammates like that,” Miller remarked, reflecting his dedication to his colleagues and the game.
As coaches and NFL analysts have noted, Miller’s impact extends far past his individual talent. Just having him there should make a night-and-day difference in how well the entire defense performs. As one coach put it, “iron sharpens iron,” and that’s true in a team environment. He thinks having Miller around will help raise the games of every player on the roster.
Miller’s new role would be most similar to his time with the Atlanta Falcons. In 2016, Dan Quinn lured him over to serve a similar role on his staff. At the time, people viewed Miller as a monumental, transformative figure. He consistently made everyone around him better while being a driving force during the most important phases of any game.
Even with the pedestrian number of three sacks across a somewhat similar span of games this past season, Miller is still a game-changing force on the field. His ability to provide both individual performance and mentorship will be crucial for Washington as they aim to solidify their defensive strategy.
The Commanders are banking on Miller’s experience and leadership to have an immediate impact with the pads on. Just as they turn their sights toward the 2024 campaign, they can’t wait to pair his diverse talents with the pipeline of homegrown defensive talent already on board.
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