Broncos outside linebackers Von Miller and Bradley Chubb failed to generate pressure in Week 1 and did not sack Raiders quarterback Derek Carr once in a 24-16 loss.
The lack of pressure was not solely the faults of Miller and Chubb, though. Before practice Thursday, Denver coach Vic Fangio said Miller played really well.
“I know everybody wants to see the sacks and the hits and whatnot, but he didn’t really have much of a chance,” Fangio said.
The Broncos’ defense frequently allowed Oakland to get into third-and-short situations, which aren’t passing downs. If the Raiders don’t have to throw on third down, pass rushing is obviously pointless.
And when Oakland did have to throw, Carr got the ball out of his hand quickly. Broncos defensive coordinator Ed Donatell isn’t worried about Miller’s perceived lack of production in Week 1.
“Von’s going to have a great season and he’s off to a good season,” Donatell said Thursday. “He played the run sound and good in the scheme. There just weren’t many opportunities for him and you saw we didn’t come up on schedule on third down.
“When you don’t do that, those guys really can’t get the feel and effect things. The first two downs of our defense needs to be played a little tighter. Everything from quick game to the run, and then we can get those third-and-long situations.”
So what can Denver’s defense do if they face another QB who gets the ball out of his hand quickly?
“We have to try and get our hands up and bat some of those is one thing,” Fangio said. “We have to do a better job of stopping the run and breaking up some of those quick passes so it becomes second-and-10 and maybe third-and-7-plus, and then the pass rush will have a chance.
“I’m not saying that our pass rush would have been great last week, but we really don’t know because it didn’t have much of a chance.”
Fans can be sure that Miller will be aiming to get after Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky in Week 2.
“If I don’t get a sack and then we lose on top of that too, it’s a double loss for me,” Miller said. “That’s my job and I like to get my job done.”
