There are plenty of changes for the Denver Broncos as training camp begins. From new coaches to new players, everyone in the organization is figuring out their roles. One of those new roles is linebacker Von Miller as the sole leader on the Broncos’ elite defense.
Miller spoke to the media Wednesday about his changing role on the field with the departure of DeMarcus Ware.
“It’s different, I mean roles change every single year. At the end of the day I have to be Von Miller. The leadership, it has to come. Like I said, I think in OTAs I was sitting in the meeting room with Coach Pag (Outside Linebacker Coach Fred Pagac) and the guys – Shaq [Barrett] is at year four, you’ve got Shane [Ray] going into year three, and you’ve got all these other young guys and I’m the DeMarcus,” Miller said. “You know I’m going into year seven so I’m the DeMarcus Ware in the room now. I’m not old but it’s like I’m the old guy in there. Everybody’s joking and laughing and stuff looking at them like what are y’all laughing about. I don’t get it and that used to be me on that side. The tide has changed I guess and I have to be that guy for my team and I think I have taken steps to do that.”
Naturally with Miller as a newer leader there will be comparisons to top dogs from the past such as Champ Bailey, Ware, or Peyton Manning. Miller took those comparisons in stride and talked about how he sees himself with regards to those players.
“I don’t think I’m as laid back as Champ and I approach guys. I just approach them in a different way. I wouldn’t say I approach them as a friend; I approach them as Von. I approach them with everything that I see. I feel like I can tell people everything that I see and everything that’s going on without people getting offended,” the All-Pro linebacker explained. “Sometimes, when you’ve got these huge, big-time figures like Peyton and DeMarcus and approaching them like that they could maybe feel a certain way. But with me, I’m approachable. I feel like everybody, even the rookies, DeMarcus Walker and all of these guys can come talk to me and I feel like I can do the same thing with them when it comes to leadership.”
Miller has been a dominant force in the league for most of this decade, and now he is ready to fully claim the mantle of Denver’s defensive leader on and off the field.