The Denver Broncos have gotten everything and more out of rookie linebacker Von Miller, whom they drafted with the No. 2 overall pick. Through 11 games, Miller has sacked opposing quarterback 10.5 times and is on pace to breaking Jevon Kearse's rookie record of 14.5 (set in 1999). He's certainly on his way to winning the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award (he was November's Defensive Rookie of the Month winner).
But what about NFL Defensive Player of the Year? It's actually not a bad bet, if we follow Adam Schefter's line of thinking:
Miller has an NFL-high 18 quarterback hits. He has 26 quarterback hurries and, maybe as impressive as any stat, he has not missed a single tackle all season.
He concludes that Miller has had the biggest impact on a team defense than players such as Patrick Willis and Darrelle Revis. With numbers like those, it appears hard to argue. Miller is certainly well on his way to becoming a player in the caliber of Derrick Thomas or Lawrence Taylor.
Miller is questionable for Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings after having surgery on his thumb. He'll likely find anyway he can to make it into the game. He wants to terrorize Christian Ponder.
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