Spending hours with and since early April provided Broncos outside linebackers coach Brandon Staley with an idea of how they worked, learned and studied.
“What I was more interested in was, on game-day, what would they be like?” Staley said. “What would happen when they struggled or things weren’t going their way?”
Unfortunately for the Broncos, Staley has had three chances to gauge how Miller and Chubb respond to adversity.
For the first time since sacks became an official statistic in 1982, the Broncos (0-3) have opened a season with three consecutive no-sack games. In 86 drop-backs by the opposing quarterback, they have six disruptions (three knockdowns and pressures apiece per The Denver Postap game charting).
RELATED: Kiszla vs. O’Halloran: No sacks, no turnovers? What changes must Broncos make on defense?
Miller has one quarterback pressure and his 12-second appearance at the interview podium on Thursday didn’t create any news, but plenty of reading between the words (focused on getting the first win/frustrated with the lack of production?).
“Von is one of the best finishers in the history of the game,” Staley said. “He has a confidence inside him that will always be there.”
Chubb has all three of the Broncos’ knockdowns.
“You’re seeing a guy who is surer (of himself) and more confident and thatap what you’ve seen in the run game — he’s been all over the place through three games in the run game,” Staley said.
Consistently positive, Staley spent several minutes before practice Thursday outlining how stout Miller and Chubb have been as run defenders. Per The Post, Chubb has 5 1/2 “stuffs” (gain of 1 or fewer yards) and Miller has 1 1/2.
“Von and Bradley are both playing well,” said Staley, who followed coach from the . “We know the (sack) production is going to come.”
It better. Quickly.
Citing the quick passing plans by Oakland and Chicago and a lack of an interior pass rush (itap probably time to use Dre’Mont Jones and DeMarcus Walker more often) remain applicable, but so do two factors: The Broncos can’t get a lead and they aren’t good enough on first and second downs.
The Broncos have led only 4.9% of the time this year.
No lead means the Broncos’ opponents can stick to their game plan menu. The Broncos’ defense has faced 82 pass attempts, tied with Cincinnati for fewest in the league.
Get a lead and the Broncos can do what Green Bay did last week when it led by 11 points and sacked quarterback three times in the final five minutes.
“Our approach is, ‘Be aggressive on every snap,’ because the way teams are playing us, you never know when your chance is coming,” Staley said. “A lot of times when you get these (high) passing games, the rushers can get into a great rhythm and itap no different than a jump shooter or a (baseball) hitter. We haven’t had that rhythm yet.”
What keeps pass rushers from establishing a rhythm is facing too many third-and-short plays.
On first and second downs, opponents have rushing rates of 59.7% and 49.1%, respectively, the latter statistic showing teams are in a manageable second-down situation.
Oakland and Chicago had a combined 11 third-down opportunities where they needed three or fewer yards (seven conversions). Things turned against Green Bay. The Packers needed at least 10 yards on six of their nine chances (one conversion). When needing at least eight yards on third down, opponents are 3 of 15 against the Broncos.
“What we have to do a good job on is, when itap first and second down and 50-50 (run/pass), we have to be really aggressive and be ready to capitalize on our opportunities,” Staley said.
Expect Miller and Chubb to continue to get opportunities to play — they’re at 95.3% and 96.5% of the snaps this year.
“All three of these games have been low snap-total games on defense and what we believe in is playing our (main) guys,” Staley said. “If Von and Bradley are healthy and rested, they’re going to be out there.”
Staley knows Miller and Chubb can be the best run-game edge defenders in pro football and it won’t mean much if the pass rush game can’t get untracked.
“Our record is what it is and we’re disappointed in that,” Staley said. “We know for us to get it going the way we know it can, our group needs to shine. I think they’re ready to do that.”
