Containing Miller next challenge for Collins

DENVER — Dallas Cowboys right tackle La’el Collins isn’t going to take any pass rusher for granted.

It doesn’t matter if he is facing proven veterans such as Jason Pierre-Paul and Von Miller or a guy somebody just signed off the streets.

As Collins — in his first season at right tackle — put it: “I take it one week at a time. I understand that everybody is good in this league. The one second you think that you’re going against some guy you’ve never heard of, you’re going to get beat. You’re going get your butt whooped.”

That is the mindset that helped Collins fare well against the New York Giants’ Pierre-Paul in the season opener, limiting him to three tackles and no sacks. He would like to minimize Miller in a similar fashion Sunday when the Cowboys visit the Denver Broncos.

Miller is among the elite pass rushers in the league, being named first-team All-Pro the last two seasons and registering 38½ sacks the last three seasons.

Miller, the DeSoto native who starred at Texas A&M, is known for his quickness and bend off the edge. Not many, if any, players possess the kind of athleticism he does.

“Just an exceptional player,” Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said. “He’s one of those guys who is a real difference-maker. He’s an incredible athlete.

“He’s got a hunger to get there, and he seems to do it again and again and again at this level with a lot of attention. He’s a great football player.”

As Garrett said, opposing teams have tried everything to slow down Miller in recent years. Sometimes, extra help doesn’t even contain him on passing downs, evidence of his 73½ career sacks in 89 career games.

Miller is 75th on the all-time list and is on pace to reach the 100-sack mark in his career at 121 career games, which would be quicker than Hall of Famers such as Richard Dent (130) and Derrick Thomas (133).

Broncos coach Vance Joseph almost dared the Cowboys to try to block Miller one-on-one on passing downs.

“To block Von one-on-one on third downs on passing downs wouldn’t be smart for anyone,” Joseph said. “I hope they block him one-on-one. That would be good for us.”

The Cowboys are confident in Collins’ play.

“We trust our tackles and our offensive line going into the game,” quarterback Dak Prescott said.

Just as Collins doesn’t take any pass rusher for granted, Miller isn’t taking Collins for granted.

“He went against JPP and did a pretty good job,” Miller said.