MILLER, MACK LOOK TO CAUSE HAVOC
No players have more sacks since 2015 than Khalil Mack ( 28) and VonMiller ( 271⁄ 2).
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr doesn’t have to dig deep into his memory bank to remember what sort of havoc Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller can cause.
Miller has sacked Carr four times in five matchups with the quarterback, including an impressive strip sack in 2015 in which Miller simply pounced on Carr and ripped the ball from his grasp.
“I think he’s one of the best ever to play the game. Not just in the game now. We all know that,” Carr said this week, as the Raiders prepare for Sunday’s game at Denver.
Inside the Broncos’ training facility, similar platitudes were spoken this week about Miller's pass rushing counterpart in Oakland, Khalil Mack, who has seven sacks in six games against the Broncos. Five came in one game in 2015, all against former Broncos starter Brock Osweiler. The other two occurred against Trevor Siemian last year.
“I’ll just say, you know where he is every time you break the huddle,” Siemian said of Mack.
While the Oakland- Denver AFCWest rivalry has been renewed thanks to a resurgent Raiders squad, spurred by the arrival of Carr and Mack in the 2014 draft, the competition and comparisons between Mack and Miller has certainly added intrigue to the matchup.
No players have more sacks since 2015 than Mack ( 28) and Miller ( 271⁄ 2), and both seem to relish the chance to be on the same field together.
“They’re both guys who can wreck a game,” Broncos coach Vance Joseph said.
Mack and Miller have developed a friendship, born out of what Miller refers to as the “brotherhood” of pass rushers. Mack, who was named NFL defensive player of the year by one vote over Miller in 2016, participated in the pass rush summit Miller organized at Stanford University last summer. There, they joined other defensive players like Miller’s former teammates, Malik Jackson and DeMarcus Ware, Seattle Seahawks defensive end Cliff Avril and 2016 NFL sack leader Vic Beasley.
They group studied film, talked about techniques philosophies and worked on their moves. Mack gained an appreciation for Miller’s speed and flexibility, while Miller could appreciate Mack’s power.
“Von has a hell of a get- off, and he can bend that corner like nobody else in the league,” Mack said. “I'mmore of a physical guy in that approach, not taking that away from him, but that's what I utilize the most.”
Finding a way to stop — or at least slow — Miller and Mack will be focal points of offensive game plans for the Broncos and Raiders with both clubs facing questions about their offensive lines.
The Raiders are coming off one of their worst offensive performances in years in last week’s loss to the Washington Redskins. Carr was sacked four times and faced consistent pressure mostly from a four- man rush. The Broncos, meanwhile, have two new tackles this season. Right tackle Menelik Watson, a starter for the Raiders last year, has already allowed 41⁄ sacks in three 2 games, and first- round left tackle Garett Bolles has been dealing with a painful bone bruise suffered two weeks ago.
“If you don’t account for those guys with your scheme and players blocking them one- on- one, it could be a long day for you,” Joseph said.