It’s no secret Denver Broncos fans and players alike got sick of defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio last season. Around the Mile High Sports offices he’s known as “Vanilla Del Rio,” a testament to just how bland his defensive play calls were a year ago.
But Wade Phillips is here to save the day and already everyone loves Captain Phillips. The Broncos defense is flying all over the field and forcing turnovers left and right. Heck, in two games so far the unit has already collected seven turnovers and two touchdowns. It’s been a welcome change.
On Thursday Von Miller was asked about this new look, new philosophy defense and, oh man, does he love it. Here’s Miller in his words on what’s so much better about this year’s defense:
“It’s coach Phillips. I don’t even think it’s the play calls. It’s just the personality on the field. All the coaches out there—we had great coaches before, but it’s just a different personality. It’s just different guys out here. I think that’s where it starts. There’s really no magical call that we could call or anything like that. It’s starting with the guys that we’ve got in the locker room, the guys that we’ve got coaching the guys in the locker room. I think it’s just a testament to them.”
That is awesome.
Yes, Miller was awful careful with his words, but it’s so, so abundantly clear the guys are much happier with Phillips than they were with Del Rio.
The Denver defense has been unleashed; Miller and this unit is just scratching the surface.
