Von Miller Back to His Old Self as NFL's Premier Edge-Rusher

Denver Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller has been an unstoppable force in the NFL during the 2014 season, currently leading the league in sacks and reasserting his role as the most dominant edge-rusher in the game. 

While Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt, who has 19 tackles, five sacks, six passes defended and an interception on the season, has claimed the distinction of being the NFL's best overall pass-rusher this season, it's hard to argue that there's anyone quarterbacks fear more coming off the edge than Miller. 

Miller had another huge night Thursday against the San Diego Chargers, sacking Philip Rivers on 3rd-and-7 early in the second quarter to force a San Diego punt. He also registered two quarterback hits and two tackles for loss. 

The Chargers quickly found that leaving Miller in one-on-one matchups was a recipe for disaster, as he was able to disrupt Rivers' passing game even when it didn't register on the stat sheet.

San Diego tackle D.J. Fluker was no match for Miller.

It was his sixth consecutive game with a sack. In fact, in 47 career games, Miller has 44 sacks, including nine this season. He is on pace for 20.5 sacks in 2014, which would surpass his career high of 18.5.

Miller already has three games so far this season with more than one sack; he had three such games in 15 games played in 2011 and did it five times in a full 2012 season.

Of course, sacks aren't the only barometer of success in terms of generating pressure, something Miller does as well as anybody.

Pro Football Focus (subscription required) credits Miller with 36 total quarterback pressures (including sacks, hits and hurries), more than any other outside linebacker.  

Sacks	Hits	Hurries	Batted Passes	Stops
9	4	23	1	16

During OTAs, Miller's teammate and fellow sack machine DeMarcus Ware said that he and Miller had a goal to hit 32 sacks between the two of them in 2014, per the Denver Post.

They have amassed 16 through seven games, so it's safe to say they are on track. 

Miller has certainly benefited this season from Ware's presence. Having to account for both of them means that opponents aren't able to double-team them, which helps them to both be more effective. 

"Teams are actually leaving us 1-on-1, me and Von," Ware said Monday, per Arnie Stapleton of the Associated Press (via CBS Denver). "...As long as you can’t chip both of us, as long as one of us is being effective, that’s what it’s about."

Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

Miller is barely nine months removed from ACL surgery after tearing it in Week 16 of the 2013 season against the Houston Texans and missing the postseason and subsequent Super Bowl appearance. No doubt that could have been a different showing for the Broncos defense had it had Miller to get after Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson. 

Many point to Miller's injury as the reason why his sack total dipped in 2013—he had a career-low five sacks—but per Stapleton, the loss of Elvis Dumervil also caused Miller to flounder in the nine games he did play.

The addition of Ware has been not only a boon to Denver's defense as a whole, but also for Miller specifically. 

That, as well as being healthy, could help him reach his most productive year yet as a pass-rusher. Not only is Miller enjoying a bounce-back season, but he could also be in the midst of a career season.

When asked in a postgame interview on the NFL Network broadcast how it felt to be leading the NFL with nine sacks on the season, Miller responded, "I'm not really paying attention to all that....right now I'm getting wins with my teammates, and I'm enjoying that."

The rest of the league, however, has taken notice.