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Von Miller says he feels like his old dominant self again.
And this time the NFL’s active leader in sacks means it.
After spending last season trying to convince himself he had the ability to fully overcome major knee surgery in less than a year, the Buffalo Bills edge rusher arrived at training camp this week determined, upbeat and motivated to show he hasn’t lost a step.
“I haven’t felt like this in two years,” Miller said Thursday, following Buffalo’s second day of training camp. “I’m feeling good. I’m ready to go. And I’m fired up that I didn’t have the type of production that I wanted last year.”
Zero sacks in 14 games, including playoffs, is not an easy number to digest for a 35-year-old who has spent his 13-year NFL career priding himself on winning, consistency and work ethic.
“I’m Von Miller. I’m kind of measured by sacks,” the two-time Super Bowl champion said, shaking his head and chuckling. “But I didn’t get any last year. I made three tackles.”
However much Miller second-guessed whether it might have been better to have taken all of last season off, he leans on the experience and lack of production as fuel.
Driving his confidence further is having spent the entire offseason focusing solely on training rather than rehabbing.
The brace Miller wore on his right knee last year is gone. So are the worries he played with, which led to Miller limiting or eliminating pass rush moves that might expose his right leg to being hit. It wasn’t until the final weeks of the season and playoffs when he said he started playing with more freedom.
“I learned you can’t force things. And I think as a football player in my whole entire life, you just try to make things happen,” Miller said.
“At times, it’s been great for me. But at times, like last year, it just wasn’t working for me,” he added. “I think just being able to separate rehab and football, and just be able to focus on football, will be able to pay off for me in the regular season.”
There’s plenty riding on Miller…
Source link : https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/bills-von-miller-eager-to-reestablish-himself-as-top-pass-rusher-after-nosack-season
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Publish date : 2024-07-25 23:42:45
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