TORONTO — He's not big on the format, but Canadian offensive lineman Laurent Duvernay-Tardif believes Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller is worthy of being selected second overall on the NFL's top-100 players list.
Miller was the top defensive player named on the list, finishing behind quarterback Tom Brady of the Super Bowl-champion New England Patriots in voting by NFL players.
"I don't really like the top-100 because it's hard to compare apples to oranges," said Duvernay-Tardif, who's entering his fourth season with the Kansas Chiefs. "But he makes an impact.
"There are defensive linemen who are good and do their job. And there's a few who make a difference in games. He's one of those guys, he makes a big difference in games, the difference between winning and losing."
The six-foot-three, 250-pound Miller has been a thorn in the side of NFL quarterbacks since being drafted second overall by Denver in 2011. Miller has amassed 73 career sacks in his six seasons and registered double-digit sacks the last three years (14, 11, 13.5).
Miller was especially disruptive in Denver's 24-10 win over the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50. He had six tackles, 2.5 sacks and two forced fumbles in being named the game's most valuable player.
Last July, Miller signed a six-year, US$114.5-million deal with Denver that included $70 million guaranteed. That made Miller the highest paid defensive player in NFL history in terms of guaranteed money.
This off-season, Duvernay-Tardif signed a five-year, $42.25-million extension with the Chiefs, with over $20 million guaranteed. Kansas City selected the six-foot-five, 321-pound Duvernay-Tardif in the sixth round of the 2014 NFL draft out of McGill and he rewarded that faith by cracking the starting lineup in 2015.
One element of Miller's game that makes him so dangerous is his lightning-quick first step, which often allows him to beat the tackle to the outside. But Miller also possesses a number of other pass-rush moves, including a quick spin to the inside that often leaves offensive linemen grasping at air.
Duvernay-Tardif has seen Miller in action firsthand as the Chiefs and Broncos square off twice each season as AFC West division rivals. Fortunately for the 26-year-old native of Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Que., as a guard he doesn't face the monumental task of lining up opposite Miller on those contests.
But that doesn't mean Duvernay-Tardif doesn't appreciate Miller's game and the impact he makes.
"I didn't realize how big a sack was in football until I played in the NFL," Duvernay-Tardif said. "A sack on third down kills a drive while a sack on second down really hurts your chances of getting the first down.
"I love to look at stats and when you're like third and 12, the chances of getting the first down is something like less than 20 per cent whereas if you're third and three it's like 50 to 65 per cent. In football you get maybe 10 or 12 opportunities to drive the field and score a touchdown and you have a guy like (Miller) who'se able to kill drives by himself. Twelves sacks is worth millions in the NFL."
Last year, the Chiefs swept the season series with both Denver and Oakland en route to finishing atop the AFC West with a 12-4 record. But Kansas City's promising season ended with an 18-16 home loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the divisional round.
And given the competitiveness within the AFC West _ Kansas City, Oakland and Denver were all above .500 _ Duvernay-Tardif figures it will take 11 wins to secure top spot again in 2017. In turn, that will make the conference games with Denver and Oakland very meaningful, and that's just fine with the former McGill star.
"It's a tough division but at the same time you're going to have to beat those teams as some point if you want to make it to the top," he said. "But I love playing Denver and Oakland, those are my two favourite teams to play against.
"When you go up against players like Von Miller, that's how you make a name for yourself. I don't know if I would've signed (extension) if not for playing Oakland and Denver twice a year."
Dan Ralph, The Canadian Press
