By ROBERT CESSNATexas A&M football fans are thrilled Von Miller is returning for his senior season, but his defensive teammates are the players who will determine the extent of the team's success in 2010.
Miller led the nation in sacks, yet the Aggies still had the Big 12's worst defense. It will be hard for Miller to improve on 48 tackles, 21 1/2 of them for losses. And even if he does, A&M won't be better unless he gets help.
Miller's improvement has been amazing. He went from a marginal to marquee player. While there's no doubt A&M's decision to allow Miller to rush the quarterback relentlessly on every play suited his 6-foot-3, 240-pound frame, it was Miller himself who put in the hard work that turned him into an All-American.
No. 40 often looked like a man among boys last season. But when teams were able to handle Miller, the Aggies were in trouble. Oklahoma State, Oklahoma and Georgia made Miller a nonfactor because they had solid left offensive tackles. Oklahoma's Trent Williams and Oklahoma's Russell Okung are two of the best senior offensive tackles in the country, while Georgia's Clint Boling is rated among the nation's best juniors.
Georgia coaches also helped Boling with a running back or tight end staying in to chip Miller, making it almost impossible for the Aggies' best pass-rusher to reach the quarterback.
A&M's supporting players -- especially in the front seven -- weren't good enough to make teams pay for concentrating on Miller. Strong safety Trent Hunter was the unit's only other all-conference performer.
Most of A&M's defensive linemen and linebackers are much like Miller was last year -- talented, full of potential, still waiting to put it all together. Miller and Hunter seldom missed a tackle, yet A&M ranked 90th nationally in rushing defense, allowing 171.6 yards per game.
Part of that 171.6 averaged happened because A&M defenders allowed way too many yards after contact. The great running backs, like Alabama's Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram, get the majority of their yards after contact. The NFL even keeps track of of the stat (YAC -- yards after contact). Unfortunately in many games the last two seasons, A&M fans were keeping track of YAT -- yards after touch as opposing players ran through Aggie defenders' fingers.
At least Miller stopped one trend -- Aggies leaving early for the NFL. A&M fans thought star Big 12 players made the NFL wait only at Oklahoma or Texas.
Miller will be A&M's first returning position All-American since running back/kick returner Leeland McElroy in 1995. McElroy had visions of a Heisman Trophy and a possible national championship in his junior year. A&M was coming off a 10-0-1 season, after all, but the Aggies dipped to 9-3 with injuries hampering McElroy, who skipped his senior season. McElroy, who was drafted in the second round, had a below average NFL career spanning only three seasons.
Quarterback Kevin Murray, wide receiver Robert Ferguson, tight end Martellus Bennett and running back Mike Goodson are others who left Aggieland earlier.
Miller isn't returning for a shot at a national championship or a Heisman Trophy, but his goals are better served by returning. He's made mention of a Big 12 championship, but developing into a better player and earning a degree are his priorities. He plans on graduating, which will make his parents proud. It's obviously important to him that he finish what he starts, and who can argue with that?
Miller probably would have been at best a third-round pick had he declared for the NFL draft. He's not hurting his status by returning -- even if his teammates don't improve. If he gets a little bigger, faster and stronger, he could blossom into a first- or second-round pick and make a lot more money. Of course, he'll spend his senior season always one play away from a season-ending injury, but it seems certain he will play on Sunday at some point.
One thing's for sure: Everyone expects Miller to have a banner senior season for the Aggies. Head coach Mike Sherman, the new defensive coordinator, fans, teammates ... even the media. He's come a long way in a year to build up that kind of expectation.
What A&M needs now is about four or five more defenders to follow Miller's lead and grow into their potential. A&M's defense has a slew of candidates for most improved player next season, actually too many to list. Until they become players opposing coaches have to be concerned about, Miller's season at best will be decent no matter how often he gets to the quarterback.
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