On conference call with Atlanta media Wednesday, Broncos linebacker Von Miller offered high praise of his mentor and former coach in Denver, Richard Smith. Smith, now the Falcons’ defensive coordinator, was the Broncos’ linebackers coach from 2011-15, helping Miller from the start of his NFL career and seeing him through the highs and lows of his early years, notably 2013.
“He was very instrumental,” Miller said Wednesday. “Really a catalyst in getting me going. Still to this day I tell some of the rookies, some of the young guys, I tell them some of the stuff coach Smith told me.