Bradley Chubb ‘on par’ with Von Miller’s rookie year, says Pritchard

Having reached double-digit sacks through his first 12 games, Denver Broncos linebacker Bradley Chubb certainly has had an excellent rookie campaign.

But where does he compare to superstar pass rusher Von Miller in terms of rookie success?

“He’s on par with Von Miller did do his rookie year. So the impact is felt,” said “Pritchard and Cecil” co-host Mike Pritchard on Wednesday. “We know the Broncos stats and the defense. We can see it. We can feel it.

“When you break it down like this and Chubb’s not done yet with his rookie season, it’s very, very impressive what Bradley Chubb has been able to accomplish to date when you compare it to the great Von Miller and what he established his rookie year.”

Statistically, Chubb has mirrored Miller in a number of defensive categories.

The rookie pass rusher has 10 sacks, 44 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 15 quarterback hits, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery in his first 12 games.

In Von Miller’s first 12 games of his career, he had 11.5 sacks, 62 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, 28 quarterback hits, and two forced fumbles.

That season, 2011, Miller was named to a Pro Bowl in his rookie season, a height Chubb may have in his future himself.

“If you’re talking about being a Pro Bowler your rookie year, that’s significant. Because now, that’s going to carry over. People have you on a different regard and a higher regard. You’re on a pedestal,” Pritchard said. “Your rookie you were selected to the Pro Bowl, you know what’s going to happen? You’re going to get the benefit of the doubt of going to the Pro Bowl from now on. And you just need to get better.”

Miller was named a first-team All-Pro his second season in the NFL, a recognition Pritchard said started the discussion on his Hall of Fame worthiness. If Chubb can do the same, Pritchard said that would too spark the discussion.

“If you’re talking about Bradley Chubb Pro Bowler this year, hopefully, to maybe defensive rookie of the year to All-Pro, OK, now let’s sit at the table and talk about the Hall of Fame because that certainly is in the cards,” Pritchard said.

But Pritchard cautioned not getting too far ahead with the discussion, pointing to 1991 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Mike Croel.

Croel had 10 sacks his rookie season for the Broncos, but his career tapered off after that year.

“Even if Bradley Chubb exceeds the stats of Von Miller and gets to a Pro Bowl, I think you don’t start the discussion of Hall of Fame until you see what happens after that. Because Mike Croel did not build on defensive rookie of the year. He did not build on 10 sacks.

Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @JohnnyHart7.