Tatum second string

[Jesterhole]

So like a lot of you, I was hoping The Tot would come in and win the running back job in training camp, and we'd have Clinton Portis II in our backfield all year. Well, instead Mike won the job, and with no offense to him, that leaves me a little scared about Bell.

It seems like any back that really 'has it' has come in and done really well from the get go. How much more time does Bell need to learn the offense, and is that really the only reason he hasn't won the job?

We all know he is more talented than Mike in a lot of ways, so what is he missing that prevents him from being the starter?

Since he was a high second round pick, and he is still a back up running back in his second year, with our system to run in, I'm starting to wonder if he'll ever win the job. Anyone else thinking that?

Mike isn't long term, and the drafting of Mo C started me thinking they weren't 100% happy with Bell.

I'm not against Bell, I'd love for him to come on and win the job. It just bugs me that he hasn't already.

[NaptownChief]

We all know he is more talented than Mike in a lot of ways, so what is he missing that prevents him from being the starter?




He has more speed but that doesn't necessarily mean he has more football talent.

[Perry1977]

After losing all our runningbacks last year, it's probably a good idea to bolster the ranks through the draft, don't you think? Whether or not he's high on Bell is a moot question. Even the best players don't produce when they are sidelined with injury. I would say that he is still high on Bell, as evidenced by him staying ahead of Dayne on the depth chart. You could argue that Dayne had a better preseason, especially in the passing game.

[bloodsunday]

We'll have to let things unfold a bit. The way that Tatum was kind of hidden between the first and second units in the preseason leads me to believe the coaching staff has a role for him. Perhaps that role is as small as a change of pace and to take a load off MA. Perhaps its more than that. Maybe the work him into more carries as the season progresses.

And of course, there is the injury factory. This is not a done deal.

[Ratboy]

Tatum is be hoarded untill Monday Night Football agianst Kansas City.

[bronco militia]

I'm not against Bell, I'd love for him to come on and win the job. It just bugs me that he hasn't already.


I agree 100%....so far he's been a bust when you consider what other broncos running backs have done in their first year.....maybe Bell is a "late" bloomer?

[bloodsunday]

I agree 100%....so far he's been a bust when you consider what other broncos running backs have done in their first year.....maybe Bell is a "late" bloomer?
Pretty much every back that has had first year success has been a result of the incumbent getting injured. It's not like Anderson, Gary, or Portis won the job outright. Tatum had that same opportunity last year but was injured himself. I actually believe a big factor in Shanny's decision to ship Portis off was that he is not the complete back that we like to have in our system.

[Taco John]

I'm not worried about Tatum in the least. The fact is, Mike Anderson is running better than he has in his whole career. The coaches can't ignore how great he's looked, and it would send a bad message to the veterans of the team if the guy who is performing doesn't get the job just because the younger guy has big expectations.

Bell looked just fine and had a very good preseason himself. But Mike Anderson ran like a beast.

[bronco militia]

Pretty much every back that has had first year success has been a result of the incumbent getting injured. It's not like Anderson, Gary, or Portis won the job outright. Tatum had that same opportunity last year but was injured himself.

tatum had the same opportunity and got injured and had another training camp to win the starting job and is still 2nd team.....hopefully he's a late bloomer.

I actually believe a big factor in Shanny's decision to ship Portis off was that he is not the complete back that we like to have in our system.

could be.....but you could also say he got rid of him because he was more interested in his wallet then he was about helping the team out.

[bloodsunday]

I'm not worried about Tatum in the least. The fact is, Mike Anderson is running better than he has in his whole career. The coaches can't ignore how great he's looked, and it would send a bad message to the veterans of the team if the guy who is performing doesn't get the job just because the younger guy has big expectations.

Bell looked just fine and had a very good preseason himself. But Mike Anderson ran like a beast.
Rep! That's exactly it. It's a veteran friendly team so you better reward veterans that work hard and look good. Besides, Shanny knows we'll need at least 2 of them before the season is done.

[bronco militia]

Bell looked just fine and had a very good preseason himself. .


I don't agree...IMO, he still looks like a rookie

[bloodsunday]

tatum had the same opportunity and got injured and had another training camp to win the starting job and is still 2nd team.....hopefully he's a late bloomer.
Correct. But the incumbent is the same guy and is healthy this year. TD was the incumbent in 99, 00, and 01. He just never stayed healthy and the young guys kept getting the rock. If TD had played a full 2001 Portis could still be a backup here in Denver. I don't think its a matter of Tatum being a late bloomer, he just needs to refine his complete game. Until he does Shanny will go with the guy that offers the most to the offense and that is MA right now.

could be.....but you could also say he got rid of him because he was more interested in his wallet then he was about helping the team out.
Shanny has always compensated the guys he wanted to keep around. Al Wilson, Trevor Pryce, and even Brian Griese can tell you that. Besides, Shanny gave Bailey more money than Portis got. It was about his attitude and how fit into the team concept as much as anything.

[bro1ncos]

Bell needs to work on his blocking (blitz pick up) and his receiving. This is where MA has really out shined Tatum.

[Rock Chalk]

I don't agree...IMO, he still looks like a rookie
4321~

[bronco militia]

Shanny has always compensated the guys he wanted to keep around. Al Wilson, Trevor Pryce, and even Brian Griese can tell you that. Besides, Shanny gave Bailey more money than Portis got. It was about his attitude and how fit into the team concept as much as anything.


I know, but none of those guys listed went crying to the front office with two years left on his deal....

[bronco militia]

4321~


well, that was uncalled for.

[bloodsunday]

I know, but none of those guys listed went crying to the front office with two years left on his deal....
Trevor complained pretty loudly. Al took his rookie contract like a man. He never once complained about making the Pro Bowl on a minimum deal. Griese was just flat given too much too early.

[Rock Chalk]

well, that was uncalled for.
Doggin my adopted bronco, it was completely called for.

[bronco militia]

Doggin my adopted bronco, it was completely called for.

how appropriate that you selected an underachiever... :thumbs:

[bronco militia]

Trevor complained pretty loudly. Al took his rookie contract like a man. He never once complained about making the Pro Bowl on a minimum deal. Griese was just flat given too much too early.

like I said, he didn't complain with two years left on his current contract ;D

Denver Broncos defensive tackle Trevor Pryce will report to training camp Friday after a two-week holdout.

Pryce, in the fourth year of a five-year $4.9 million contract, was seeking a new deal because he is the lowest paid starter on Denver's defensive line and only the eighth highest paid starter on the defense.

http://archive.profootballweekly.com/content/archives/features_2000/spin_080300d.asp

[Ballhawk]

Bell will be the starter by week 5, no offense to sarge, but he looses his legs too often. He will look great one week and then have nothing the next.

[westcliffe]

I think that Bell maybe indeed be the starter before the season is over, but I also think he will have to improve his blocking and will have to learn to hang onto the football better for this to happen.

[easymobee]

Clinton Portis wasn't 1st on the Depth Chart heading into his rookie season ( I know this is Tatum's 2nd year ) and he had enough of "it" to still run for 1500 despite not being a starter until the 4th game.

I think most of us expect Tatum has a good-great chance of being elevated to the starter before midseason rolls around.

Shanahan has some loyalty to the guys who have been around longer along with being productive ( Anderson ). It doesn't hurt that Anderson is running very well .

Shanahan is also not one to hold off too long on putting the best back in as the starter during an already on-going season. Maybe it will be Bell ..... or maybe its even better if Bell never does crack the starting lineup this year ( that would mean Anderson is just having a monster year ).

Its a good problem to have. Its something the Chief fans are going through as well with LJ and Priest.

[2KBack]

Bell will be the starter by week 5, no offense to sarge, but he looses his legs too often. He will look great one week and then have nothing the next.


What are you basing this on? He was only the primary back for one season, and he certainly didn't lose his legs then.

[Old Dude]

I yearn for the glory days when TD would burst through the hole and punish the secondary, down after down. And our WRs understood that their downfield blocks could make the difference between a 5 yard gain and a TD run.

Sometimes, with the more shifty runners like Portis, Q and Bell, I think there's a tendency to think that the downfield blocks aren't that important, because the little dudes will just outrun everyone.

Anderson is not TD, but I'm seeing the team put it on the line for him downfield, and the result is starting to resemble the same kind of brutal attack that won two Lombardis.

Here's hoping that it's not just a preseason anamoly.

[Bronco_Beerslug]

He has more speed but that doesn't necessarily mean he has more football talent.


.

[DBroncos4life]

I think MA will hit the wall like Reub did. When is the last time he has had back to back 25 cary games? I just don't think he has the legs to carry this team over the full year. I'm not saying he will get hurt, I just think he will get his load reduced.

[ozomulsion]

So like a lot of you, I was hoping The Tot would come in and win the running back job in training camp, and we'd have Clinton Portis II in our backfield all year. Well, instead Mike won the job, and with no offense to him, that leaves me a little scared about Bell.

It seems like any back that really 'has it' has come in and done really well from the get go. How much more time does Bell need to learn the offense, and is that really the only reason he hasn't won the job?

We all know he is more talented than Mike in a lot of ways, so what is he missing that prevents him from being the starter?

Since he was a high second round pick, and he is still a back up running back in his second year, with our system to run in, I'm starting to wonder if he'll ever win the job. Anyone else thinking that?

Mike isn't long term, and the drafting of Mo C started me thinking they weren't 100% happy with Bell.

I'm not against Bell, I'd love for him to come on and win the job. It just bugs me that he hasn't already.

1. Q was our starter going into last season.

2. Sarge is getting old. Why not pull another year out of him?

3. Bell has four years left on his contract. Why would Shanny not want to have him wait another year to start ripping off 1500 yard seasons? He knows what happens when a runningback starts doing this early in his contract. Bell is not like Portis in any way (personality wise) but the agents might convince him that he deserves more money if this were to happen.

5. Bell will be our starter most of the season regardless.

6. This thread should go to the butt, where it belongs.