Bronco backs ready to rumble - The Orange Mane

Atlas · 08-01-2005, 04:14 AM

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Broncos' quint essentials
By Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News
August 1, 2005

Oh, yes, the Broncos have been down this road before. Ever since fate and Terrell Davis' knees betrayed him and sent him into retirement, the Broncos have spun the wheel at running back.

And where it stops, everybody knows. It usually stops on a 1,000-yard rusher, one who survived the day-to-day battles in a group most teams simply would say was too big.

So here they are again, working their same old math. Five running backs who want the job. Six weeks to figure it out. And only one ball to carry along the way.

CONTINUED

Atlas · 08-01-2005, 04:16 AM

"I'm not sure how it's all going to go down," said Ron Dayne, the 1999 Heisman Trophy winner the Broncos signed in free agency. "We've got a lot of good backs, and last year they used three, four different backs anyway.

"Couple weeks Mike (Anderson) might be hot, a couple weeks I might be hot, a couple weeks Tatum (Bell) might be hot.

"Coach (Shanahan) likes to mix it up; that's just coach's style. We just roll with it."

History, at least history during the 10 years Shanahan has been Broncos coach - he is entering his 11th season - says one will be chosen and the rest will be asked to deal with it.

In nine of Shanahan's 10 seasons, one running back has had at least 51.5 percent of the team's carries, and in five of those years, one running back has had at least 59.4 percent.

In Shanahan's three best seasons - 13-3 in 1996, 12-4 in 1997 and 14-2 in 1998 - Davis took the handoff at least 65.7 percent of the time.

CONTINUED

Atlas · 08-01-2005, 04:18 AM

"This year? Top to bottom it's all there," Anderson said. "Yeah, I think I'm up to the challenge. But I think everybody in there probably thinks that right now.

The candidates

There is Anderson, whose 1,487 yards in 2000 as the NFL Rookie of the Year give him the group's only 1,000-yard rushing season as a pro. A former Marine who missed all of last season because of a left groin injury, he has been a good soldier in the Broncos offense, having switched from running back to fullback and back to running back during the past four seasons.

There is Bell. His big-play pop - he was one of the fastest backs in the 2004 draft - intrigues Shanahan in a league full of 5-yard runs, so he will enter the preseason games with the best chance at the job. Bell missed practice and game time last season because of right finger, rib and hamstring injuries, then played the last month of the season wearing a harness after separating his left shoulder Dec. 12 against the Miami Dolphins.

There is Dayne. A first-round draft pick who left college as the all- time leading rusher in Division I-A, he says he has been "rejuvenated" in Denver after his career took a nosedive in five seasons with the New York Giants.

There is Quentin Griffin. This time last year, he was the Broncos starter, a bob-and-weave runner who still is trying to bounce back from surgery to repair a torn right anterior cruciate ligament.

CONTINUED

Atlas · 08-01-2005, 04:19 AM

And there is Maurice Clarett, a rookie who spent two years out of football after helping Ohio State win the 2002 national championship. Clarett believes so much in his chances to eventually be the Broncos starter, he put his name on a contract without a signing bonus - guaranteed money - instead for potential incentives worth millions of dollars if he can become the team's primary runner.

"It's probably the most unique problem that we've ever had and it's a fun one to have," Broncos offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak said. "We've got five guys back there that, to me, they've all got the ability to be a starter in this league. As I told them from the opening night we came to camp, 'I don't know what's going to happen, but whoever wins our job is really going to earn it.'

"I think they all feel that they could be the guy. They've all kind of been the guy at some point in their careers, whether it was big-time college ball or in this league. There's just a story behind every one of them, and I'm just hoping there's going to be another big story down the road here."

And while practice might indeed make perfect, it is the Broncos' four preseason games that probably will decide the issue. Kubiak already has said it - "You can be out here working, and we evaluate them everyday, but until you throw on the uniform and do it in the preseason, that's going to be the deciding factor," he said - and the players know it.

"Players make plays, you can perform in practice, but in games, you make plays," said fullback Kyle Johnson, in a crowd of his own to be the lead blocker. "Practice is to show you know where to be what you're supposed to do, but games are where plays get made. Everybody hopes to prepare here to make it happen in a game."

Enough to go around?

So the most difficult thing for the Broncos to do will be to devise a way to avoid an unanswered question. To find a way to give each of the five running backs enough carries to make the decision without shortchanging any of them.

It's why Bell and Anderson have at least some advantage because they already have worked with the starting offense this year in camp. The Broncos also know the pair's résumé with the team, what they can do, especially Bell, whose 5.3 yards a carry led the team's running backs last season.

"And my approach is different this year," Bell said. "Last year, I kind of waited for a chance to do something. I want to be in the mix right at the get-go this time."

The backs also can use the Broncos' two days of work against the Houston Texans next week before the teams play a preseason game Aug. 13 in Reliant Stadium to separate themselves, as well.

"It's a competitive room right now, but I think people have been helping each other and been real positive with it," Johnson said. "I always try to remember the person you compete with most intently is yourself. They have to decide; all you can do is make them have a hard decision. You'd love to make it an easy decision in your favor, but in a situation like this, everybody's competing and you know that."

"I know I definitely want to get out and play and show them what I got because I know I've got a lot to offer," Dayne said. "We all do."

One and mostly all

Atlas · 08-01-2005, 04:20 AM

• Broncos coach Mike Shanahan likes plenty of depth at running back. He also likes one back to rise above all that. The primary back with the largest percentage of the team's regular- season carries since Shanahan became coach in 1995:

Year Primary runner Pct.

1995 Terrell Davis 53.9

1996 Terrell Davis 65.7

1997 Terrell Davis 71.0

1998 Terrell Davis 74.7

1999 Olandis Gary 59.4

2000 Mike Anderson 57.6

2001 Mike Anderson* 36.4

2002 Clinton Portis 59.7

2003 Clinton Portis 53.4

2004 Reuben Droughns 51.5*

Crushaholic · 08-01-2005, 09:40 AM

It will be a pleasant surprise if MA can regain his old form and contribute in a big way. I'm not worried about our depth right now.

Atlas · 08-01-2005, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crushaholic

It will be a pleasant surprise if MA can regain his old form and contribute in a big way. I'm not worried about our depth right now.

Anderson is a good loyal soldier and that is the only reason he is slated ahead of Bell. Come regular season Bell is the man.

Goobzilla · 08-01-2005, 03:20 PM

Gotta believe the Sarge will answer the call. Can't wait to see what he'll accomplish this year. This should be an interesting preseason battle. Maybe we should switch to the wishbone to get them all on the field?

08-01-2005, 04:14 AM	#1
Atlas Draft Defense Early&Often Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 18,526	Bronco backs ready to rumble PRINT THIS STORY \| E-MAIL THIS STORY Broncos' quint essentials By Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News August 1, 2005 Oh, yes, the Broncos have been down this road before. Ever since fate and Terrell Davis' knees betrayed him and sent him into retirement, the Broncos have spun the wheel at running back. And where it stops, everybody knows. It usually stops on a 1,000-yard rusher, one who survived the day-to-day battles in a group most teams simply would say was too big. So here they are again, working their same old math. Five running backs who want the job. Six weeks to figure it out. And only one ball to carry along the way. CONTINUED

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08-01-2005, 04:16 AM	#2
Atlas Draft Defense Early&Often Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 18,526	"I'm not sure how it's all going to go down," said Ron Dayne, the 1999 Heisman Trophy winner the Broncos signed in free agency. "We've got a lot of good backs, and last year they used three, four different backs anyway. "Couple weeks Mike (Anderson) might be hot, a couple weeks I might be hot, a couple weeks Tatum (Bell) might be hot. "Coach (Shanahan) likes to mix it up; that's just coach's style. We just roll with it." History, at least history during the 10 years Shanahan has been Broncos coach - he is entering his 11th season - says one will be chosen and the rest will be asked to deal with it. In nine of Shanahan's 10 seasons, one running back has had at least 51.5 percent of the team's carries, and in five of those years, one running back has had at least 59.4 percent. In Shanahan's three best seasons - 13-3 in 1996, 12-4 in 1997 and 14-2 in 1998 - Davis took the handoff at least 65.7 percent of the time. CONTINUED

08-01-2005, 04:18 AM	#3
Atlas Draft Defense Early&Often Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 18,526	"This year? Top to bottom it's all there," Anderson said. "Yeah, I think I'm up to the challenge. But I think everybody in there probably thinks that right now. The candidates There is Anderson, whose 1,487 yards in 2000 as the NFL Rookie of the Year give him the group's only 1,000-yard rushing season as a pro. A former Marine who missed all of last season because of a left groin injury, he has been a good soldier in the Broncos offense, having switched from running back to fullback and back to running back during the past four seasons. There is Bell. His big-play pop - he was one of the fastest backs in the 2004 draft - intrigues Shanahan in a league full of 5-yard runs, so he will enter the preseason games with the best chance at the job. Bell missed practice and game time last season because of right finger, rib and hamstring injuries, then played the last month of the season wearing a harness after separating his left shoulder Dec. 12 against the Miami Dolphins. There is Dayne. A first-round draft pick who left college as the all- time leading rusher in Division I-A, he says he has been "rejuvenated" in Denver after his career took a nosedive in five seasons with the New York Giants. There is Quentin Griffin. This time last year, he was the Broncos starter, a bob-and-weave runner who still is trying to bounce back from surgery to repair a torn right anterior cruciate ligament. CONTINUED

08-01-2005, 04:19 AM	#4
Atlas Draft Defense Early&Often Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 18,526	And there is Maurice Clarett, a rookie who spent two years out of football after helping Ohio State win the 2002 national championship. Clarett believes so much in his chances to eventually be the Broncos starter, he put his name on a contract without a signing bonus - guaranteed money - instead for potential incentives worth millions of dollars if he can become the team's primary runner. "It's probably the most unique problem that we've ever had and it's a fun one to have," Broncos offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak said. "We've got five guys back there that, to me, they've all got the ability to be a starter in this league. As I told them from the opening night we came to camp, 'I don't know what's going to happen, but whoever wins our job is really going to earn it.' "I think they all feel that they could be the guy. They've all kind of been the guy at some point in their careers, whether it was big-time college ball or in this league. There's just a story behind every one of them, and I'm just hoping there's going to be another big story down the road here." And while practice might indeed make perfect, it is the Broncos' four preseason games that probably will decide the issue. Kubiak already has said it - "You can be out here working, and we evaluate them everyday, but until you throw on the uniform and do it in the preseason, that's going to be the deciding factor," he said - and the players know it. "Players make plays, you can perform in practice, but in games, you make plays," said fullback Kyle Johnson, in a crowd of his own to be the lead blocker. "Practice is to show you know where to be what you're supposed to do, but games are where plays get made. Everybody hopes to prepare here to make it happen in a game." Enough to go around? So the most difficult thing for the Broncos to do will be to devise a way to avoid an unanswered question. To find a way to give each of the five running backs enough carries to make the decision without shortchanging any of them. It's why Bell and Anderson have at least some advantage because they already have worked with the starting offense this year in camp. The Broncos also know the pair's résumé with the team, what they can do, especially Bell, whose 5.3 yards a carry led the team's running backs last season. "And my approach is different this year," Bell said. "Last year, I kind of waited for a chance to do something. I want to be in the mix right at the get-go this time." The backs also can use the Broncos' two days of work against the Houston Texans next week before the teams play a preseason game Aug. 13 in Reliant Stadium to separate themselves, as well. "It's a competitive room right now, but I think people have been helping each other and been real positive with it," Johnson said. "I always try to remember the person you compete with most intently is yourself. They have to decide; all you can do is make them have a hard decision. You'd love to make it an easy decision in your favor, but in a situation like this, everybody's competing and you know that." "I know I definitely want to get out and play and show them what I got because I know I've got a lot to offer," Dayne said. "We all do." One and mostly all

08-01-2005, 04:20 AM	#5
Atlas Draft Defense Early&Often Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 18,526	• Broncos coach Mike Shanahan likes plenty of depth at running back. He also likes one back to rise above all that. The primary back with the largest percentage of the team's regular- season carries since Shanahan became coach in 1995: Year Primary runner Pct. 1995 Terrell Davis 53.9 1996 Terrell Davis 65.7 1997 Terrell Davis 71.0 1998 Terrell Davis 74.7 1999 Olandis Gary 59.4 2000 Mike Anderson 57.6 2001 Mike Anderson* 36.4 2002 Clinton Portis 59.7 2003 Clinton Portis 53.4 2004 Reuben Droughns 51.5*

08-01-2005, 09:40 AM	#6
Crushaholic Armchair Poster Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Topeka, KS Posts: 22,044	It will be a pleasant surprise if MA can regain his old form and contribute in a big way. I'm not worried about our depth right now.

08-01-2005, 03:20 PM	#8
Goobzilla Lights Out B*h! BA-ZING!!** Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Wellington Posts: 6,526 Adopt-a-Bronco: Mitch Erickson	Gotta believe the Sarge will answer the call. Can't wait to see what he'll accomplish this year. This should be an interesting preseason battle. Maybe we should switch to the wishbone to get them all on the field?