Another MA rules article

[Goobzilla]

Tried posting this before the server switch, but couldn't make it work.

Player Spotlight: Mike Anderson
By Court E. Mann, Associate Editor

August 8, 2005 5:00 AM ET

Tatum Bell has virtually everything you want in a fantasy running back: speed, power, elusiveness, big-play ability, and a system that has churned out more workhorse running backs than any offense in the NFL.

What he may not have, thanks to veteran Mike Anderson, is a full-time job.

With Anderson and third-year back Quentin Griffin coming off season-ending injuries, and Reuben Droughns being shipped to Cleveland, it appeared that Bell was the frontrunner for the lucrative Broncos' rushing job. Over a week into training camp, all reports indicate that although Bell has done nothing to lose the job, he is still running behind Anderson on the depth chart.

By all training camp accounts, Anderson has taken the first set of reps with the first-team offense, has been the more consistent of the two runners, and currently resides atop the depth chart.

Shocked that a six-year veteran who hasn't logged more than 84 carries in a season since 2001 is currently beating out a stud second-rounder who is tailor-made for the Broncos' cutback rushing scheme? Based on Anderson's career, head coach Mike Shanahan's track record, and Denver's existing offense, you probably shouldn't be.

You might remember Anderson as one of those anonymous Broncos 1,000-yard rushers that was in theory merely a product of their system. In 2000, with Terrell Davis limited to five games due to injury, Anderson stepped in and rushed for 1,500 yards and 15 touchdowns on 297 carries in just 14 games—capturing NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.

After sharing carries with a banged-up Davis in 2001, Anderson shifted to fullback for the 2002 and 2003 seasons, paving the way for Clinton Portis to record two of the most productive rushing campaigns to start an NFL career. When Shanahan dispatched Portis to D.C., Anderson was one of five players in the running for last year's tailback job.

After a rare 100-yard game in the preseason against the Seahawks, Anderson was looking like the frontrunner for the job. And then, late in the preseason, he was called onto the field for meaningless punt coverage, only to consequently tear not one, but two groin muscles, landing on injured reserve before the season even started.

Fully recovered after surgery and a season off, the veteran obviously has a leg up on the second-year Bell in his experience and familiarity with the offense. The other primary difference between the two backs is size, and the connotations that come along with it. Anderson measures in at 6-0, 230 pounds, while Bell checks in at 5-11, 213 pounds. Bell's smaller stature and track record with nagging injuries in his rookie season (finger, rib, hamstring, shoulder) have raised durability concerns.

Anderson's bigger build and running style may also appeal to Shanahan for other reasons. The Broncos, despite finishing fourth in the NFL in rushing yardage, managed only 13 scores on the ground. Overall, despite ranking fifth in the NFL in total yardage, they were dismal in the red zone, scoring just 24 times in 53 trips to rank 28th in the league. Bell was far from the only problem, but he did score just one touchdown in six attempts inside the 10.

With five touchdowns on 25 carries as Portis' lead blocker, it's not as if Anderson has shined inside the 10-yard line in recent seasons. But he clearly demonstrated a nose for the stripe in 2000 and runs harder in between the tackles than Bell does. It's a familiar debate for Denver's coaching staff, who in 2004 eventually demoted a quicker back (Quentin Griffin) for a bigger one (Droughns) because of their struggles in short-yardage situations.

"Mike is a big, strong guy, and he's good near the goal line," Shanahan told the Denver Post on Monday. "We missed that last year. He gives us that option."

Thus, even if Bell does outperform Anderson between the 20s, we still may see Anderson in goal line packages. Of course, Griffin, Giants castoff Ron Dayne, and rookie Maurice Clarett are also in the mix, and the team has insisted that the winner of the starting job will be determined by their performance in preseason games.

With that in mind, we should see quite a bit of Anderson this exhibition season. Judging by where he and Bell are being taken in mock drafts, fantasy experts and owners alike need to see a whole lot more of Anderson before they believe the "boring" 32-year-old is capable of beating out the "high-upside" young gun. While Bell is consistently found among the top-20 backs in fantasy rankings, Anderson toils along in relative obscurity in the 40s.

Considering the stakes, you can bet those rankings will change in a hurry if Anderson pulls away in this position battle. Since Shanahan took the Horses' reigns, no team in the NFL has rushed for more yards. Disregarding the 2001 season, which was essentially ruined by Terrell Davis' career-ending injuries, the Broncos' leading rusher has averaged (brace yourself) 1,490 yards and 12.5 touchdowns.

Few expect it to be Anderson. Of course, few expected it to be Droughns last year, or Portis in 2003, or Anderson himself in 2000. And that's precisely why it just might make perfect sense.

[Odysseus]

Few expect it to be Anderson. Of course, few expected it to be Droughns last year, or Portis in 2003, or Anderson himself in 2000. And that's precisely why it just might make perfect sense.

[watermock]

Anderson is being shopped for a trade, just watch. Problem is, Parcells if full up and the RB market is fairly full. I don't know where Anderson should be shopped. Might as well keep him. I don't see any market. Maybe Cecil Sapp to Minnesota for a late condtional.

[Kaylore]

I don't know mock. I think we like that we are deep at that possition.

[watermock]

Pull back, we must escape!

"No, I must have Kirk..."

[watermock]

Im not worried at RB, who really cares, we have a bakers dozen out there.

[footstepsfrom#27]

I could see both of them getting 20 carries a game, rotating them in and out. This is a nice situation for 2 reasons, it puts pressure on TB to get stronger and tougher inside, and it gives us a great 1-2 option to keep defenses off balance.

[Boogerboots]

With virtually all of our RBs having a history of some sort of injury, if we have roster space, heck keep em' all!! We could have two sets of "Thunder and Lightning "

Team A - MA and Bell
Team B - Dayne and Q / Clarett

Might be wishful thinking, but I hope we don't lose too many from our stable of RB's

[Hogan11]

Originally Posted by watermock

Im not worried at RB, who really cares, we have a bakers dozen out there.

This is about the point I'm reaching when it comes to our RB stable and the whole "Who's the starter" thing.....I really don't care much who it is as long as they perform....I get tired of endless speculation quickly.

[-Slap-]

Mike Anderson has zero trade value. Anyone who's paid the slightest bit of attention to the League the last couple years knows that. Sarge is being used to keep Tatum from getting complacent.

[NaptownChief]

Originally Posted by -Slap-

Mike Anderson has zero trade value. Anyone who's paid the slightest bit of attention to the League the last couple years knows that. Sarge is being used to keep Tatum from getting complacent.

Anyone with a functional brain knows that...unfortunately that rules out a painfully large percentage on this board.

[DrFate]

Originally Posted by -Slap-

Mike Anderson has zero trade value. Anyone who's paid the slightest bit of attention to the League the last couple years knows that. Sarge is being used to keep Tatum from getting complacent.

Anderson has as much value as Lamar Gordon did, and he was worth a 3rd.

Of course Miami is stupid...

I think Anderson could be traded for something - a conditional 5th would be realistic.

[DBroncos4life]

Teams would go to the Browns first if they really needed a back.

[NaptownChief]

Originally Posted by DrFate

Anderson has as much value as Lamar Gordon did, and he was worth a 3rd.

Not even close...Gordon was 24 last year when the trade was made versus Sarge turning 32 next month. That alone makes a light years difference and that is before we even talk about the fact everybody knows the Denver system makes RB look better than they really are.

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

Originally Posted by DrFate

Anderson has as much value as Lamar Gordon did, and he was worth a 3rd.

Of course Miami is stupid...

I think Anderson could be traded for something - a conditional 5th would be realistic.

He is worth much more than that to the Broncs, even if he doesn't start. A fifth round choice has something like a 15-20% chance of even making a team. At worst Anderson is an excellent backup at both RB and FB.