Broncos One-Two punch getting much praise - The Orange Mane

Taco John · 11-01-2005, 01:35 AM

Denver finds two-for-one deal

By RANDY COVITZ

The Kansas City Star

DENVER — The Chiefs are experimenting with a dual running-back system with some degree of success. The Denver Broncos, meanwhile, are exploiting a one-two punch better than any other NFL team in the last 20 years.

Denver’s Mike Anderson and Tatum Bell each rushed for more than 100 yards during the Broncos’ 49-21 victory against Philadelphia on Sunday and reached the halfway mark of the season on pace for 1,000-yard seasons.

In NFL history, only three sets of teammates have each gained 1,000 yards in the same season, and none since Cleveland’s Earnest Byner and Kevin Mack did so in 1985 for Marty Schottenheimer.

“Why not?” said Mike Anderson, the Broncos’ power back. “Why set limits on yourself?”

Bell, the Broncos’ speed back, said: “We’re not looking at it like that. If it comes out like that, it’s all good, as long as we have a good season. But, yeah, that would be real nice. It’s in the back of my mind, Mike and I getting a thousand apiece.”

Unlike the Chiefs, who devised a plan to use Priest Holmes for two series, then Larry Johnson for one, there doesn’t seem to be a clear-cut system for featuring Anderson and Bell.

Anderson usually starts the game and is the go-to-back in short-yardage situations. Bell is deployed in passing downs, but they are interchangeable in the base offense on first and 10, and Bell entered the game in Denver’s second possession on Sunday.

“We can change it up,” Anderson said. “We can pound you, and, of course, every time he (Bell) touches the ball, he can go the distance.”

The Broncos, of course, have churned out 1,000-yard backs for years, from the old days of Floyd Little and Otis Armstrong to the modern years of Terrell Davis and Clinton Portis.

But seldom have they used such a tandem.

During Sunday’s game against a Philadelphia defense that held San Diego’s LaDainian Tomlinson to 7 yards in 17 carries a week earlier, Anderson went for 126 yards, and Bell gained 107, becoming the first Broncos to rush for 100 rushing yards apiece in a game since Davis (184) and Derek Loville (103) did it in a 1997 playoff game against Jacksonville. It hadn’t happened in the regular season since 1976, when Armstrong (116) and quarterback Norris Weese (120) did it at Chicago.

“Mike and I always talk, give us the ball, we can carry the load if the passing game isn’t there,” said Bell, a second-round pick from Oklahoma State in 2004 who suffered through an injury-marred rookie season. “One part of our game is going to be there, I can promise you that. Hopefully no team can totally shut us out, but if the run gets going, it’s going to be a long day for people.

“Mike is a hard-nosed runner. He loosens them up, and I come in there and find a crease and take it to the house.”

That’s exactly what happened Sunday. Bell, who leads the NFL with eight runs of 20-plus yards and a 7.0-yards-per-carry average, bolted for a 67-yard touchdown run that made it 42-21 with 6 minutes, 31 seconds left in the game.

Anderson, who rushed for 1,487 yards as a rookie in 2000, has gained 604 yards this season, a pace for 1,208; while Bell has rushed for 562, a pace for 1,124.

Perhaps no one has benefited more from the two-headed running back monster than Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer. Taking advantage of the running game, Plummer has never been more effective with his play-action passing, nor has he ever been so accurate.

When Plummer threw for 309 yards against Philadelphia, it marked the first time in NFL history a team produced two 100-yard rushers and a 300-yard passer in the same game. Plummer meanwhile, whose career has been marred by interceptions, has thrown 11 touchdowns with no interceptions during the last six games and has thrown 171 consecutive passes without a pick.

“With this running game we have going, with my guys up front, what they’re doing, there’s not many quarterbacks that probably wouldn’t be on a roll in this system,” Plummer said.

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...s/13047814.htm

watermock · 11-01-2005, 02:47 AM

This is exactly what I hoped for...

Thunder and Lightning...Let's keep them fresh instead of running Portis 38 times...

Man we need one more real weapon at reciever. DEVO is a great 4th, but man...DEVO is pretty funny tho...what a trooper...

This team has a charm I haven't seen in awhile from a Denver team in awhile...It can't seem to get a grip on it's defensive identity yet tho...

OrangeShadow · 11-01-2005, 04:45 AM

Itd be so nice to have 2 1000 yard rushers

Billy Clyde Puckett · 11-01-2005, 05:40 AM

Good news for all of those FA RBs. In the copy cat league, everyone will be scrambling to have RBBC.

Spider · 11-01-2005, 05:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OrangeShadow

Itd be so nice to have 2 1000 yard rushers

It carried the Browns to the AFC championship game , they had some luck with it , I do like the way we are doing it , but having a Priemer back is still the way to go ............ I am still not real keen on thunder and lightning ........

Tredici · 11-01-2005, 06:02 AM

That's because Thunder is the third back standing on the sidelines.

jmz313 · 11-01-2005, 06:31 AM

Quote:

That's because Thunder is the third back standing on the sidelines.

Thunder and lighting is lame and should just be left in NY and Fassel's pocket where it belonged.

2 1000 yd backs, 1 2000 yd back, 2 800 yd backs... I don;t really care as long as the win column keeps going up.

missingnumber7 · 11-01-2005, 10:31 AM

I like what shanny is saying by this. Ok you can stop us inside with anderson...now stop bells speed outside...oh now we'll bring anderson back in and run playaction boot. it gives the team several different looks. gives jake different options.

GreatBronco16 · 11-01-2005, 10:59 AM

It's funny, very few people thought this would work before the season started, and now just about everyone is down with the two RB system this season. I'm just glad it is working the way it is. Come the end of the year, we will have two fresh starting RBs down the stretch while most teams will have already run their backs into the ground. If Bell and Anderson both go over 1000 yards this year, then I say that both of them should be the MVPs.

Sassy · 11-01-2005, 11:06 AM

If Bell and Anderson both go over 1000 yards this year, then I say that both of them should be the MVPs.

If Anderson and Bell both end up with 1000 yards...I'd pretty much bet this team is in the SB.

Smilin Assassin · 11-01-2005, 11:15 AM

S'like watching the Broncos version of the raiders on Nintendo's original Tecmo Bowl.

Hand the ball off to either your speed back or your power back and listen as the defense and crowd collectively hold their breaths.

epicSocialism4tw · 11-01-2005, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Guy

Good news for all of those FA RBs. In the copy cat league, everyone will be scrambling to have RBBC.

Shanny is a trend setter...what can you say?

11-01-2005, 01:35 AM	#1
Taco John 24/7 Broncos In Elway I Trust Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 49,708 Adopt-a-Bronco: Peyton Manning	Broncos One-Two punch getting much praise Denver finds two-for-one deal By RANDY COVITZ The Kansas City Star DENVER — The Chiefs are experimenting with a dual running-back system with some degree of success. The Denver Broncos, meanwhile, are exploiting a one-two punch better than any other NFL team in the last 20 years. Denver’s Mike Anderson and Tatum Bell each rushed for more than 100 yards during the Broncos’ 49-21 victory against Philadelphia on Sunday and reached the halfway mark of the season on pace for 1,000-yard seasons. In NFL history, only three sets of teammates have each gained 1,000 yards in the same season, and none since Cleveland’s Earnest Byner and Kevin Mack did so in 1985 for Marty Schottenheimer. “Why not?” said Mike Anderson, the Broncos’ power back. “Why set limits on yourself?” Bell, the Broncos’ speed back, said: “We’re not looking at it like that. If it comes out like that, it’s all good, as long as we have a good season. But, yeah, that would be real nice. It’s in the back of my mind, Mike and I getting a thousand apiece.” Unlike the Chiefs, who devised a plan to use Priest Holmes for two series, then Larry Johnson for one, there doesn’t seem to be a clear-cut system for featuring Anderson and Bell. Anderson usually starts the game and is the go-to-back in short-yardage situations. Bell is deployed in passing downs, but they are interchangeable in the base offense on first and 10, and Bell entered the game in Denver’s second possession on Sunday. “We can change it up,” Anderson said. “We can pound you, and, of course, every time he (Bell) touches the ball, he can go the distance.” The Broncos, of course, have churned out 1,000-yard backs for years, from the old days of Floyd Little and Otis Armstrong to the modern years of Terrell Davis and Clinton Portis. But seldom have they used such a tandem. During Sunday’s game against a Philadelphia defense that held San Diego’s LaDainian Tomlinson to 7 yards in 17 carries a week earlier, Anderson went for 126 yards, and Bell gained 107, becoming the first Broncos to rush for 100 rushing yards apiece in a game since Davis (184) and Derek Loville (103) did it in a 1997 playoff game against Jacksonville. It hadn’t happened in the regular season since 1976, when Armstrong (116) and quarterback Norris Weese (120) did it at Chicago. “Mike and I always talk, give us the ball, we can carry the load if the passing game isn’t there,” said Bell, a second-round pick from Oklahoma State in 2004 who suffered through an injury-marred rookie season. “One part of our game is going to be there, I can promise you that. Hopefully no team can totally shut us out, but if the run gets going, it’s going to be a long day for people. “Mike is a hard-nosed runner. He loosens them up, and I come in there and find a crease and take it to the house.” That’s exactly what happened Sunday. Bell, who leads the NFL with eight runs of 20-plus yards and a 7.0-yards-per-carry average, bolted for a 67-yard touchdown run that made it 42-21 with 6 minutes, 31 seconds left in the game. Anderson, who rushed for 1,487 yards as a rookie in 2000, has gained 604 yards this season, a pace for 1,208; while Bell has rushed for 562, a pace for 1,124. Perhaps no one has benefited more from the two-headed running back monster than Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer. Taking advantage of the running game, Plummer has never been more effective with his play-action passing, nor has he ever been so accurate. When Plummer threw for 309 yards against Philadelphia, it marked the first time in NFL history a team produced two 100-yard rushers and a 300-yard passer in the same game. Plummer meanwhile, whose career has been marred by interceptions, has thrown 11 touchdowns with no interceptions during the last six games and has thrown 171 consecutive passes without a pick. “With this running game we have going, with my guys up front, what they’re doing, there’s not many quarterbacks that probably wouldn’t be on a roll in this system,” Plummer said. http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...s/13047814.htm

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11-01-2005, 02:47 AM	#2
watermock "Hoodie Jr" "Hug me!" Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Hot Springs, Ouachitah Posts: 77,090	This is exactly what I hoped for... Thunder and Lightning...Let's keep them fresh instead of running Portis 38 times... Man we need one more real weapon at reciever. DEVO is a great 4th, but man...DEVO is pretty funny tho...what a trooper... This team has a charm I haven't seen in awhile from a Denver team in awhile...It can't seem to get a grip on it's defensive identity yet tho...

11-01-2005, 04:45 AM	#3
OrangeShadow armed and dangerous Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 6,771	Itd be so nice to have 2 1000 yard rushers

11-01-2005, 05:40 AM	#4
Billy Clyde Puckett Billy=Semi Tough Big Guy Looking down on KC, SD and Oakland Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: between 5,000 and 10,000 feet elevation Posts: 12,665 Adopt-a-Bronco: John Elway	Good news for all of those FA RBs. In the copy cat league, everyone will be scrambling to have RBBC.

11-01-2005, 06:02 AM	#6
Tredici Ring of Famer Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 10,010	That's because Thunder is the third back standing on the sidelines.

11-01-2005, 10:31 AM	#8
missingnumber7 Vote Joe Mays to Pro Bowl Joe 4 Pro Bowl ST's Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Bismarck Posts: 4,760 Adopt-a-Bronco: Joe Mays	I like what shanny is saying by this. Ok you can stop us inside with anderson...now stop bells speed outside...oh now we'll bring anderson back in and run playaction boot. it gives the team several different looks. gives jake different options.

11-01-2005, 10:59 AM	#9
GreatBronco16 !!!TEAM!!! Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Bama Baby Posts: 5,847 Adopt-a-Bronco: The Defense	It's funny, very few people thought this would work before the season started, and now just about everyone is down with the two RB system this season. I'm just glad it is working the way it is. Come the end of the year, we will have two fresh starting RBs down the stretch while most teams will have already run their backs into the ground. If Bell and Anderson both go over 1000 yards this year, then I say that both of them should be the MVPs.

11-01-2005, 11:06 AM	#10
Sassy Ring of Famer Join Date: May 2001 Location: ND Posts: 37,952 Adopt-a-Bronco: Eddie Royal	If Bell and Anderson both go over 1000 yards this year, then I say that both of them should be the MVPs. If Anderson and Bell both end up with 1000 yards...I'd pretty much bet this team is in the SB.

11-01-2005, 11:15 AM	#11
Smilin Assassin Tradition Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: East Coast Posts: 1,624	S'like watching the Broncos version of the raiders on Nintendo's original Tecmo Bowl. Hand the ball off to either your speed back or your power back and listen as the defense and crowd collectively hold their breaths.