SB Nation - Ryan Torain

The Future of the Running Game

Emmett Smith — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 20:30:09 -0000

More photos » by David Zalubowski - AP

6 months ago: Denver Broncos running backs Correll Buckhalter, front, and rookie Knowshon Moreno run during drills at football camp at the Broncos' headquarters in the south Denver suburb of Englewood, Colo., on Wednesday, June 3, 2009. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

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While perusing the sports archives of the Gazette the other day, I came across this article on the Denver rushing attack. The information wasn't really new - nycbroncosfan and I came to much the same conclusions early this year in our Divining The McDaniels Way 4-part series and in other articles - but the point of the article was that Denver will almost certainly use some form of a committee system at running back. Josh McDaniels has said as much several times, so this isn't big news; but there is a growing stream in the collective football consciousness about this hot-button issue. As we move forward, will the measure of a running back be established any longer only by the individual’s gross yardage per year? Or will we begin to see the team rushing totals as more important than that of the individual?

My sense is that the rushing totals of the team will begin to be seen as the more important of the two. One thing that would be worthwhile would be to view the individual's totals, the team's totals and an increasing emphasis on the type of rushing scheme that the team uses. While I don’t expect this anytime soon, there would be a lot of value to it. It would not only emphasize the importance of the overall team production, it could also increasingly take into account the type of rushing offense that the player was in, much as we now talk about West Coast Offenses, Erhardt-Perkins and Run 'n Gun systems. Just as we are missing the boat when we compare quarterbacks if we don't look at the scheme, the offensive line and the receivers, comparisons of running backs are limited in value if they don't look at the team's O-line, their total rushing production and the specific scheme that is used in the running game.

There are a limited number of so-called "franchise" running backs in the league. Because of this fact, many teams won't have a player of that particular caliber, while some, like Oakland, seem to collect them much as Jon Gruden collected quarterbacks, thus reducing the overall availability even more. One solution for such teams is to establish a running attack that can use second- to fifth-round draft choices with similar effectiveness. Although few would argue that the Broncos' former system eventually took this to extremes, it is still true that a system such as the Denver zone-blocking, one-cut system can increase overall effectiveness of the rushing attack without moving to a 'star' or primary-back system. That doesn't suggest that such a system is 'better' or not, but only recognizes that it is an option since not every team can employ a dominant primary-back approach.

Options for the Rushing Attack

Even when such an approach is possible, is it optimal? Let's consider four possible examples: LaDainian Tomlinson with San Diego, Adrian Peterson with Minnesota, Matt Forte with the Bears and the New England Patriots.

Let's look at the Patriots first. We should note that the 2008 New England Patriots had less issues with injuries at running back than the Broncos did, but they saw plenty of injuries as well. Laurence Maroney suffered a shoulder injury that allowed him to play only three games last year. Kevin Faulk got most of the press, but he, too, had injury issues. Sammy Morris, who is probably most similar to Peyton Hillis in his skill set and overall production, also spent time out with injuries. As a result, Josh McDaniels came from one club with serious injury issues at the position to another with even worse problems. Although he was excoriated by the press for the hundreds of running backs that he supposedly had piling up in camp like cordwood, the fact is that there is a fairly normal level of competition for the 4 or 5 RB slots that McDaniels will keep going into the season. The rest are out due to injuries, which explains the process quite well.

In San Diego, LaDainian Tomlinson spent much of last year complaining that he was underused. The Chargers didn’t run enough plays for him, he said, and when they did the line play wasn’t to his liking. As far as the line play, I understood – they, too, were decimated by injuries, especially in the early season and they underperformed for much of the season. But LDT, as he’s often called, didn’t mention that he too was injured, had been at the end of the previous season and was during the first half of 2008. Not surprisingly, he was also fighting injuries at the end of the 2009 season. SD has responded in three ways.

First, head coach Norv Turner has been saying very publicly that they are going to ride the LDT train for about 330-350 carries next year. Given that LDT is 30, and we know that when a back goes over 28 years of age or 300 carries in a season, he’s liable to lose some degree of production and to increasingly deal with injuries. Therefore, San Diego's public stance is very unlikely, although it's certainly possible.

But the second way they dealt with the situation was to slap the franchise label on Darren Sproles and to consider increasing his carries. For the most part, SD seems to be thinking of Sproles as a special-teams specialist who can also be a good change-of-pace back. Sproles recently signed the tender but not before San Diego took the third step of adding big and talented Gartrell Johnson out of Colorado State to come in and start taking even more snaps. Not being comfortable depending on a rookie 4th-round pick to dominate, the Chargers also picked up Michael Bennett. Still think that LDT is going to get 330+ carries this year?

This all came around because, like nearly every club, the Bolts struggled with injuries at the RB position. The Chargers put it out to the media that they expected LaDainian to get those 330 carries, but few in the league would give that any credence. From one perspective, the drafting of Johnson and the signing of Bennett were clear signs that they didn’t believe that LDT would survive that level of use to play in any playoffs and they were getting ready for that fact. That seems a sensible approach and covers them no matter the outcome.

Whatever their public stance, San Diego knows what Josh McDaniels knows and what others are finding out. In this day and age, in this league, you need at least three decent running backs to count on getting through a season. It really helps if they aren’t counting their carries and yards as much as the points and the wins. It’s just good coaching to have more options, to have certain players that you can count on for certain plays and to keep as many of them healthy as possible – and to have at least one or two in reserve, for the inevitable day when back number 1 and/or number 2 goes down.

Matt Forte did very well for a rookie running back. He's a tough player with good hands as a receiver, and he led the Bears in both rushing and receiving. But Forte's production could have been even better if the Bears had a better second option at running back. How about Minnesota? By the end of the season, Adrian Peterson's production was dropping off noticeably and his yards-per-carry numbers were heading south like New York retirees to Florida. Peterson spent the offseason trying to quickly gain 15+ lbs of muscle in order to protect himself from that kind of repetitive pounding. It rarely works to gain a lot of muscle weight in a single offseason - usually, that weight falls back off by the end of the following season - but you can see why AP would try to go that route. The primary-back system is fine in degree, but I have to wonder at the effect over the course of a person's career. Right now, AP is wondering the same thing.

What can a RBBC Approach Look Like?

I believe that we will see more teams go to the running-back-by-committee approach because it’s just good business on several levels. First, teams such as the New York Giants and the Carolina Panthers have shown that a running-back-by-committee approach can be an invaluable tool in building a winning program. Both clubs have allocated a sizable share of the salary cap to multiple top-tier running backs. Both have good, but (in my opinion) not great quarterbacks. That isn't meant as a dig to the QBs, both of whom I highly respect,. I don't consider Jake Delhomme's single bad playoff game last season to take anything away from him, but neither QB is commonly considered a top-five player.

Yet, both clubs ran the ball over 500 times each, and they were numbers 1 (NY) and 3 (CAR) on the list of top rushing clubs. New York used a three-headed attack that included Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw, while Carolina added Jonathan Stewart to DeAngelo Williams. Both teams also put a lot of resources into their offensive lines, and the team production showed. Both teams made the playoffs, and both will be considered contenders for the NFC crown this season. The committee approach can work, and work well.

Medically, the RBBC model suggests to me that it can produce the same (or better) total production over the course of a season and that it will extend the careers of some of the backs. It will mean needing to draft a high-round running back a little less often. That means more picks available for other positions, which is good from a business perspective. If I'm correct as to the medical advantages, that could also improve the bottom line for the team, since they will be paying players to sit out with injuries somewhat less often.

Fiscally, using a RBBC approach can permit the team to permit the allocation of resources more effectively. If you tie up a substantial portion of your offensive dollars in a single back, you're betting that this back won't become injured over the course of the season. If he is, the season may fail based on that single issue, leaving you with very little production out of the RB position. If more players - very good quality players, but not quite the same level as, say, an Adrian Peterson - are in a RBBC system, one of them going down has less of an impact. The reality of the NFL is that almost every player will become injured in some degree over the course of a season. You need to plan in such a way as to minimize the negative effects of that potential situation.

1,000-Yard Rushers

The RBBC also means that the 1,000-yard goal is going to be far less of a concern to most coaches ,and could become less important to more players. It just won’t be a statistical reality for a lot of teams. It is interesting to note, however, that the Giants' RBBC approach did produce two 1,000-yard backs (Jacobs and Ward), so it won't be out of the question. In the end, it’s far better to have five 400-yard backs than one 1,500-yard back. Those 2,000- to 2,500-yard rushing totals will look very good at the end of the year in the only stat column that counts – the ‘wins’ column.

In the future, as the running back by committee or RBBC approach is made increasingly probable, the stats on RBs will probably tend to be seen differently. Not everyone agrees, of course. As a disclaimer, Mike Pizer of USA Today claims that this trend towards a RBBC is being reversed, but he bases that belief on the ‘fact’ that he thinks that Beanie Wells and Knowshon Moreno will not be platooned and on no other information. Others may have better frameworks for their assumptions.But as the teams use more of a committee approach, the contribution of the individual players will tend, more often, to be lower. That's fine - in fact, it has advantages in the opportunity for players to heal in between injuries and for teams to rotate in fresh legs consistently. The overall team rushing production can be higher in the end. But that will mean that team rushing should take on a somewhat higher importance, and that scheme will be increasingly important as well.

In the end, we could yet see an emphasis on the team aspects of rushing production. If the committee approach becomes common, the different systems of running the ball will tend to be discussed, analyzed and debated in head-to-head comparisons, which increases the enjoyment for the fans who choose to learn more about their chosen sport. The running-back-by-committee approach will become more common because it makes sense financially, from a drafting standpoint and as a function of the team's overall offensive strategy.

The Broncos' Sui Generis Rushing Attack

Does this mean that players can't be platooned based on specific skill sets and need? Not at all, and that's important. Just because the teams will commonly spread the carries to more players doesn't mean that each running back can't have 2 or 3 areas in which he excels. The Broncos, for example, have a simple new philosophy. Each back is expected to carry the ball, block in pass protection and receiver well. They have a bruiser of a back in Hillis, but Peyton also has remarkable hands as a receiver and can pass protect at a high level. He also can block and block well for other RBs. Moreno has better abilities at eluding defensive players, but he doesn't have quite the foot-pounds of force that Hillis generates, simply as a matter of Hillis' superior weight. He, like all Broncos backs, has good pass-protect skills. Correll Buckhalter has certain runs at which he excels. I admit to being less optimistic about LaMont Jordan based on his performance in camp so far but with Ryan Torain being waived, his shot looks more and more likely. One change that will come about will be that offensive coordinators will have to know more about the specifics of their backs' skill sets than many of them do right now. The best of coordinators will get more out of their players, but that's nothing new. Between Josh McDaniels, Bobby Turner and Rick Dennison, as well as offensive coordinator Mike McCoy, I don't expect the Broncos to have any problems in that area. I'd argue that their running back program looks to be one of the best in football for the upcoming season, based on player quality, offensive line and coaching.

Which brings us, inevitably, to the 2009 Denver Broncos rushing attack. I don't remember the last time I was so excited about this team's chances in the rushing game. There is a Latin term, "sui generis', which means 'of its own kind/genus' or 'unique in its characteristics.' Head coach McDaniels has promised us that this year the Broncos will have a sui generis rushing attack; one that does things we have never seen in professional football before. While he could be blowing smoke up our collective elimination chakra, he now, without question, has the tools to do so,in his O-line and in his RBs. Moreno and Hillis et al that can provide him with all of the skills that are needed for the running game to be their main attack, should they desire to do so, and their production will be limited only by the coach's own fertile imagination. Buckhalter is showing a tremendous argument for keeping him near the top of our list. LaMont Jordan has decided that he needs to put more effort into his work, and while it's about time, is also good to see. Darius Walker brings good skill levels to the table and he may still make the club. Someone will be the starter du jour, but in that is likely to have only a small value. Everyone will have to play their way onto the field, which is as it should be. And then?

Bring on the season!!

2009 Denver Broncos Training Camp - 7/31 PM Breakdown

John Bena — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 03:28:16 -0000

The seed of a high school football coach doesn't venture far from the tree. Josh McDaniels is no exception. Coming to a team that has finished 24-24 the past 3 seasons, McDaniels knew that fundamentals were going to be a key component to turning the franchise around. For the first time, we are getting a look at what the young coach plans to do about it. Daddy would be proud.

Before I get too deep into what I am speaking about above, let me just say this. After a full day, and I mean a FULL day, there is definitely a change in Denver. Gone are the 75-minute practices. Gone, at least for today, is an afternoon practice that focused only on special teams. Gone are the practices off for veterans. All of this will hopefully lead to a team that isn't soft. Today's workout was fast-paced, crisp, and efficient - and lasted 2 full hours each time.

Now, back to the high school comment. As I was watching the Broncos work on drill after drill - drills I never saw last season (all the blocking sleds look new, which makes sense), I couldn't help but think I had seen all these drills before.

But where?

High School, that's where.

Now, don't get me wrong; to say that these practices reminded me of high school workouts is not a derogatory term, at least not in this context. Josh McDaniels took over a team that couldn't get out of its own way at times. The only way to fix it is to get back to the basics.

The Broncos spent a lot of time working in small groups, working on stripping the football, or hitting a sled. Defensive linemen worked on slapping the hands of O-linemen off of them so they could 'stay clean'.

Quarterbacks ran drills that included dropping back to pass with coaches slapping at the ball, trying to break it free.

Linebackers worked on dropping into coverage, then going and trying to intercept a pass.

Everything you would go out and teach a 13-year-old is what the Broncos were working. It was a welcome sight.

One thing I did not see was a Red-Zone or Two-Minute drill. That might shock some. Both were a staple of the Shanahan practice, as if everything else was quickly completed to get to the real show. What we learned, however, is that it means little in the Red-Zone or Two-Minute drill if your team is not fundamentally sound. The Broncos were not, and all the little inefficiencies add up during a football game.

I know; it was only one day, but it was refreshing to see the team working on things it has struggled with in the past -- rookies, vets, young and old, working on the same thing, with the same goal in mind - to become a better football team.

Now, some random thoughts -

Brandon Marshall was held out of the afternoon workout, spending time rehabilitating instead.

Alphonso Smith is a special football player. He is, however, a rookie getting his first taste of camp. Tonight's workout was a bit of a struggle at times, specifically in 1-on-1 passing drills against the likes of Brandon Stokley and Eddie Royal. Stokley could be the league's best route runner, and Royal isn't far behind. Going against that kind of competition will get you good in a hurry.

That said, Smith is a naturally-gifted return man. With gazelle-like strides, Smith seems to eat 2-3 yards per stride on a return. His moves are quick and decisive and his 190-lb. frame is better suited to take the pounding.

One injury to report - DB Vernon Fox left the field with an apparent right ankle injury. He was able to walk off, but carried a noticeable limp.

Ryan Torain and Peyton Hillis look to be close to 100%. I saw Hillis used in numerous looks - in the backfield, split wide, H-Back. It was good to see the burst. especially after the type of hamstring injury he suffered.

Something I saw tonight that I never would have seen last year #1 -- Tyler Polumbus, guilty of some kind of infraction, was sent to run laps around the field - just like in high school.

Something I saw tonight that I never would have seen last year #2 -- Right before the final drill of the day, the team ran three sprints across the width of the field - 53.5 yards each way. It came at a time when I was writing in my notebook that the evening workout was a bit sloppy. I guess McDaniels agreed. Just like high school.

After the practice ended, the three PUP players - Champ Bailey, Renaldo Hill and Marcus Thomas - were running 50-yard sprints.

That ends Day 1. For those of you that were in the crowd, thanks for taking the time to report what you saw. If you are going tomorrow, let me know.

Denver Broncos Training Camp Report - 7/31 AM Practice

John Bena — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 17:54:06 -0000

The first full team workout is in the books and if I wasn't excited before - which I was - I am definitely excited now. Yes, it is only one practice. What can you learn in a couple of hours?? Everything and nothing.

There will be some video of Kyle Orton to come, as well as a bevy of photos I took. Until then, here are my thoughts as I wrote them down during the morning's workouts.

The first thing to get out of the way - who was here and who wasn't. We know 5 players weren't on the field for various reasons. Knowshon Moreno and Robert Ayers are still working on their contracts. Champ Bailey, Renaldo Hill and Marcus Thomas are on the PUP list. I did see Champ and Thomas coming from the workout facility, so they are here and accounted for. As for everyone else, all were dressed and all practiced, including Brandon Marshall, who looked great. More on that later.

Here are some general observations to get out of the way. I was curious to see if the country club mentality would be gone along with Mike Shanahan. Let me say, the entire feel of the practice session has changed. Right from the beginning there was a sense of urgency. There was intensity, and more importantly, it was focused. You get the sense that Josh McDaniels has sold his team on the fact that every position is up for grabs, every job available.

Another observation was the type of drills the team was working on. A lot more fundamentals than I remember last year. Shanahan's workouts seemed to be geared towards the fans and media. McDaniels, however, seems to be getting his team ready to play football. That is a welcome change, even if I couldn't get as close to the action as last year.

Now, the tidbits --

Ryan Torain is back and better than ever. Again, it is early and Torain needs to prove he can stay healthy, but the quickness and moves he showed last year have returned. David Bruton is still looking for his jock after one particular move by Torain in 11-on-11 drills.

The defensive line is easily the biggest concern this team has, and at one point during sled work they were no more than 5 feet from me. Unfortunately I wasn't impressed. There just isn't anyone who scares me in that group. Not yet anyway. No imposing figure.

I watched Kyle Orton throw....a lot. Let me put it to you as precisely as I can. There is nothing wrong with Kyle Orton's arm. He can make ALL the throws. Repeat. He can make ALL THE THROWS. Today he was on time and on target which was great to see. He won't throw for 4600 yards, but in this offense he won't have to.

A quick note on Tom Brandstater - He looks like an NFL quarterback. Great size for the position and a solid release and spiral.

Alphonso Smith is a football player. He has great instincts for the ball, and has the wheels to get to it. He was returning punts along with Eddie Royal, and even blocked a FG attempt at the end of practice.

The Brian Dawkins Effect is already evident. Numerous times I saw Dawkins 'coaching' David Bruton and Darcel McBath. Quick tidbits here and there, where to be, what to look for, etc. Who better to teach the two rookies? Both seem to have great instincts at safety as well.

Back to Brandon Marshall. He was dressed, he was dancing to the music, and he looked happy to be on the football field. I get the feeling that everything can turn out okay, now that the fans are cheering every time he touches the football (which they are), and that the focus can be between the lines, not outside them. Marshall made several great catches and looked to have no lasting effects from the hip surgery. The Beast looks ready.

There you have it. More to come this evening when the team returns to the field. Stay tuned for some Kyle Orton comments and pictures.

2009 Denver Broncos - Breaking Down the Roster - Running Backs

Douglas A. Lee — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 17:30:10 -0000

More photos » by David Zalubowski - AP

7 months ago: From left to right, Denver Broncos rookie running back Knowshon Moreno talks with fullback Peyton Hills and running back LaMont Jordan during the team's football minicamp at Broncos' headquarters in the southeast Denver suburb of Englewood, Colo., on Sunday, May 3, 2009. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

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The Broncos and Mike Shanahan developed quite a reputation for running the ball over the past 14 seasons. Denver basically became known as Running Back Central, where Shanahan and backs coach Bobby Turner turned several late-rounders into stars. While Shanny and Turner worked their magic in 2008 by turning seventh-rounder Peyton Hillis into a Denver cult hero, the season was noted more for its multitude of backfield injuries. New coach Josh McDaniels is no stranger to running-back attrition, as the 2008 Patriots suffered a similar fate; rookie BenJarvus Green-Ellis started 3 games after being elevated from the practice squad.

Lesson learned, McDaniels and GM Brian Xanders spent the offseason turning over the depth chart. Among the pair's first moves were cutting P.J. Pope, Alex Haynes and Anthony Alridge; the departure of Cory Boyd followed soon after. Xanders and McDaniels began adding new runners at the start of free agency, signing Correll Buckhalter, LaMont Jordan and J.J. Arrington in short order. Next came the draft, and the consensus of fans and experts alike was that Denver would emerge with at least one more back; the only question was when that would occur.

Although several fans were wishing for the Broncos to select Knowshon Moreno out of Georgia, most were expecting Denver to go defense-defense and fortify the front 7 with their two first-round picks (#12 and #18). While it appears that Xanders and McDaniels were hoping for such a scenario, the draft day board did not fall that way; highly-ranked 3-4 defenders Tyson Jackson and B.J. Raji went ahead of Denver's slot to Kansas City and Green Bay, respectively. Once their turn came around at #12, Denver's goal was to choose Moreno and DE/LB Robert Ayers with their two selections, in no particular order. Hearing that San Diego was trying to trade up to #13 in order to nab Moreno if Denver passed on the running back, Xanders and McDaniels pounced on the Georgia star.

Following the draft, Denver signed Kestahn Moore as an undrafted free agent; Moore was subsequently released in June. In the week following the draft, Denver cut Selvin Young, who had been projected as the starting back in 2008 before injuries derailed his season. The Broncos then added Darius Walker to the roster, who the Texans had chosen not to re-sign. J.J. Arrington's knee problems led to a failed physical and his eventual release in late May; the transaction cost the Broncos $100,000.

After the break, we'll take a deeper look at who the Broncos enter training camp with, and some expectations as to how the competition will play out:

Knowshon Moreno

#27 / Running Back / Denver Broncos

Height: 5-11

Weight: 205

Born: Jul 16, 1987

College: Georgia

Exp: Rookie

How Acq: 2009 Draft (1st Round, 12th Overall)

Contract: Unsigned

Moreno arrives in Denver with the highest expectations for a rookie back since Bobby Humphrey was supposed to help put John Elway over the top in 1989. Although several stars have occupied the Broncos backfield over the past 15 years (Terrell Davis, Mike Anderson, Clinton Portis, Reuben Droughns), each player was able to fly under the radar before assuming the starting role. Not so for Knowshon, whose name is a combination of his father's moniker (Knowledge) and his mother's first name (Varashon). At Middletown South HS in New Jersey, Moreno completed his career as the state's all-time leading scorer and second all-time leading rusher in carrying Middletown to three straight championship titles. Knowshon's accolades at Georgia include being named the SEC's Freshman of the Year in 2007 and an AFCA All-American in 2008. He also joined Herschel Walker as the only Bulldogs to compile back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons. It should also be noted that Moreno had 551 touches at Georgia and never fumbled.

Accomplishments aside, Knowshon brings a wide-ranging skill set to the Denver backfield; Coach McDaniels has spoken of Moreno's abilities as a runner, pass catcher and blocker. Wes Bunting of National Football Post wrote pre-draft that "(Knowshon)'s vision, toughness and ability to make people miss are rare." Meanwhile, Russ Lande of The War Room wrote, "Moreno is one of the most physical running back prospects our scouts have evaluated in years. Despite his lack of elite speed and burst, he is faster than expected and consistently outruns defenders who have angles on him. What's truly impressive is his ability to move well in tight quarters, a trait that separates the good NFL backs from the elite ones. He also is a polished receiver."

While it is difficult to project just how much Moreno will play in 2009, it is safe to say that Denver drafted him to be their #1 running back. During McDaniels' four years running the Patriots' offense, he never had a workhorse back at full health; therefore, it is uncertain whether McDaniels truly favors the committee approach he appears to, or a feature back to carry the bulk of the load. That said, look for Knowshon to emerge as Denver's de facto starting running back and to catch a lot more passes than we're used to seeing out of the Denver backfield.

Moreno is not yet under contract; naturally, how quickly he signs a deal may effect his development with the Broncos. As the twelfth pick, a simple look at Ryan Clady's contract (six years, $14.75 million incl. $11.415 million in guarantees) offers the framework for Knowshon's expected deal (with guarantees about 10% higher). Either way, he is quite obviously a lock to make the roster and should receive significant playing time for the Broncos in '09. Knowshon just celebrated his 22nd birthday on Thursday.

Correll Buckhalter

#28 / Running Back / Denver Broncos

Height: 6-0

Weight: 217

Born: Oct 06, 1978

College: Nebraska

Exp: 9th Year

How Acq: 2009 Free Agency (Philadelphia)

Contract: 2/27/2009: Signed a four-year, $10 million contract. The deal includes $1.8 million guaranteed. 2009-2012: Under Contract, 2013: Free Agent

Buckhalter signed with the Broncos in March after 8 seasons with the Eagles, during which he carried the ball 476 times for 2,155 yards (4.5 YPA) and 18 touchdowns in 74 games. CB also has 85 career receptions for 930 yards and 4 touchdowns. While these numbers would suggest low mileage on Buckhalter's knees, those joints haven't been too kind to Correll over the years; a torn ACL in his left knee cost him the 2002 season, while the 2004 and 2005 campaigns were lost to a torn patellar tendon in his right knee. However, Correll has been active for 49 out of a possible 53 games over the past 3 seasons in Philly (including playoffs). 2008 saw Buckhalter at his most productive (in terms of yards from scrimmage) since his rookie season, as he gained 369 yards rushing and 324 yards receiving, along with 4 total touchdowns. He did not fumble in 2008.

Shortly after Denver signed Buckhalter, he was unceremoniously linked to a drug dealer during a Pennsylvania court case. Fortunately, the convicted dealer denied selling marijuana to Buckhalter; no charges have been filed against the running back.

During his time in Philadelphia, Buckhalter was the primary backup to Brian Westbrook, filling in as the starter when necessary but averaging only 7.6 touches per game. While that number may rise in Denver, don't expect his role to change significantly. The Broncos have added Buckhalter for his versatility; Scouts, Inc. says, "Buckhalter is a productive back with a good combination of size and speed, displays good run skills and acceleration through the hole, has above-average hands with good open-field run after the catch ability." As stated above, the Broncos drafted Knowshon Moreno to be their top back; Buckhalter will get his touches, but he is still primarily a backup. It should also be noted that Correll has gotten reps as a kick returner, having taken back 37 kicks for 798 yards (21.6 YPR) for Philly in 2007.

Buckhalter signed a four-year deal in February, including $1.8 million in guarantees and worth as much as $10 million over the length of the contract. Salary details were not released. Those guarantees mean Buckhalter is a virtual lock to make the roster; of course, past history suggests a trip to the IR is always a possibility. Correll will turn 31 following Denver's Week 4 game versus Dallas.

LaMont Jordan

#32 / Running Back / Denver Broncos

Height: 5-10

Weight: 230

Born: Nov 11, 1978

College: Maryland

Exp: 9th Year

How Acq: 2009 Free Agency (New England)

Contract: 3/4/2009: Signed a two-year, $2.5 million contract. The deal included a $500,000 signing bonus. 2009-2010: Under Contract, 2011: Free Agent

Also signed at the outset of free agency, LaMont Jordan joins his fourth NFL team in 2009, and his third squad in three seasons. A versatile back, Jordan racked up 1,588 yards from scrimmage and 11 touchdowns for the Raiders in 2005. However, it was his only standout season in a career thus far marked by underachievement. After spending the 2008 season with the Patriots, Jordan has stated his preference was to stay in New England; when that opportunity did not arise, he chose to follow Josh McDaniels westward. Perhaps he sensed that McDaniels knows best how to utilize his skills; although he did not catch any passes in 2008, Jordan did rack up his best YPA (4.5) on the ground since 2004, with 363 yards gained on 80 carries. What makes Jordan's lack of receptions in '08 stand out is that he hauled in 70 passes during that career-best 2005 season. LaMont fumbled once in 2008.

After spending four years as an understudy to future-HOFer Curtis Martin in New York, Jordan received an $11 million bonus to head west to Oakland. After that productive first season with the Raiders, injuries and perhaps a bit of laziness cut down Jordan's playing time and output in subsequent years. Last month, LaMont had some interesting comments which alluded to his attitude in prior years, saying he was "out here for the offseason program, something I’ve never really done throughout my career...I want to play at a lot less (weight) than what I’ve been playing. ...I never really put in the work to being my best, and that’s what I’m here doing now."

At his best and when healthy, Jordan is quite a load out of the backfield, packing 230 pounds onto a stout 5'10" frame. As those numbers would suggest, Jordan is not an elusive back, but one who is difficult to tackle. Scouts, Inc. says Jordan "can fill a need as a power back who catches the ball out of the backfield and can be hard to tackle once he gets to the second level or catches the ball in the open field." Expect Jordan to be a threat in short-yardage and goal-line situations for Denver, and possibly as a receiver out of the backfield. His knowledge and experience from spending 2008 with McDaniels in New England will surely help him in Denver.

Jordan signed a two-year deal including a $500,000 signing bonus and worth as much as $2.5 million. Like Buckhalter, Jordan's salary is unknown. His small bonus means LaMont is quite expendable in a salary-cap sense; but if he does show up in shape for camp, Jordan's experience with McDaniels in NE, excellent hands and size should make him a keeper. Durability has been an issue for Jordan at times, as a torn MCL landed him in IR in 2006 and calf problems kept him from dressing for eight games in 2008. LaMont will turn 31 after the Broncos' Week 9 contest versus Pittsburgh.

Peyton Hillis

#22 / Fullback / Denver Broncos

Height: 6-1

Weight: 250

Born: Jan 21, 1986

College: Arkansas

Exp: 2nd Year

How Acq: 2008 Draft (7th round, 227th overall)

Contract: 7/16/2008: Signed a four-year, $1.755 million contract. The deal included a $49,800 signing bonus. 2009: $385,000, 2010: $470,000, 2011: $555,000, 2012: Free Agent

photo via static.nfl.com

As mentioned in the intro, Peyton Hillis went from nearly undrafted to Denver folk hero in a matter of months, thanks to the bone-crushing hits he dished out; and that's when he was carrying the ball. Although Hillis was a star running back in high school, he was relegated to fullback in his time at Arkansas thanks to the arrival of Darren McFadden and Felix Jones. After the Broncos selected him, Hillis was seen as a fullback with great hands to catch passes out in the flat. He certainly showed off those skills during Denver's Week 9 loss to Miami, tallying 7 receptions for an eye-popping 116 yards and a touchdown. But his role would grow...

Injuries to Selvin Young, Michael Pittman, Ryan Torain and Andre Hall left Hillis as the Broncos' primary ball-carrier midway through Denver's game in Cleveland on Nov. 6. Hillis punished opposing defenses for several weeks, highlighted by a 22-carry, 129-yard effort with a touchdown at a rainy Meadowlands (with your trusty author in attendance) against the Jets. Unfortunately, Peyton's wonderful rookie campaign came crashing down the next week as a circus-like catch resulted in a torn hamstring against the Chiefs. Despite the brief cameo atop the RB chart, Hillis managed to rack up 343 rushing yards (which led the team, sadly) with a 5.0 YPA and an impressive 5 TDs. His receiving numbers were also notable, with 14 catches for 179 yards and a stunning 12.8 YPR. While these are relatively small samples which should not be extrapolated to a full season, Peyton's statistics are surely evidence that he is a playmaker with versatile skills and a promising future. By the way, Peyton did not fumble in 2008.

The arrival of Moreno and Buckhalter indicate that dreams of Peyton Hillis as Denver's workhorse back are distant from fruition. However, one cannot envision the Broncos' 2009 season without a hefty role for Hillis. As Peyton related to his hometown paper last month, Josh McDaniels recognizes the player's wide skill set; he had the second-year player "getting snaps at running back, wide receiver, fullback and tight end." McDaniels offered a glowing review of Hillis, saying "He's got great hands, and he's a very tough runner to bring down when you give him the ball. So he'll do a lot different things for us." Look for Peyton to fulfill myriad roles in 2009; he'll be featured at times in one-back sets, he'll be motioning out wide to catch passes, he'll be lining up at times as a fullback, and maybe we'll even see him as the tailback in a two-back set from time to time.

Hillis is entering the second year of his four-year rookie deal which will pay him a salary of $385,000 in 2009. He is a lock for the roster and should see significant playing time. Peyton doesn't turn 24 until during the 2009 Playoffs.

Spencer Larsen

#46 / Fullback / Denver Broncos

Height: 6-2

Weight: 240

Born: Mar 04, 1984

College: Arizona

Exp:2nd Year

How Acq: 2008 Draft (6th round, 183rd overall)

Contract: 7/9/2008: Signed a four-year, $1.801 million contract. The deal included a $97,500 signing bonus. 2009: $385,000, 2010: $470,000, 2011: $555,000, 2012: Free Agent

photo via static.nfl.com

As a late-round selection last year, Spencer Larsen made the Denver roster on the strength of his special-teams play and versatility. His stadium-shaking hit on a kick return in Week 4 was arguably Denver's best tackle of the year and the only positive memory from that horrific game in Kansas City. Later on in the season, Larsen made headlines as a starter on offense (fullback), defense (linebacker) and special teams (kick coverage); he was the first Bronco in team history to do so. In fact, he received the Diet Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week for his efforts. A groin injury slowed Larsen down in December, and he did not play in Denver's losses versus thePanthers and Bills.

Although Larsen's versatility means he offers Denver roster flexibility (backup FB and ILB are the same guy), he is (to this point) nothing special as far as fullbacks go. MHR's own Styg50 wrote "Larsen was only adequate as a blocking FB however, and he has mentioned how uncomfortable he would be if he was ever asked to carry the rock," in his review at season's end. Larsen did not carry the ball or catch a pass in 2008 for Denver. However, he needn't worry much; if the past four seasons in New England are any indication, there won't be a lot of touches allocated to the fullback position.

Larsen is entering the second year of his four-year rookie deal which will pay him a salary of $385,000 in 2009. The fact that Spencer fills more than one spot on the depth chart means he would be a very difficult player to cut. Having spent 2003 and 2004 on a Mormon mission in Chile, Larsen entered the NFL at an older age than most, turning 25 this past March.

Ryan Torain

#42 / Running Back / Denver Broncos

Height: 6-1

Weight: 225

Born: Aug 10, 1986

College: Arizona State

Exp: 2nd Year

How Acq: 2008 Draft (5th round, 139th overall)

Contract: 7/9/2008: Signed four-year, $1.903 million contract. The deal included a $198,000 signing bonus. 2009: $385,000, 2010: $470,000, 2011: $555,000, 2012: Free Agent

photo via static.nfl.com

Ryan Torain entered the league with some rather unfair expectations. As a running back and a fifth-round choice of the Denver Broncos, Torain was doomed to fail from the very beginning. After all, his draft position and injury-shortened senior year at Arizona State made Ryan the obvious heir apparent to the crown of Late-Round Denver Running Back Comes From Nowhere to Top 1,000 Yards and Turn Every Fantasy Football League Upside Down. The shoes of Terrell Davis, Mike Anderson and Olandis Gary are hard to fill; Torain suffered a freak elbow injury during training camp, and throughout his recovery there were whispers that he would be the starting running back for Denver upon his return.

Granted, the reputations Mike Shanahan and Bobby Turner were bestowed as Running Back Whisperers was not undeserved; they did often turn what other teams deemed chicken you-know-what into chicken salad. But Torain, who has seemingly never been able to stay healthy for more than a couple months, had no chance. His pro debut resulted in a single yard gained on three carries (yes, that's 3 carries, 1 yard) versus Miami. A few nights later, the national stage was to be Torain's; Denver's matchup against the Browns was televised on the NFL Network and the previously-mentioned slew of RB injuries meant it was finally Torain Time. Although Ryan showed an odd and upright running style, it worked for most of the first half, as he racked up 68 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries. Savvy fantasy-football owners everywhere rejoiced. Torain did not fumble.

But as quickly as Torain Time had arrived, it departed just like that; an awkward tackle near halftime turned out to be a torn ACL in Ryan's left knee. His rookie season was over, after just 15 carries and six quarters of football. In addition to the knee and elbow injuries of 2008, Torain lost much of his senior season to a fractured toe. As a sophomore at Butler Community College in 2004, he missed several games with an ankle sprain. The hope, of course, is that Torain is someday able to find better health (fortune?) and make good on the promise he showed while at ASU (93.8 rushing yards per game and 5.4 yards per carry in 19 games). Those numbers, along with his large measurables, make Torain sound like a smaller version of Brandon Jacobs. However, his aforementioned upright running style mean he's more often receiving than doling out contact.

Torain is entering the second year of his four-year rookie deal which will pay him a salary of $385,000 in 2009. Health is clearly an issue; even if he is able to practice and perform in training camp, Torain may still find himself in competition with Darius Walker for the final RB spot on the roster. But his size, talent, potential, and injury history make Ryan much more likely to be on the 53-man roster, IR or PUP list than on the Broncos' cut list. Torain did participate in individual drills in June minicamps with a brace on his left knee, which is obviously a good sign for his future in Denver. Ryan will turn 23 during the upcoming training camp.

Darius Walker

#43 / Running Back / Denver Broncos

Height: 5-11

Weight: 205

Born: Oct 21, 1985

College: Notre Dame

Exp: 2nd Year

How Acq: 2009 Free Agency (Houston)

Contract: 5/7/2009: Signed a two-year contract

photo via static.nfl.com

Walker entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with Gary Kubiak's Texans in 2007. A star for the Fighting Irish, Darius was highly productive despite only seeing action in four games with Houston. He tallied 264 yards and 1 TD on 58 carries, plus 81 yards on 13 receptions for a total of 345 YFS; these are impressive numbers for any back, let alone an undrafted rookie. Walker has not fumbled in the NFL. 2008 was a lost year for Walker, as he spent 5 weeks on the Texans' active roster but saw no action; he otherwise had three practice-squad stints - two with Houston and one with St. Louis.

Despite those encouraging statistics, Walker is apparently not that great at anything in particular. As Scouts, Inc. put it, Walker "is not quite as big as you'd like and not quite as fast as you'd like, but he does have some quality running skills...He adds some value as a situational player who can spell the starter and run routes out of the backfield, but does not have enough physical skills to make you think he has a chance to ever be a starter." It does not appear that Walker has had any notable injury problems.

Walker signed a two-year deal with Denver; terms of the contract were not released. It's safe to assume Walker received a minimal signing bonus (figure less than $100,000) and money will not be a factor in the decision whether to keep him on the roster. If the Broncos' other backs are healthy, it would be a surprise for Walker to make the 53-man roster. Assuming another team does not snatch him up come August, don't be surprised to find him on Denver's practice squad. From my research, it appears that Walker still has practice-squad eligibility; he has only accrued one season (2007) and during that year he dressed for fewer than nine games (6, to be exact). Thanks to broncobear for help with that one. Walker will turn 24 following Denver's Week 6 Monday Night game in San Diego.

Overall Outlook

The common threads which seem to link Denver's running backs are versatility and sure-handedness; Josh McDaniels clearly prioritizes players who have the ability to run with the football, to get out of the backfield and catch passes, hang onto the football when they've got it, and to stay in and block when more protection is necessary. Expect to see more passes thrown the backs' way, if Josh McDaniels' time in New England is any indication. Look for Moreno to be the starter, with Buckhalter and Hillis seeing a good amount of touches, Larsen filling in at times as fullback, Jordan getting carries in short-yardage and goal-line situations, with Torain's role dependent upon his health, and Walker on the bubble. As for strategy, it is safe to say that Denver will return to a more balanced offense in 2009 than we saw last year; more runs near the goal line and more draws to combat the 3-4 defenses of San Diego and Kansas City. For more on Josh McDaniels and the running game, check out this earlier piece from broncobear and myself - Divining the McDaniels Way.

Beyond Brandon Marshall

Emmett Smith — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 23:45:51 -0000

More photos » by David Zalubowski - AP

6 months ago: Denver Broncos tight end Tony Scheffler takes part in drills during the team's football minicamp at the Broncos headquarters in Englewood, Colo., on Sunday, June 14, 2009. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Browse more photos »

The Denver Broncos Receiving Options

With the onset of yet another strange distraction this offseason, as Brandon Marshall ignores the effects of his injury and additional problems this offseason with his personal life (neither of which kept him from demanding a trade), there is a lot of talk about the Broncos and the potential receivers who are out there and might be part of a trade for Marshall. While I wouldn't rule those out, from one perspective it's difficult to imagine how an injured problem-child with more offseason issues on his radar (he's already been suspended once and has more court hearings upcoming) will bring a king's ransom in a trade. It's entirely possible that Marshall will be spending 2009 with the Broncos. Whether or not he is, however, I thought it worthwhile to do a quick rundown of who Denver already has as receiving options. For purposes of organization, I broke them down into wide receivers, tight ends and running backs. How they are used may not be the same as how they are listed, but I wanted to keep it as simple as possible.

Wide Receivers

1. Eddie Royal
Dust off the superlatives and break out the thesaurus - Eddie Royal may be vested with the nickname 'Cheese' but his real name in 2008 turned out to be 'Money'. At 5'10", 182 lbs, this is a young man who shattered the axioms about not counting on wide receivers in their first year. He showed the world that he was the top receiving rookie in the NFL in just his first game, blasting DeAngelo Hall and the rest of the Oakland Raiders backfield for 9 receptions, 146 yards and a TD en route to a Denver destruction of their division rival. He would finish the season with 91 receptions and 980 yards, with 5 TDs and only three drops despite some hand problems caused by Jay Cutler's hard throwing style. Royal showed that he can run tight routes, gain separation, get yards after the catch, adjust to the ball in the air and, oh, yes - be a constant threat as a return guy. In addition to destroying the theory about the struggles of 1st year receivers he also blew up the one about return guys not making the transition to receiver effectively.

With solid character, ceaseless effort and tremendous skill, Royal is one of the many young bright spots for a Denver squad going through major changes. Could he step in as a #1 receiver? Ask Steve Smith. In fact, think of Smith without the 'thuggery' tag that he has allowed to develop around him. Royal is the kind of player that every team dreams of having. It's interesting to reflect on the fact that most of the Broncos faithful blew their collective gasket when we drafted him last year, with many demanding to know why we didn't go with DeSean Jackson, now of the Philadelphia Eagles. Now we know...

2. Brandon Stokley
Last year, the 5'11" 192 lb. Stokley shook off the effects of a concussion that plagued him previously and showed that he is still one of the penultimate 3rd-down slot receivers in the league. He produce 49 receptions, 528 yards and 3 TDs for the Broncos. He's likely to spend this year teaching Kenny McKinley how to play the slot like an All-Pro, and if he can get across just some of the tricks of the trade that he's developed during his 10-year career, McKinley will be much the better for it. Talking about money - over those 10 years he has fumbled just 3 times and only 1 of them came with his previous employer, Indianapolis. None in his two years in Denver and none of them in the last four years shows us that he's still one of the best slot receivers in the NFL.

3. Jabar Gaffney
Coming over from the New England Patriots during this offseason, the 6'1" 200 lb Gaffney has a lot to offer the Broncos. He's familiar with the new system's terminology, used to Head Coach Josh McDaniels and a big supporter of his and has a lot of skill. Over the span of his 7-year career (the past three with New England and Houston before that) he's played in 107 games and caught 256 balls for over 3,000 yards. Gaffney put up 169 first-down receptions and 15 TDs over that stretch of time. Look for him and new quarterback Kyle Orton to spend a lot of time hooking up together.

4. Kenny McKinley
This 5th-round choice for the Broncos was the key to the South Carolina Gamecocks offense for the past three years. Unintimidated by pressure situations, the incredibly productive McKinley was described by Head Coach Steve Spurrier as the "best wide receiver (he's) ever coached". His jersey was retired when he left school, one of only 5 players from USC to ever have been honored that way; he may yet bring a Brandon Stokley-like presence to the slot. His slight frame (5'10", 192 lb.) is perhaps his biggest concern, but there's simply no denying his level of skill. Some receivers are just a lot harder to cover than others. McKinley is like that. He runs good routes, has incredible hands and broke Sterling Sharpe's collegiate school records for receptions and receiving yards as well as catching a pass in each of his last 43 games. He did well in the Combine with a 4.44 40-yard dash, a 37-inch vertical leap, a broad jump of 113 inches and a 20-yard shuttle of 4.1 seconds, but his on-field production was the key to drafting him. He was ranked anywhere from the 2nd round to the middle-5th, so getting him in the 5th round was a good acquisition. He has great vision, solid instincts and is extremely elusive as a receiver. If he can stay healthy he'll fill in for Stokley whenever Brandon eventually falters. I hope that it's a long time. Look for him to struggle at first against press coverage

5. Chad Jackson
Chad Jackson is being gifted with the best opportunity of his short career. A 6'1" 215 lb receiver out of Florida, Jackson was picked by the Patriots with the 4th pick of the 2nd round but hasn't been about to break into the rotation with either New England or Denver. Over the past three years Jackson has only played in 18 games (12 of them in his first season), but he has had an elusive potential that has kept coaches willing to find ways to keep him on the roster. He has a history of kickoff returning that has also played in his favor. Shifty and quick with good acceleration, he often tends to round off his routes and must improve there. He came out of college a year early and that may have also worked against him as the problems with his game have been ones of an immature (professionally) player.

Yahoo's draft profile on him said in part, "He is best when running short area routes, where he shows better crispness in his breaks. He has the size to compete for the ball in traffic and make body adjustments, but does like to jump and body catch a bit. Jackson excels at catching in a crowd and has the courage to combat for the jump balls. He will extend and pluck the ball, but did struggle with his consistency in the past (lacks softness and will juggle the ball). When he catches with his body, he will bobble the ball, but when he extends, he can catch and run without having to gear down." The short routes that Orton is best at and which have predominated in New England over the past 4 years should play to his advantage. This is his best, and perhaps his last chance to show a team that he can be an NFL wide receiver. Elusive with good strength and the leg drive to get the yards after the catch, Jackson could be a fine addition to this year's team if he simply matures as a player.

6. Brandon Lloyd

Recently of the Chicago Bears, Lloyd hasn't found his niche in the 7 years that he's played for San Francisco, Washington and Chicago. Despite a talent for circus catches and athletic contributions, Lloyd has developed a reputation for not enjoying hard contact and having troubles maintaining his focus. It will be interesting to see how he handles the "no-excuses" atmosphere of Josh McDaniels' team. When he's on track with a team he can provide 45 catches a year and 600 yards a season as he did in San Francisco in 2004 and 2005.

Additionally, the Broncos have Matt Willis, a 6'0" 200 lb. 4th-year player out of UCLA who is trying to catch on as well as Lucas Taylor (6'1" 195) and Nate Swift (6'0" 185), two CFAs trying to earn a place on the practice squad.

Tight Ends

1. Daniel Graham

You have to love the Broncos' options at tight end. Daniel Graham, a 6'3", 257 lb. tight end, a former Patriot himself, is equally talented at blocking and receiving and who leads this group. Graham has always wanted to be more of a receiving tight end but his skills at blocking have made that untenable. He's exactly what most teams would like at the position - durable, reliable and effective. He runs good routes and is an equally safe bet on third down or in the red zone and can be counted on for 2-3 receptions per game as well as that many or more key blocks. He is familiar with the Patriots-based terminology which also gives the Broncos an edge going into the new season.

2. Tony Scheffler

At 6'5" and 250 lbs, Tony Scheffler is a wide receiver in a tight end's body. Although his blocking is currently underrated (it improved visibly over the course of 2008), Tony is a receiving tight end, first and foremost. Scheffler redshirted his freshman year at Western Michigan and played slot receiver the following year. Scheffler switched over to tight end in 2004 which explains his less-than-stellar blocking skills in the past. Learning quickly, he achieved All-American status in 2005. He set a school season record for tight ends with 57 receptions for 670 yards (11.8 avg) and nine touchdowns that year. He also garnered Academic All-MAC honors for the third straight year (finishing school with a 3.63 GPA), a fact that lends credence to the belief that he will flourish in Head Coach McDaniels' cerebral approach to football. Drafted with the 29th pick of the 2nd round by the Broncos, Scheffler suffered a foot injury that impeded his progress during his first two season with the Broncos, but was undeterred by it during 2008 when he put up 40 receptions for 645 yards, providing 49 yards per game and a rousing 16.1 average with 28 first downs and 3 TD. If by any chance Brandon Marshall doesn't play for Denver during the 2009 season, some of the catches may well go to this big target with good hands. He's averaging 597 yards per season over the past two years.

Scheffler doesn't have great top-end speed but he's extremely explosive off the line, often catching opposing linebackers, safeties and even cornerbacks unaware. Despite persistent rumors to the contrary, Coach McDaniels shows no interest at all in parting company with this talented receiver who is still mastering the tight end position. He wasn't required to spend much time in the weight room in college, but still managed 32 repetitions on the bench press during a post-Combine public workout and is working diligently to get even stronger now that he's in pro football. His combination of size, quickness, explosion and soft (9.25 inch) hands are rare in a man of his size. Scheffler is still putting on muscle, despite a frame that is both big and ripped. Look for him to enjoy his role in Coach McDaniels' scheme.

3. Richard Quinn

The newcomer to the group, Quinn came by way of the Broncos third pick in the 2nd round (pick #64), creating a small stir among the faithful. His days at the University of North Carolina required him to stay in to block for two reasons - UNC had several NFL-ready players who could play receiver and their offensive line was porous at best. Coach Butch Davis has readily admitted that he under-utilized Quinn's receiving abilities. During the last minicamp, he made a diving catch near the end zone that eliminated for the onlooker's minds any concerns with his receiving talent. He also caught well and ran good routes at his Combine and Pro Day workouts as well as the 12 private workouts that various NFL teams put him through. That total should give you an idea of how much interest there was in Quinn, who used to pretend to be Jerry Rice when he was a kid.

But it's certainly his blocking that got most people's attention. Draft Ace put it this way: "Impressive size and strength. A truly dominant blocker. Acts like a 6th offensive lineman in North Carolina's offense." cfnscout.com said this, "One of the biggest question marks in the draft, he’s big, very strong, and a good blocker with refined technique; he could be thrown on a team right away and produce for a running game. Can he catch? cdsdraft.com just said, "Bigger and stronger than most TEs available this year. A true in-line blocker with better hands than you would think. Was not used that much in the passing game, and thus did not get a chance to really show what he can do in that area. Solid worker. No real downside." That summed it up pretty well.

By the way, Texas was looking to take Quinn in the third round if the Broncos hadn't gotten him with that pick. Comments regarding where he 'should' have gone are kind of like those on the value of a house. A house is worth what folks will pay for it. So is a draft pick - if another team is going to take him before you pick next and you want him, you have to make the move. A few teams had called Quinn's agent Peter Schaffer and told him that they were taking Quinn in the 2nd round, but for various reasons those picks fell through. The Broncos did take him, giving them two excellent blocking tight ends; both of whom can also catch well and a huge pass-catching specialist who can also line up at WR in some packages. Not a bad setup. For those who are interested, there was a good comment that gave some things to think about regarding Quinn.

Running Backs

Coach McDaniels has made it clear to all that running backs in his system (whatever that system may be) are going to do three things well - block, run and catch. He has a fine spread of backs from rookies to veterans and all of them are multi-talented.

1. Peyton Hillis

One of the most versatile players on the Broncos this year, Hillis is currently lining up at RB, FB, WR and TE and it's only June. Add to that his special teams work and you wonder if they won't trot him out on defense in some package just to see what would happen. Hillis has long been known for his soft hands and solid yards after catch numbers: He did it in college and over his rookie season and this year won't be different.

2. Correll Buckhalter

Buckhalter is usually running with the 1st team in OTAs, but he'll have to win out over Hillis and Knowshon Moreno to keep that slot. Given the realities of an NFL season, look for him to have a secure job with the Broncos and to either start or get regular snaps. He's got very good hands and should fit in well with general approach of McDaniels' receiving running backs; although he only started six games last year he had 13 receptions in that time. Buckhalter is interesting because as the game goes on, he gains strength - he averages 6.0 ypc for attempts 11-20, while gaining 4.9 on attempts 1-10.

3. Ryan Torain

Torain is a great unknown, starting with whether he can stay healthy for more than a few plays. If he can, he's said to have big-play talent and good hands as a receiver. He might add yet another dimension to an offense that appears to have all the tools.

4. LaMont Jordan

Jordan has a lot of things going for him. He's familiar with the New England terminology and playbook, he's big and strong, and no one minds knowing that you can go to Jordan in a pinch. The issue might be how to find a slot for him, and the option of going to IR with Torain may occur to some folks. Jordan's biggest downfall might be that he didn't catch a pass at all last year but he does have over 1,300 yards receiving in his career.

5. Knowshon Moreno

Knowshon has great balance, vision and skill, which happily includes the ability to make the catch and make the yards after the catch. He's going to need to in this offense, which should depend on short passes and screens to the running backs. That's right up Moreno's alley. Moreno is also a great unknown; is Josh McDaniels going to use a constant rotation of his backs or use Moreno, as some have suggested, as an every-down primary back? We'll know soon.

Conclusions

All in all, it's hard to argue that the Broncos have a sizable stable of talented and effective receivers, regardless of what position they supposedly play. To conclude, I'll leave you with a quote from Phil Simms' Sunday Morning Quarterback. He was fielding a question regarding the tight ends including Mark Bavaro leading the New York Giants in receiving one year.

"...and because they were our best receivers (Note: the tight ends) we designed plays for them. We moved them. We split them out. We put them at tight end. We ran them down the field. We ran them short. We did just about everything we could do with them in the passing game.

"If the tight end is not of that caliber, then you change formation, you move players around and you get a wide receiver in the tight end position and he runs the tight end routes. That's what all teams do. the plays they run are exactly the same, regardless of who they have running the pass routes. Instead of the fullback running into the flat they send the tight end into the flat. If they put a wide receiver where the tight end would usually go, that's because the wide receiver is better than the tight end."

Innovation is the only constant; change, the only thing that doesn't vary. If one player goes down, another must step up. In the case of the Broncos, you have a team with a young Head Coach who has been a tremendous teacher and innovator at the coordinator level. Now he will have to step up and perform as well as a head coach. As for the players - this short piece should show clearly that the Broncos have no shortage of options at receiver. We have big receivers like Scheffler and Quinn, fast receivers like McKinley, short, quick receivers like Royal. We have a group of running backs who have multiple skills; Jordan and Hillis can work the short-yardage game, Moreno can work the flat, Buckhalter can fill in wherever he is needed. Graham and Quinn can clear the way for other players, but each can also chip and go. The permutations are endless; the possibilities limited only by ingenuity and skill.

Marshall may stay or he may go. In either case, don't look for the Broncos to look back.