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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.

Fun Facts About 2008 - A 2009 Denver Broncos Draft Analysis

Douglas A. Lee — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 22:30:10 -0000

More photos » by Ed Andrieski - AP

For many draft "experts" and Broncos fans, the reaction to Denver's choice of Knowshon Moreno at #12 on Saturday resulted in cries of, "Not another running back!!!!!!"

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Draftivus Weekend 2009 may be over, but it seems to me that the only draft-related activity as fun as predicting the outcome is in sifting through the results and grading them. Sure, it's a little early to do so; but we all do it, and I'm pretty sure we all seek out what the "experts" have to say in order to validate our own opinions (or cast them aside as idiots). Here are some of the reactions I've seen over the past 24 hours on MHR and across the web, and I paraphrase...

How could the Broncos not draft more D-Linemen or Linebackers?
What?! Another running back?! Denver already signed Arrington, Buckhalter and Jordan in addition to having about 12 holdovers.
More defensive backs? What, are they going to start 9 DBs? How many corners and safeties could the Broncos possibly use?
Josh McDaniels is a moron because he didn't draft the guys I wanted him to!!!

Personally, here is what I thought as the Draft approached...

Obviously, we'll come away with at least a couple of D-Linemen, including a nose tackle.
And of course, we'll end up with an excellent new linebacker.

Obviously, I was wrong. But I'm no expert.

Now, let's examine some undeniable facts...

The 2008 Denver Broncos were 8-8
Denver's so-called "explosive offense" scored 370 points, good for 16th-best in the NFL
They allowed 448 points, which was 3rd-worst in the league
The Broncos' point differential was -78, or 25th-best league-wide.
Seven teams had a worse point differential than Denver, and those seven teams all missed the playoffs, averaging a record of 3-13.
Only one team (Green Bay) with a positive point-differential won fewer than 8 games.
The Broncos lost to Oakland by 21 points (at home) and at Kansas City by 14 points. The Raiders and Chiefs combined for 5 wins against teams not named the Denver Broncos.
Denver lost to the Chiefs, Patriots, Raiders, Panthers and Chargers by an aggregate score of 187-67, which averages out to 37.4 to 13.4.
At various points during the 2008 Season, the Broncos were down to running backs such as P.J. Pope, Cory Boyd, a seventh-rounder in Peyton Hillis, a fifth-rounder in Ryan Torain, and a guy who had been selling mobile phones at the mall (Tatum Bell).
Denver had the 5th-fewest rushing attempts in the NFL.
The Broncos' time-of-possession ranked 24th in the league.
During this same season, the Broncos had folks like Vernon Fox (cut by the Skins), Josh Bell (cut by the Chargers), Josh Barrett (a seventh-rounder), Roderick Rogers (dumped by Minnesota), Calvin Lowry (cast aside by Tennessee), and Herana-Daze Jones (dumped by Cincinnati) either starting or playing crucial roles on the defense.
The Broncos' pass defense allowed opponents to connect on 67.3% of their attempts, which was 4th worst in the league.
The Broncos intercepted 6 passes in 2008, 2nd worst only to the Lions. One of those picks was made by DT Marcus Thomas, who promptly fumbled the ball away on the ensuing "runback."

Recognize this 2008 Bronco? Me neither.

I realize these are some depressing numbers, but this is 2009. I offer the stats above to remind everyone that 2008 wasn't such a hot year for our beloved Broncos. The '08 version of the Broncos couldn't control the clock, couldn't produce sustained drives and couldn't hold onto the ball on offense. On defense, they couldn't rush the passer, stop the run, defend the pass or take the ball away. Injuries left us with guys we practically picked up off the street playing running back, safety and cornerback.

Didn't everyone here learn from 2008 that a team can never have enough running backs and defensive backs? Keep in mind that the veterans Denver signed at those positions this offseason, in Correll Buckhalter, LaMont Jordan, Brian Dawkins, Renaldo Hill and Andre' Goodman will all be at least 30 years old this season. They will hopefully provide skill today, but they will definitely not do so in the distant future.

The 2008 Broncos had a lot of holes; while Atlanta and Miami were both wonderful examples of remarkable one-year turnarounds, their stories are exceptions. This team needs to be competitive first; if they can also win more games than they lose in 2009, I see that as a bonus. We're talking about a team which fired almost its entire coaching staff and enters 2009 with a new starting quarterback. For me, the Broncos were so bad in 2008 that I cannot expect every hole to be filled by 2009. We're talking about a process here, and it sure seems that Josh McDaniels, Brian Xanders and Company are making their way towards that end.

Yesterday, we saw a draft strategy we're to this point unfamiliar with. Yes, Mike Shanahan is an all-time great and brought home two Championships. However, when drafting for need over taking the best player, the Broncos ended up with guys like Marcus Nash, Paul Toviessi, Ashley Lelie (over Ed Reed), Jarvis Moss, Tim Crowder, Deltha O'Neal and Willie Middlebrooks. The new regime quite obviously sees the draft through a different viewpoint, and when their top choices went off the board (Raji and Jackson), they chose Knowshon Moreno. Not because they came in wanting a running back, but because they felt he was the best player on the board. That's how Minnesota got Adrian Peterson, by the way.

How about this guy? If you do recognize him, you'll probably be glad to know that he's no longer on the Broncos...

As I mentioned above, I'm no draft maven; but what I like about the "experts" reactions is this - everyone who criticizes the Broncos' 2009 Draft, from Jamie Dukes, to Pete Prisco, to Mel Kiper, to Todd McShay offers this basic thought - they love the players Denver drafted, they just don't think Denver filled the holes they would have chosen to fill. Personally, when I read draft analysis the day after, I want to see that Denver chose players widely accepted as being excellent football players. Used to be that our draft choices were either "undersized," "injured during senior season," "questionable character," "slow for the position," among other lovely tags. Today, they're "solid citizens" and excellent football players, but why do the Broncos need another defensive back or running back? As for where they'll play, I think we should leave that up to the Broncos' Coach and General Manager.

I'm not trying to provide a sunny outlook here; I'm just examining some facts. Some of you are happy about our '09 Draft results, others are bewildered. Both viewpoints are just fine by me - but don't forget the prism of 2008's season when looking at the makeup of the 2009 Broncos.

Draft Analysis: A look at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2008 NFL Draft

JScott — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 00:24:45 -0000

A review of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2008 NFL Draft Class:

1 (20) Aqib Talib, CB Starter

Aqib faired pretty well in his rookie season as he took over as the team’s primary nickel back. He finished the season tied with fellow CB Ronde Barber for the team lead in interceptions (4). With the emergence of KR Clifton Smith we never got to see Talib’s abilities on Special Teams, but the shear fact that he is slated to start opposite (or in place of) Ronde Barber speaks volumes for the type of athlete he will become for this defense. I still would have reached (or so they say) on WR DeSean Jackson if I were pulling the trigger last off-season, but Aqib Talib turned out to be a pretty safe bet.

2 (52) Dexter Jackson, WR Backup

DJax performed pretty well during the pre-season, gaining positive yardage whenever he took the field on offense (rare) and even notched an 83 yard punt return for a touchdown against the Texans. The regular season arrived however and DJax folded (literally). He would return a kickoff or punt and look to get down prior to the oncoming hit. He obviously doesn’t have a returner’s mindset to succeed in the NFL. The jury is still out on him being a bust as he was a WIDE RECEIVER in college, not a returner. So until he gets a fair shake in that regard, his evaluation will be a bit incomplete.

3 (83) Jeremy Zuttah, OG Backup

He filled in admirably for RG Davin Joseph to start the season. He also filled in when Arron Sears got a bit banged up. We got great value out of this pick and Zuttah will only improve with an eye on a starting job should someone go down. He played tackle sparingly in College, if he wants to start full time he may want to focus all of his energies there. Never-the-less he provides great depth.

4 (115) Dre Moore, DT Backup

I know everyone wants to point at Dexter Jackson, but this was probably the most disappointing pick of the draft. The Bucs actually traded up for Moore who ended up on the Practice Squad all season. He was a slow starter in college, so there’s still the chance he can make an impact. It’s going to be now or never though with New Defensive Coordinator Jim Bates schemes that should suite the oversized defensive tackle.

5 (160) Josh Johnson, QB Backup

He carried a clipboard the entire season. If the QB competition is truly that, a competition, we should really see a polished 2nd year QB give Luke McCown and Brian Griese a run for their money. He’s got the arm strength, accuracy, and mobility. More importantly he has the fan base behind him. Hopefully Jags gives him a fair shake this off-season.

6 (175) Geno Hayes, LB Starter-to-be

Much wasn’t expected out of Geno when he was drafted. Being a Seminole fan I wasn’t even excited about the pick (a 1 tackle performance against the Gators after running his mouth prior to the game will do that to a fan). He did impress throughout Training Camp and even had a splash play during the season when he blocked a punt. His season got shortened due to injury however. I would say he’s panned out thus far as a 6th round pick considering Cato June and Derrick Brooks got released in favor of his promotion. This season presents a ridiculous challenge for Geno.

7 (238) Cory Boyd, RB Released

The highlight of Boyd’s career, if you can call it one, was fighting with CB Aqib Talib at the NFL’s Rookie Symposium. We certainly didn’t need another RB last off-season so the cards were never in Cory’s favor to make the team. Such was the case as he got cut prior to the start of the Pre-Season. He's currently on the Broncos roster.

MHR's 2008 Position Review -- Running Backs

Jeremy Bolander — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 22:12:24 -0000

Few positions among Denver's battered crew have as much controversy surrounding them, in regards to what they are capable of producing. NYCbroncosfan makes a strong case for limited production as a philosophical trend, and advocates addressing the running game by taking a hard look at the personnel, in order to cut the dead weight and replace with production where necessary. Even as he stated his case, the Broncos fired RBs PJ Pope, Alex Haynes, and fan-favorite, Anthony Alridge.

And that is just the beginning of the hard look.

What remains of the 2008 RB M.A.S.H. unit consists of change-up runners Tatum Bell, Selvin Young and Andre Hall. It also has the power styles of RBs Michael Pittman and Ryan Torain, as well as FB Peyton Hillis. As a wild-card, RB Cory Boyd managed to survive the first purge, while true FB Andrew Pinnock and converted MLB Spencer Larsen, playing at FB, rounds out the crew.

The reason RB is such a controversial position going into 2009 is because the number of variables cause the splits between the different camps to be amorphous and ill-defined. In defending one's opinion against one argument, a person finds that they actually hold an opinion they hadn't endorsed. One thing is quite certain however: the position was plagued by injuries in 2008. Try to follow along...

It started with Torain, Alridge and Hillis, with Hillis never getting enough reps in camp due to a lingering hamstring injury, Alridge and his own hamstring injury going to IR with what was called a sprained foot, and Torain breaking his elbow. Torain would eventually return on Nov.6th only to go to IR with an torn ACL. When Torain went down, Young was battling a torn groin he sustained 5 weeks earlier. It would sideline him for two games before he ruptured a disc in his neck and would be moved to IR, only a week after a hamstring injury IR'ed Hillis. Of course, they weren't alone on IR as Hall and Pittman had gone on IR earlier. Hall went to IR after a short season that featured 3 games limited by a wrist injury, 5 games limited by an ankle injury, and finally a hand injury that ended his season. Pittman had suffered through a broken rib after falling awkwardly on the ball earlier in the season but was finally sent to IR with numbness from a neck injury that wouldn't dissipate. Pope, one of the final pieces added near the end of the season would also go to IR for a hamstring injury, and even part-timer Larsen would suffer through bouts with a hip injury, and a groin injury that limited him as the season wound to a close.

A list like this can only stupefy and amaze, but at some point the shock wears off and you have to ask, "Did we bring this on ourselves?"

		Rushing						Receiving
	G	Rush	Yds	Y/G	Avg	Lng	TD	Rec	Yds	Y/G	Avg	Lng	TD
2008 - Tatum Bell	6	44	249	41.5	5.7	37	2	10	57	9.5	5.7	12	0

Tatum Bell literally came out of nowhere to help out for half a season. He occupied the change-up role as well as he ever did, but unfortunately, most of his actual production came only in the final game against San Diego, and frankly, that production came as a bit of a surprise. It wasn't that I was shocked to see him get a couple of long runs, it is that up to that point, he had shown that he was STILL a player who went backwards on first contact. He actually seemed like he was running with a little purpose, but one game is hardly a decisive sample, and the rest of the evidence contradicts his supposed value. Tatum has a much better attitude, mostly due to the reality check that being out of football provided for him, but he is still an underachiever who can't seem to realize his potential. When you add in that that potential fades every year, you will begin to understand why he isn't a strong candidate to end up in camp in 2009. While possible, it is more likely that Denver lets his FA status run its course without making an offer. His history of injuries, particularly his nagging bouts with turf toe, create a a situation where his roster spot may be more valuable than he is.

		Rushing						Receiving
	G	Rush	Yds	Y/G	Avg	Lng	TD	Rec	Yds	Y/G	Avg	Lng	TD
2008 - Andre Hall	8	35	144	18.0	4.1	16	0	3	25	3.1	8.3	11	0

Not a year goes by where Hall doesn't seem to feel the lingering effect of the high ankle sprain he suffered in high school. Most who have suffered from the injury can attest to its longevity, and for Hall it seems to crop up once a year. But outside of the ankle sprains he suffers, his hands seem to give him more trouble than anything. In 2008 he injured his thumb in camp, than hurt his wrist early in the season, which limited him in practice, and put him on more than one inactive list for a game, and though his ankle slowed him down, it wasn't until he suffered a undisclosed injury to his hand that he got placed on IR.

But of all the change-up backs, Hall may have the most talent, and he certainly has the strongest running style. His low profile protects him more than it hurts him, and he knows how to fall forward. Talk of fumble-itis may be levied against Hall, but outside of the back to back fumbles against NE, he hasn't had any problems in that area. And while injuries may be considered a concern for Hall, I am only worried about the ankles, because the rest is pretty ticky-tack and I firmly believe that it was his standing in Shanny's doghouse that kept him off the field and contributed to his IR more than the beat-up hands.

As an exclusive-rights free agent, I would expect Hall to be invited to camp with an easy-on-the-eyes contract, with an expectation of showing that he can still perform against competition. If he stalls out in camp, he won't make the opening day 53.

		Rushing						Receiving
	G	Rush	Yds	Y/G	Avg	Lng	TD	Rec	Yds	Y/G	Avg	Lng	TD
2008 - Selvin Young	8	61	303	37.9	5.0	49	1	3	16	2.0	5.3	8	0

In many ways, Young and Hall are mentioned in the same sentences. Though they were both signed to the active squad in the same year, and were both UFAs, Hall is actually a step ahead of Selvin in the development category, having played more college ball, and joined the Broncos a year earlier. But Young is the one tagged with being the better back of the two over the last two years, including being penciled in as a de facto starter several times, and even making the "Promise."

But Selvin has never risen to any of the lofty expectations placed on him, and it isn't just a trend limited to the Broncos. At Texas he missed 3 games in 2003 with a torn groin. In 2004 he missed the entire season with a broken ankle. In 2005 he injured his right ankle on two separate occasions, missing two games each time. In 2006 he missed a game with a left ankle sprain, and then missed two more games with a rib injury. In 2007 with the Broncos he injured his elbow and was limited in practice, and then sprained his knee and would end up missing five games as the season, and the Broncos playoff chances wound down and out.

2008 was no exception to this trend. In October he strained a groin muscle which would chronically limit him in games and practice starting in week 5. By week 10, he had completely torn the groin and was out for three weeks. When he finally returned, a solid hit would rupture a disc in his neck, sending him to IR. Folks, there is no reset button on the human body. Selvin is sustaining injuries at a rate that practically precludes the ability to recover, and frankly, the total is astonishing at this point.

But when healthy, there is no doubt that Selvin can produce. So much so in fact, that he was labeled a starter in waiting at Texas, behind Cedric Benson and by Mike Shanahan in Denver. His is a great story, about a kid who discovered how character can help you overcome adversity, but the production will never be there if we ask for too much.

Because Selvin is signed, there is no doubt he will be present in camp. If he is smart he will focus on nailing down the starting change-up back role, and do his best to stay healthy. The Broncos will probably only retain two change-ups, so he has little room for error, but he should still be able to make the team. But unless something drastic changes in regards to his chronic injuries, he is on the path out of Denver over the next couple of years.

		Rushing						Receiving
	G	Rush	Yds	Y/G	Avg	Lng	TD	Rec	Yds	Y/G	Avg	Lng	TD
2008 - Michael Pittman	8	76	320	40.0	4.2	20	4	10	112	14.0	11.2	40	0

Pittman has the kind of veteran mindset that a young team like Denver needs, and which was always coveted in New England. It is the mindset where a player runs each play like it is going to be their last, and where everything gets left out on the field. There is an excellent chance that McJedi will also covet it, but Pittman's free agent status may make the decision less than a slam dunk.

Before hurting his ribs, and then sustaining a scary neck injury, Pittman brought some much needed physicality to the Broncos offense. What the offense then lacked in versatility, it made up for by determination. But when good defenses keyed on Pittman, he began to take a beating. Though he is an older player, he has kept the mileage low while in Tampa Bay, and he has a good attitude towards his own health and fitness, so that trend should continue. But to get the most out of him, the reps will need to be kept to minimum, which means that he will be #3 at best on the depth chart. As the #3 he creates a standard that the starters will have to meet or beat, with versatility and drive, but in a rebuild, the luxury of stocking the team with great RB talent may not be there. As a #2, the value for Pittman and the Broncos simply isn't there, as he would take too much of a beating in that role, and be used up by the time the December football rolls around, when he will be needed most. If the Broncos plan on bringing in top RB depth, Pittman should be a keeper, but if they plan on going with what they have, Pittman will probably be let go to find a better situation, while the younger bruisers are retained, to take the beatings that are sure to come. Pittman reported after the season that he is 100% healthy, so the onus is on the staff to decide what kind of team they are looking to become as the Broncos move forward.

		Rushing						Receiving
	G	Rush	Yds	Y/G	Avg	Lng	TD	Rec	Yds	Y/G	Avg	Lng	TD
2008 - Ryan Torain	2	15	69	34.5	4.6	19	1	0	0	0	0	0	0

The biggest question mark hovers over Ryan Torain, who has played less football than I have over the past two years. He hasn't exactly been stocking shelves at Walmart, but he certainly hasn't been able to run full speed for some time. Starting in 2005 with the Sun Devils, he missed four games, and then in 2007 missed a total of nine games, including the final seven of the year with a fractured right toe and ankle injuries. In Denver, of course, he didn't get off to a hot start, with the worst news being the damaged ACL.

While people point to his very limited play against Cleveland as promising, I found that I didn't really like what I saw, including a nearly vertical running posture, and a lanky, drawn-out style that exposes him to too many different force angles. But there were pluses, including his vision and quick cutting ability.

After missing over 90% of critical practice time and game experience over the last two years, Ryan Torain is heading into a brand new offensive system, and is essentially a rookie all over again. Outside of working with Turner and Dennison last year, he has nothing going for him, and will need to bring everything he has to the table.

I can't imagine Denver cutting him before training camp, but any medical alerts about him should be weighted very seriously with regards to his future. I am hoping to see nothing less than "100%" and "Full Speed." It is very important that the RBs be ready to absorb McJedi's new offense starting with OTAs. Any holdup and the Torain Train may never make the station.

		Rushing						Receiving
	G	Rush	Yds	Y/G	Avg	Lng	TD	Rec	Yds	Y/G	Avg	Lng	TD
2008 - Peyton Hillis	10	68	343	34.3	5.0	19	5	14	179	17.9	12.8	47	1

There is little to be added to the discussion on Hillis that BroncoBear didn't already cover in his fantastic piece, Peyton Hillis: The Hammer in 2009? 61% of MHR users felt that Peyton had proven what he needed to in his action as a starter, in order to be considered the primary back in the new offense. I will try to limit myself here to looking at the downside of Peyton as a the projected starter.

In Peyton's corner you have his toughness, the vote of confidence from his Pro Bowl center, his tremendous hands, heck, even his choice of end-zone celebration endears him to the fans. The dissenting opinions are few and far, and there is little traction for a truly spirited debate about Peyton's potential. But one idea which can stand on its own is how Peyton's virtues of toughness, fearlessness and power coupled with his particular bruising style of play put him in harm's way as often as they help the team, much like Jay's take no prisoner's mentality frequently reverses the field for the Broncos. Peyton is a player who draws hits like a magnet draws iron, and the result is a battering that only he has the ability to stand up to. This style of play led to fractured vertebrae in college, but again his toughness shines through, with the injury sidelining him only half the expected amount of time.

In the final analysis I have only two concerns regarding Hillis. The first is whether he will be available for a December playoff run, due to the pounding he would take as a starter, and the second, which is intimately tied to the first, is that I question whether he would be used to his maximum potential if he were required to be lined up in the backfield as the main back all the time.

As much as I enjoyed his two games of toting the rock from the RB position, the game that really stands out to me is the Miami game, where Hillis occupied the H-back role that garnered him so much acclaim at Arkansas. It took advantage of his skills such as his hands and quickness in ways that simply will never be realized as a 1st-and-10 RB. The match-ups that he can exploit in the one-on-one scenarios afforded by the H-back role simply don't exist at the level of the trenches. Can he run in the trenches? Absolutely. So can Cutler, and for a very healthy yards per attempt, too. But is he at his BEST in the trenches? I would say no. Hillis can certainly patch up the running back position, but only at the cost of the kinds of production that force teams to game-plan around him, when they fear what he could do as he roams around the offense, lining up as a RB in short yardage situations, flaring out as a FB to be the uncovered 3rd down reception, lining up as a TE to pressure the seam, and lining up wide as a WR where no one accounts for him and he magically appears uncovered in the end-zone.

Bottom line is that Hillis is the surest option at RB currently on the roster. But he would be stepping down in production and worth to occupy that role. It would be the equivalent of lining Dallas Clark up at RB. I'm sure he would bring some physicality to the position, but then he wouldn't be available to destroy defensive schemes for Peyton Manning as a H-back.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After the above group, the roster rounds out with RB Cory Boyd, FB Andrew Pinnock and FB/MLB Spencer Larsen.

As a FB, I don't know if Larsen catches onto the starters, but his versatility should catch the eye of McJedi. In a perfect world Larsen is in the running for ILB and we can forget this FB nonsense, but the fact is that he has experience at FB, and he struggled at MLB in very limited exposure. His Special Teams play guarantees a roster spot however, so he should be around through and after camp. 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. That may come to him with time, and as always, the hope is that his offensive skills can be left to the "trick plays" section of the playbook, and we all know what McJedi pulled out of his hat in that area while in NE.

Boyd is a project RB who failed a physical involving his knee when he was waived by TB last year. It is interesting that he survived the first wave of cuts, but as a late-season desperation signing one has to wonder how much longer he will hold on. He is currently sitting on an exceptionally valuable roster spot, even for the 72-man roster, so this will probably come down to Bobby Turner's evaluation of him.

Andrew Pinnock, the only true FB on the roster, may have his spot cemented from that fact alone, as he was never activated in 2008, despite Larsen having hip and groin injuries ahead of him. The potential is there, however, as Pinnock was never truly cut from SD. He was drafted to replace Lorenzo Neal under Schottenheimer, but LoNeal proved to be a durable commodity, and by the time he was let go, SD had moved away from that style of blocking FB, preferring the Hester style of, if I may be so bold, "wimpy" FB. Pinnock is a smart player, and has the speed and size to be a versatile FB. But if he were cut tomorrow, I don't suppose I would be terribly surprised.

Poll

Out of Bell, Boyd, Hall, Young, Pittman, Torain, Hillis and Pinnock, How many do you think will make it to the opening day 53-man roster?

All eight!

3 votes

Only seven.

3 votes

Only six of them.

13 votes

Five at most.

109 votes

Four. The rest won't make the cut.

187 votes

Just three, and you'll never guess which ones!

145 votes

Two, I can't believe we got by with these guys.

53 votes

513 votes | Poll has closed

Broncos Add RBs Boyd and Haynes to the Active Roster

John Bena — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 23:36:52 -0000

The Denver Broncos on Tuesday signed running backs Cory Boyd and Alex Haynes to their active roster, Head Coach Mike Shanahan announced.

Boyd (6-foot-1, 218 pounds) is a rookie who joins Denver's active roster from its practice squad. Originally signed to the Broncos' practice squad on Nov. 4, Boyd spent five weeks with that unit before he was signed to their active roster on Dec. 9. He was inactive for Denver's game at Carolina on Dec. 14 and spent last week on the Broncos' practice squad.

Selected by Tampa Bay in the seventh round (238th overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft from the University of South Carolina, Boyd participated in the Buccaneers' offseason camps but was waived on July 26. He played 46 career games (27 starts) for the Gamecocks and finished his collegiate career with 464 rushes for 2,267 yards (4.9 avg.) with 23 touchdowns along with 117 receptions for 1,303 yards (11.1 avg.) with five scores.

Boyd attended Orange High School in Orange, N.J., and was born on Aug. 6, 1985.

Haynes (5-foot-10, 230 pounds) is a second-year player who originally signed with the Broncos on Nov. 4 but was waived on Nov. 22. Haynes, who competed in Baltimore's 2008 training camp, entered the NFL with the Ravens in 2005 as a college free agent from the University of Central Florida.

He has seen time on the rosters of Baltimore (2005, '08) and Carolina (2005-07) during his NFL career and has appeared in nine career games, rushing three times for three yards and catching three passes for 14 yards. He also owns three career tackles on special teams.

Haynes, who played for Cologne in NFL Europe during its 2006 season, finished his collegiate career at Central Florida as its all-time leading rusher (3,356 yards).

Born Feb. 13, 1982, Haynes attended Maynard Evans High School in Orlando, Fla.

A Few Good Questions With.....Lee Rasizer, Rocky Mountain News

John Bena — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 14:25:32 -0000

Another installment in our weekly series with Lee Rasizer, Broncos beat-writer for the Rocky Mountain News --

MHR -- Another week, another running back goes on I/R. What does the loss of Hillis do to the offense?

LR -- They'll try to plug and play with the likes of Cory Boyd and Tatum Bell, and maybe soon, Selvin Young. But Hillis' absence goes beyond just carries. He was a bruising short-yardage option and goal-line runner. He was good in blitz pickup. He also was dangerous as a receiver out of the backfield. I'm not really sure who inherits the short-yardage job, and that would be my primary concern. There's been some talk that Boyd has run physically at padded practices. That hasn't been Bell's game, or Young's, either, for that matter. So they'll need him to emerge as that guy to keep this offense humming. Spencer Larsen missed practice on both Wednesday and Thursday, so I think he might be out as a potential option. But Andrew Pinnock is ready to go and the ex-Chargers fullback has the size. So maybe he's a dark-horse choice. The team's keeping it pretty close to the vest. We'll all see Sunday.

MHR -- From the outside it would appear Tatum Bell would get a majority of the work, but I'm not so sure. What are you hearing about the preparation of Cory Boyd?

LR -- He's gotten some kudos around the locker room for his recent practices. But he also hasn't appeared in a pro game. That hasn't been the case with the other Denver backfield ‘short-timers,' even if guys like Hillis were fullbacks and not halfbacks before getting their chance. I talked to Boyd the other day to get a feel for him and he's a real humble kid who told me, in college, he was bound to play just about any role, running both inside and outside and catching out of the backfield. It'll be interesting to see if he's the latest out-of-nowhere guy who tears it up or just a plain ‘ol guy.

MHR -- Does the return of Jeb Putzier mean that Tony Scheffler isn't 100%?

LR -- I think it's a hedge in case Scheffler does get re-injured or isn't completely healthy, which I'm not convinced he is completely given how sparingly he's been used at times. But mainly it's a replacement for Nate Jackson, who's out for the year. Putzier has the versatility to align as a receiver in spread formations and has good hands. He's a less explosive version of Scheffler, in my view. Denver can now go with two blocking tight ends with Daniel Graham (though he brings something to the passing game as well) and Chad Mustard, or use Scheffler and Putzier in concert. It just brings more options.

MHR -- We all know how Mike Shanahan can't stand guys that have injuries that "linger". With that in mind, what is the story on Selvin Young? Why haven't the Broncos IR'd him already and moved on?

LR - While I do think there's an element of Young being in the doghouse some, his injury is a serious one. I've been told privately that his groin issue was actually more serious than the one plaguing Champ Bailey. But I talked to Young on Thursday and it's all getting back to football shape for him now, so, given all the injuries, it may be a good thing the Broncos weren't impulsive and placed him on the IR. The reason I think they didn't was because they believed his timetable would be shorter. Only problem was Young played in Cleveland too soon because the backfield was depleted and set himself back. I don't know how much of a role Young will play down the stretch. But he's practiced fully for two weeks and will soon be an option.

MHR -- Some say this could be a trap game for Carolina. What are your thoughts?

LR -- The Panthers are 7-0 at home and playing for homefield throughout the NFC playoffs. Denver can clinch the division and has won three straight on the road. I think both teams will be pretty focused. I know Carolina has the Giants ahead. But I believe Denver has the Panthers' full attention, given the Broncos' recent play.

MHR -- Latest on the injury front?

LR -- I believe Brandon Stokley (heel) will go. I think Spencer Larsen (hip/groin) will be out. I also think Champ Bailey (groin) won't play again. There's a chance D.J. Williams is back this week. He's been aligned in position drills with the starters and has been a full practice participant. But there may also be some subterfuge since Shanahan has quickly closed practice to the media before team period begins. So it's hard to tell whether having D.J. with Webster and Winborn is a ploy and Wesley Woodyard, maybe their best defensive player the last month, is getting benched. Williams believes he's healthy enough to play.

Broncos Announce Several Transactions -- Waive Calvin Lowery, Promote RB Cory Boyd

John Bena — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 23:56:27 -0000

The Denver Broncos on Tuesday signed running back Cory Boyd to their active roster from their practice squad and placed fullback Peyton Hillis on their reserve/injured list, Head Coach Mike Shanahan announced.

Additionally, the team waived safety Calvin Lowry and signed guard Pat Murray from Seattle's practice squad.

Hillis, a rookie fullback selected by the Broncos in the seventh round (227th overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft from the University of Arkansas, suffered a right hamstring injury during the Broncos' 24-17 win against Kansas City on Sunday. He saw time in 12 games (6 starts) for Denver at tailback and fullback, totaling 68 rushes for 343 yards (5.0 avg.) with five touchdowns along with 14 receptions for 179 yards (12.8 avg.) with one touchdown. Hillis had a four-game streak with at least one rushing touchdown and became the first rookie in club history (second player overall) to post both a 100-yard rushing game and a 100-yard receiving game in the same season.

Boyd (6-foot-1, 218 pounds) is a rookie running back who spent the last five weeks on Denver's practice squad after the club signed him on Nov. 4. He entered the NFL with Tampa Bay as a seventh-round (238th overall) pick in the 2008 NFL Draft from the University of South Carolina but was waived by the Buccaneers on July 26. Boyd played 46 games (27 starts) for the Gamecocks and finished his collegiate career with 464 rushes for 2,267 yards (4.9 avg.) with 23 touchdowns along with 117 receptions for 1,303 yards (11.1 avg.) with five scores. He attended Orange High School in Orange, N.J., and was born on Aug. 6, 1985.

Murray (6-foot-3, 310 pounds) is a first-year guard who had been on Seattle's practice squad since Sept. 1. He entered the NFL when Green Bay signed him as a college free agent on May 4, 2007. He was waived by the Packers on Aug. 24, 2007 and spent the remainder of the season out of football. Murray, 24, played in 41 games (32 starts) at Truman State where he earned first-team All-Mid-America honors in 2006. Patrick James Murray, who lettered in football, basketball, track and golf at Pocahontas High School in Pocahontas, Iowa, was born on Oct. 31, 1984, in Fort Dodge, Iowa.

Lowry played in 10 games (3 starts) and totaled 21 tackles (14 solo) and three passes defensed for Denver after joining the team off waivers from Tennessee on Aug. 31.

Broncos Announce Several Roster Transactions, Promote RB P.J. Pope From Practice Squad

John Bena — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 21:27:38 -0000

The Denver Broncos on Tuesday announced several roster transactions, including the signings of linebacker Mario Haggan, running back P.J. Pope and defensive back Roderick Rogers to their active roster.

The club also on Tuesday waived tight end Chad Mustard while adding running back Cory Boyd and linebacker Tyson Smith to its practice squad.

Mario Haggan (6-foot-3, 263 pounds) is a sixth-year linebacker who spent the last five seasons (2003-07) with Buffalo, which selected him in the seventh round (228th overall) of the 2003 NFL Draft from Mississippi State University. He appeared in all 16 games during each of the last four years with Buffalo and has played in 65 career games, totaling 21 tackles (14 solo), one sack and 57 special-teams stops. Haggan attended Clarksdale High School in Clarksdale, Miss., and was born on March 3, 1980.

P.J. Pope (5-foot-9, 205 pounds) is a second-year running back who spent the first nine weeks of the 2008 season on Denver's practice squad. He entered the NFL with Chicago in 2006 as a college free agent from Bowling Green State University and saw time on the Bears' practice squad during each of the last two seasons in addition to a brief stint on Green Bay's active roster in 2006. Pope has appeared in one career game, posting a special-teams stop for the Packers. He attended Wyoming High School in Cincinnati and was born on Feb. 26, 1984.

Roderick Rogers (6-foot-2, 187 pounds) is a second-year defensive back who spent the first nine weeks of the 2008 season on Denver's practice squad. Rogers, who entered the NFL with Denver in 2007 as a college free agent from the University of Wisconsin, appeared in the Broncos' final two games as a rookie last year after beginning that season on their practice squad. He attended Stephenson High School in Stone Mountain, Ga., and was born on Sept. 7, 1984.

Cory Boyd (6-foot-1, 218 pounds) is a rookie running back who joins the Broncos after being waived on July 26 by Tampa Bay, which selected him in the seventh round (238th overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft from the University of South Carolina. He played 46 games (27 starts) for the Gamecocks and finished his collegiate career with 464 rushes for 2,267 yards (4.9 avg.) with 23 touchdowns along with 117 receptions for 1,303 yards (11.1 avg.) with five scores. Boyd attended Orange High School in Orange, N.J., and was born on Aug. 6, 1985.

Tyson Smith (6-foot-2, 250 pounds) is a second-year linebacker who joins the Broncos after competing in Dallas' training camp this year. He has appeared in three games for his career, totaling four special-teams tackles for the New York Giants during the 2006 season. Last year, he saw time on the practice squads of the 49ers, Redskins and Cowboys. Smith, who entered the NFL with Baltimore in 2005 as a college free agent from Iowa State University, attended Dowling Catholic High School in West Des Moines, Iowa, and was born on Oct. 9, 1981.

What does all this mean?? The fact the Broncos promoted Pope likely means that Selvin Young is not ready to go. Chad Mustard getting released likely means Tony Scheffler is getting close and will hopefully go on Thursday. The rest? The only disappointment I can say I have is Rogers. Not that he was brought to the active roster but rather Josh Barrett hasn't made enough progress as of yet.