Lonestar
08-15-2010, 12:58 AM
Q&A: Despite injury to Broncos running back Moreno, he's still No. 1 guy
By Jeff Legwold
The Denver Post
POSTED: 08/14/2010 01:00:00 AM MDT
Denver Broncos Knowshon Moreno (27) runs through drills during practice August 1, 2010 at Dove Valley. (John Leyba, The Denver Post)
Today's question about the Broncos comes from Barry Smith. Send your question via e-mail to jlegwold@denverpost.com.
Q: Injuries to the running backs have been heavy this camp. How many of the injuries can be related to the offseason training program? (Knowshon) Moreno seems to be especially susceptible to injuries, at least thus far with the Broncos. I don't believe the Broncos had such a number of camp injuries during the Mike Shanahan years. It begs the question. Given coach Josh McDaniels' approach to the preseason versus regular season and his predilection to trade/waive players that do not fit his scheme, is Moreno the next player on the trade block?
A: Barry, there were years when Shanahan had to deal with the same kind of injury news McDaniels has had in camp thus far.
Shanahan would not put the team in full pads as much as McDaniels does, but there were years Shanahan had head trainer Steve Antonopulos walk over and give him the bad news as many times as McDaniels has gotten it in the last few weeks.
As far as Moreno, the running back has indeed suffered an injury in his first week of training camp in both of his NFL seasons.
Last year he had a brief holdout, signed his contract and was then injured in San Francisco in his first preseason appearance, days after he signed his contract. He didn't play the remainder of the preseason in 2009 because of a sprained knee.
This year he suffered a hamstring injury in the first practice of training camp and has not been on the field since.
The concern is Moreno started sluggishly last season after missing the practice time — he rushed for just one touchdown in the team's 6-0 start and had two starts when he averaged just 2.4 yards a carry in those six games. The Broncos had hoped he would be ready for a fast start this time around because they'd like for him to be the unquestioned primary runner in what is usually a one-back set in their base formation.
And despite the missed time, when he returns, he is the No. 1 guy. But how much all of the missed work affects him this time around remains to be seen.
He says he's stronger after the offseason program, more ready to go this time, but the proof will be in the carries.
Overall, this is McDaniels' first draft pick with the Broncos — he took Moreno 12th overall in the 2009 draft — and a player McDaniels is fond of. He believes Moreno could be a rare three-down back in his offense with the ability to run, catch and pass protect when needed.
So Moreno is in no danger at the moment of falling out of favor. But pro football is always and forever a results-oriented business. And eventually the Broncos will want to see the results from Moreno they wanted when they said he was the 12th-best player on the draft board.
Jeff Legwold: 303-954-2359 or jlegwold@denverpost.com
http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_15772304
By Jeff Legwold
The Denver Post
POSTED: 08/14/2010 01:00:00 AM MDT
Denver Broncos Knowshon Moreno (27) runs through drills during practice August 1, 2010 at Dove Valley. (John Leyba, The Denver Post)
Today's question about the Broncos comes from Barry Smith. Send your question via e-mail to jlegwold@denverpost.com.
Q: Injuries to the running backs have been heavy this camp. How many of the injuries can be related to the offseason training program? (Knowshon) Moreno seems to be especially susceptible to injuries, at least thus far with the Broncos. I don't believe the Broncos had such a number of camp injuries during the Mike Shanahan years. It begs the question. Given coach Josh McDaniels' approach to the preseason versus regular season and his predilection to trade/waive players that do not fit his scheme, is Moreno the next player on the trade block?
A: Barry, there were years when Shanahan had to deal with the same kind of injury news McDaniels has had in camp thus far.
Shanahan would not put the team in full pads as much as McDaniels does, but there were years Shanahan had head trainer Steve Antonopulos walk over and give him the bad news as many times as McDaniels has gotten it in the last few weeks.
As far as Moreno, the running back has indeed suffered an injury in his first week of training camp in both of his NFL seasons.
Last year he had a brief holdout, signed his contract and was then injured in San Francisco in his first preseason appearance, days after he signed his contract. He didn't play the remainder of the preseason in 2009 because of a sprained knee.
This year he suffered a hamstring injury in the first practice of training camp and has not been on the field since.
The concern is Moreno started sluggishly last season after missing the practice time — he rushed for just one touchdown in the team's 6-0 start and had two starts when he averaged just 2.4 yards a carry in those six games. The Broncos had hoped he would be ready for a fast start this time around because they'd like for him to be the unquestioned primary runner in what is usually a one-back set in their base formation.
And despite the missed time, when he returns, he is the No. 1 guy. But how much all of the missed work affects him this time around remains to be seen.
He says he's stronger after the offseason program, more ready to go this time, but the proof will be in the carries.
Overall, this is McDaniels' first draft pick with the Broncos — he took Moreno 12th overall in the 2009 draft — and a player McDaniels is fond of. He believes Moreno could be a rare three-down back in his offense with the ability to run, catch and pass protect when needed.
So Moreno is in no danger at the moment of falling out of favor. But pro football is always and forever a results-oriented business. And eventually the Broncos will want to see the results from Moreno they wanted when they said he was the 12th-best player on the draft board.
Jeff Legwold: 303-954-2359 or jlegwold@denverpost.com
http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_15772304