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View Full Version : Analysis: Moreno a big piece of the Broncos' puzzle



Denver Native (Carol)
09-02-2010, 02:19 PM
http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_15965813?source=rss

It has taken some time for running back Knowshon Moreno to heal enough to return to the practice field, yet the Broncos need him to have a quick start when the regular season begins Sept. 12 at Jacksonville.

Moreno missed virtually all of training camp with a hamstring injury, and now the Broncos don't want a little slice of history to repeat itself.

Moreno missed virtually all of the preseason last year — his rookie season — after a brief holdout was followed by a sprained knee he suffered in the preseason opener against the 49ers.

Moreno did not play again until the regular-season opener at Cincinnati. He then rushed for just 19 yards against the Bengals, a game in which the Broncos needed a deflected pass to win.

And while he had flashes — he led all rookies in rushing yards that season — he did not have a 100-yard rushing game, didn't have his second rushing touchdown of the season until November and appeared to wear down as the Broncos struggled down the stretch.

Broncos coach Josh McDaniels has said Moreno had a quality offseason and that he was ready for the workload.

The difference this year is if Moreno doesn't come out of the gate with a strong showing his backup isn't at full speed either. Correll Buckhalter has also missed virtually all of the preseason with a neck/back injury and may need some time to get all the way back.

Last season, Buckhalter averaged at least 5.8 yards per carry in each of the Broncos' first four games and was over 6 yards per carry in three of them, including in a 108-yard effort against the Raiders.

The Broncos did sign LenDale White this time around, but he isn't a factor in the first four weeks of the season because of a league-mandated suspension.

There is also the matter of the Broncos offense, which struggled to score in 2009 and a big part of that was they couldn't pound the ball into the end zone from close range. As a result they had to throw in short-yardage situations in which a defense has an easier time working the angles to slow receivers.

The team tied for 22nd in the league with just nine rushing touchdowns in 2009.

Moreno did have seven of those scores, but four of his rushing touchdowns came in the Broncos' two games against the Chiefs, who finished in the AFC West cellar, translating into just three in the other 14 games combined.

The Broncos do work out of a three-wide receiver set much of the time, often looking to pass to set up the run.

But eventually they will have the work the clock and control a pass rush by running the ball with some reliability. If they can't, defenses are going to come after quarterback Kyle Orton.

It makes Moreno an important piece of the puzzle.

broncobryce
09-02-2010, 02:37 PM
I expected him to have a breakout year, but with the injury and the oline now I am not so sure. It may take a few games before the running attack is up to speed.
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rcsodak
09-02-2010, 03:38 PM
And here I thought the article was going to give us some insight.....something we didnt already know. :coffee:
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