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08-21-2008, 04:21 AM
(Not much new, but it's something to read.)
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By Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Even though the Denver Broncos' Selvin Young is the
starting running back, he sees competition lurking.
Young knows his Broncos running back history.
In Denver, under coach Mike Shanahan, there always seems to be an
unheralded running back waiting on the sideline to step in and perform as
well or better than the starter.
PHOTOS: Broncos training camp (http://www.usatoday.com/sports/gallery/football/2008-training-camps/flash.htm?gid=643&aid=3044)
POWER RANKINGS: Broncos can't crack the top 20 (http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/2008-power-rankings.htm)
If it wasn't sixth-round pick Terrell Davis, it was fourth-rounder Olandis
Gary. If it wasn't sixth-rounder Mike Anderson, it was undrafted rookie Mike
Bell.
"There's always been someone who seems to come from the bottom to the
top," Young said, eating fried okra topped with ketchup during lunch
between practices. "There's not going to be emphasis on that guy at the
bottom. If you're one of those bottom guys, you need to understand the
history and understand what it takes to reach your goals. I was one of
those guys who set my goals and went after them and I was able to
accomplish them."
As an undrafted rookie free agent from Texas last season, Young filled in
for an injured Travis Henry, and Young rushed for 729 yards, averaging 5.2
yards a carry. He also caught 35 passes for 231 yards.
"The one thing that set me apart was that I didn't make the same mistake
twice," Young said. "Whatever coaching pointer or critique I would get, I
learned from it and never made that mistake again."
Guess what happened when an injury sidelined Young two games last
season? Andre Hall, yet another undrafted rookie last season, gained 187
yards on 33 carries. Hall has also played well in the preseason.
And guess who is pushing Hall for carries? Anthony Alridge, an undrafted
rookie free agent from Houston. And rookie Ryan Torain, a fifth-round pick
from Arizona State, had been impressive in camp until he dislocated his
elbow. And there's veteran Michael Pittman.
Young doesn't want to be the guy replaced in favor of the next guy. He
wants to be another Broncos running back who gains 1,000 yards.
In Shanahan's 13 years with the Broncos, he has had a 1,000-yard rusher
in 11 seasons, and the Broncos have made the playoffs in seven of those
seasons. Even more important to Shanahan is yards per carry and the
team's total rushing yards. In those seven playoff years, the Broncos
rushed for more than 2,300 yards and averaged at least 4.4 yards a carry.
"A lot of guys can get over 1,000 yards if they carry the ball enough," he
said. "If you can average in that 5 yards a carry range, you're doing
something special."
Shanahan is concerned about whom will accumulate the yards. Young had
injuries last year and wasn't the No. 1 back for the full season. The
backfield is inexperienced and on the small side. Durability is an issue.
"Some guys are able to withstand that punishment week in and week out,"
Shanahan said. "Other guys can't take the punishment and can't take the
number of carries. The key is if you do carry the ball 25 times a game, can
you keep that quickness and speed and that endurance throughout the
game? All those questions will be answered as time goes on."
A desire to succeed, to prove himself and a fear of losing his job pushes
Young. "I feel I have the ability to set myself apart from other guys in the
league," he said.
"Now, it's just about execution. … I've seen too many guys with so much
talent who either had attitude problems or poor work ethics or wouldn't
take time to learn their craft. It's understanding what makes it in this world
and what doesn't."
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/broncos/2008-08-20-selvin-young_N.htm
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By Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Even though the Denver Broncos' Selvin Young is the
starting running back, he sees competition lurking.
Young knows his Broncos running back history.
In Denver, under coach Mike Shanahan, there always seems to be an
unheralded running back waiting on the sideline to step in and perform as
well or better than the starter.
PHOTOS: Broncos training camp (http://www.usatoday.com/sports/gallery/football/2008-training-camps/flash.htm?gid=643&aid=3044)
POWER RANKINGS: Broncos can't crack the top 20 (http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/2008-power-rankings.htm)
If it wasn't sixth-round pick Terrell Davis, it was fourth-rounder Olandis
Gary. If it wasn't sixth-rounder Mike Anderson, it was undrafted rookie Mike
Bell.
"There's always been someone who seems to come from the bottom to the
top," Young said, eating fried okra topped with ketchup during lunch
between practices. "There's not going to be emphasis on that guy at the
bottom. If you're one of those bottom guys, you need to understand the
history and understand what it takes to reach your goals. I was one of
those guys who set my goals and went after them and I was able to
accomplish them."
As an undrafted rookie free agent from Texas last season, Young filled in
for an injured Travis Henry, and Young rushed for 729 yards, averaging 5.2
yards a carry. He also caught 35 passes for 231 yards.
"The one thing that set me apart was that I didn't make the same mistake
twice," Young said. "Whatever coaching pointer or critique I would get, I
learned from it and never made that mistake again."
Guess what happened when an injury sidelined Young two games last
season? Andre Hall, yet another undrafted rookie last season, gained 187
yards on 33 carries. Hall has also played well in the preseason.
And guess who is pushing Hall for carries? Anthony Alridge, an undrafted
rookie free agent from Houston. And rookie Ryan Torain, a fifth-round pick
from Arizona State, had been impressive in camp until he dislocated his
elbow. And there's veteran Michael Pittman.
Young doesn't want to be the guy replaced in favor of the next guy. He
wants to be another Broncos running back who gains 1,000 yards.
In Shanahan's 13 years with the Broncos, he has had a 1,000-yard rusher
in 11 seasons, and the Broncos have made the playoffs in seven of those
seasons. Even more important to Shanahan is yards per carry and the
team's total rushing yards. In those seven playoff years, the Broncos
rushed for more than 2,300 yards and averaged at least 4.4 yards a carry.
"A lot of guys can get over 1,000 yards if they carry the ball enough," he
said. "If you can average in that 5 yards a carry range, you're doing
something special."
Shanahan is concerned about whom will accumulate the yards. Young had
injuries last year and wasn't the No. 1 back for the full season. The
backfield is inexperienced and on the small side. Durability is an issue.
"Some guys are able to withstand that punishment week in and week out,"
Shanahan said. "Other guys can't take the punishment and can't take the
number of carries. The key is if you do carry the ball 25 times a game, can
you keep that quickness and speed and that endurance throughout the
game? All those questions will be answered as time goes on."
A desire to succeed, to prove himself and a fear of losing his job pushes
Young. "I feel I have the ability to set myself apart from other guys in the
league," he said.
"Now, it's just about execution. … I've seen too many guys with so much
talent who either had attitude problems or poor work ethics or wouldn't
take time to learn their craft. It's understanding what makes it in this world
and what doesn't."
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/broncos/2008-08-20-selvin-young_N.htm
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