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Denver Native (Carol)
02-25-2009, 09:45 AM
http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_11778179

INDIANAPOLIS — There were many who ran. And there were none.

Thanks, and no thanks, to arguably the most bizarre injury epidemic in franchise history, the Broncos used seven tailbacks last season. Six started. None gained as many as 345 yards.

Even in the years of the 14-game schedules, even in the strike-shortened, nine-game season of 1982, the Broncos always had at least one running back gain at least 345 yards.

As the Broncos' new brain trust of coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Brian Xanders attempts to build a stronger roster for the 2009 season, it's no secret the team's greatest offensive need is at running back. A back who can break off a long run in the first half, and protect a lead by moving the sticks in the fourth quarter.

The Broncos could get a proven running back in the free-agent market that opens Thursday at 10:01 p.m. MST, but this would mean paying a price for a runner whose legs already have absorbed some NFL pounding.

Or the Broncos' new bosses can follow the common strategy of the old boss, Mike Shanahan, and attempt to find a quality running back in the draft.

"I think you can get into the fourth round with this class," NFL draft analyst Mike Mayock said. "You can get into the fourth round and get a guy like Jeremiah Johnson from Oregon. The kid from Liberty (Rashad Jennings), who's 230 pounds, that's going to be a third-round kind of guy."

Still, it would be difficult for the 2009 running back class to match its predecessor. The three best rookies in 2008 were the fifth, sixth and 11th running backs chosen. Chris Johnson went No. 24 overall to Tennessee, Chicago took Matt Forte at No. 44 in the second round and Houston stole Steve Slaton at No. 89 in the third round.

The top four drafted running backs last year — Darren McFadden, Jonathan Stewart, Felix Jones and Rashard Mendenhall — combined to average 415 yards rushing as rookies. Johnson, Slaton and Forte had a combined average of 1,249 yards.

"A lot of times people get overlooked," said Texas A&M's Mike Goodson, a third- to fifth-round projection this year. "Not to say that everybody else is not talented, but there are a lot of talented guys in the draft. You've just got to look deep."

But is this class of backs as deep as last year's class?

"I don't think so," said Kevin Colbert, the top football operations executive of the Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers. "Some of the underclassmen did come out, and it's OK."

The Broncos lead the league in running backs that are OK. Peyton Hillis was even superb as a converted fullback, and he will be a keeper providing he sufficiently recovers from his torn hamstring. But the Broncos would need a speed back to complement him.

Ryan Torain was impressive in one half of one game last season, and he will get another chance providing he returns healthy from knee surgery. But the knee was one of three major injuries in two years for Torain, so the Broncos will always need another.

Tatum Bell finished off a remarkable comeback last season, but even in his prime, he was considered a change-of-pace runner who needed a between-the-tackles back to spell him.

With the exceptions of a few games early in the disastrous Travis Henry era, the Broncos have not had a complete back since they traded Clinton Portis for Champ Bailey and Bell after the 2003 season.

Can they do better than OK this year? None of the top four-rated running backs in the April 25-26 draft — Georgia's Knowshon Moreno, Connecticut's Donald Brown, Ohio State's Chris "Beanie" Wells and Pitt's LeSean McCoy — are considered worthy of the Broncos' first pick, No. 12 overall.

But starting with their No. 48 choice in the second round, where Brown, Wells, McCoy or Iowa's Shonn Greene could fall, on through the fourth or fifth rounds, where Colorado State's Gartrell Johnson or Wyoming's Devin Moore might be available, the Broncos could get a back capable of competing for the No. 1 tailback spot sometime next season.

"You can get great players through any round, you can pick them up through (undrafted) free agency," Brown said. "It doesn't matter where you start; it's where you finish."

If only the Broncos can find a running back who can both start, and finish, the same season.

Dirk
02-25-2009, 10:59 AM
Actually, after reading up on Knowshon Moreno, the kid would fit very nicely in the running system that Denver uses. I wouldn't go with the #12 on him based on the fact we need a stellar D-Lineman at that pick, but possibly do some trading for another first round pick to grab him.

LRtagger
02-25-2009, 11:32 AM
The top four drafted running backs last year — Darren McFadden, Jonathan Stewart, Felix Jones and Rashard Mendenhall — combined to average 415 yards rushing as rookies. Johnson, Slaton and Forte had a combined average of 1,249 yards.

This is an idiotic stat. Jones and Mendenhall went on IR pretty early in the season. Stewart was the second guy in a two-man system that terrorized the league. McFadden played for the Raiders.

Jones was rookie of the week nearly every week he was healthy, and that was only getting a couple carries a game...breaking off huge runs and returning kcks for TDs. Stew was a force, but there is not a single rookie that would have put up huge numbers running behind Williams. Sorry, but if this guy thinks Johnson, Slaton, or Forte would have put up 1200+ yards running for the Panthers, he is loony.

TXBRONC
02-25-2009, 11:45 AM
Actually, after reading up on Knowshon Moreno, the kid would fit very nicely in the running system that Denver uses. I wouldn't go with the #12 on him based on the fact we need a stellar D-Lineman at that pick, but possibly do some trading for another first round pick to grab him.

I don't think we could afford to trade back into the first round to get him. The Chargers could very well look to draft him with their first pick which is the 16th overall pick. If that's case we have trade all the way back up to at least 15th slot.

Dirk
02-25-2009, 12:01 PM
Yeah it would be a costly move, but who knows what's up the sleaves of these guys...

DenBronx
02-25-2009, 12:42 PM
I don't think we could afford to trade back into the first round to get him. The Chargers could very well look to draft him with their first pick which is the 16th overall pick. If that's case we have trade all the way back up to at least 15th slot.

hopefully the chargers resign lt. if so they wont even look for a rb until the 3rd or 4th rounds. wells stock is slipping and so is morenos. if one of the guys fall into the early 2nd id like to se us trade up for one of them.

TXBRONC
02-25-2009, 01:31 PM
hopefully the chargers resign lt. if so they wont even look for a rb until the 3rd or 4th rounds. wells stock is slipping and so is morenos. if one of the guys fall into the early 2nd id like to se us trade up for one of them.

That would be alright with me, if we have the nose tackle situation squared away.

topscribe
02-25-2009, 01:33 PM
Let's not forget this is a reporter talking, not the coach . . .

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turftoad
02-25-2009, 01:36 PM
If McCoy or Brown drop to us in the 2nd I'd OK with that. If not, Jennings in the third.

There are some backs that will drop to the 3rd and 4th rounds that would be a good change up compliment for Hillis's power game.

bcbronc
02-25-2009, 01:38 PM
just say no to trading up to take a running back. too many other needs to give up multiple picks to take a RB.

DenBronx
02-25-2009, 01:45 PM
just say no to trading up to take a running back. too many other needs to give up multiple picks to take a RB.

we wont have to trade up to get a rb. someones going to fall to pick 44 and round 3 there should still be a few good ones. jennings, greene, mccoy, brown should all be on our radar in rounds 2 and 3.

bcbronc
02-25-2009, 01:47 PM
we wont have to trade up to get a rb. someones going to fall to pick 44 and round 3 there should still be a few good ones. jennings, greene, mccoy, brown should all be on our radar in rounds 2 and 3.

exactly. take one in round 3 or later if he's BPA but don't take one earlier and do not give up extra picks to move up.

LRtagger
02-25-2009, 01:50 PM
just say no to trading up to take a running back. too many other needs to give up multiple picks to take a RB.

Why would we have to trade up? There will be no RBs taken before pick 12. If anything we could trade back and still get Moreno, Wells, or McCoy.

bcbronc
02-25-2009, 01:54 PM
Why would we have to trade up? There will be no RBs taken before pick 12. If anything we could trade back and still get Moreno, Wells, or McCoy.

people were talking about moving back into the first or moving up in the second if someone fell.

LRtagger
02-25-2009, 01:55 PM
people were talking about moving back into the first or moving up in the second if someone fell.

Oh yea I missed that.

SmilinAssasSin27
02-25-2009, 05:40 PM
I wonder what my sig would do...

BroncoAV06
02-25-2009, 08:12 PM
hopefully the chargers resign lt. if so they wont even look for a rb until the 3rd or 4th rounds. wells stock is slipping and so is morenos. if one of the guys fall into the early 2nd id like to se us trade up for one of them.

Neithers stock is slipping, if anything Moreno might have jumped Wells.


By Tony Pauline, Special to SI.com, TFYDraft.com

Knowshon Moreno/RB/Georgia: Moreno separated himself from the field and now clearly ranks as the top back heading towards April's draft. He weighed a stout 217 pounds, completed 25 reps on the bench and ran solid 40 times in the mid-to-upper 4.5 second area. Moreno really stood out during the running back drill session where he displayed outstanding quickness, footwork and pass-catching hands.

SmilinAssasSin27
02-25-2009, 08:33 PM
Another guy wouldn't piss me off at #12.

Simple Jaded
02-25-2009, 08:35 PM
This draft just plain sucks, trading up is a great idea, but trading up for a RB is not.......

SmilinAssasSin27
02-25-2009, 08:36 PM
why would we trade up for a RB? If we actually wanted one, we'd have the pick of the litter at #12...especially if Buffalo can sign Fred taylor.

broncohead
02-25-2009, 09:13 PM
Just say no to RB in Rd. 1 unless we solve most of the problems on the defensive side in FA. The only 2 players worth staying at 12 for is Raji and Curry. Other then that trading back and grabbing an extra 2nd Rd. pick would be ideal. Hopefully a player falls and a team wants to trade up for them.

Timmy!
02-25-2009, 10:19 PM
We should be able to get a back to compete with Hillis and Torain in the 3rd. Wouldn't be surprised if we brought in some undrafted kid or burned a 7th on a "diamond in the rough" either. No reason to blow a 1st or 2nd or sign an overpriced FA.

DenBronx
02-26-2009, 02:08 AM
Neithers stock is slipping, if anything Moreno might have jumped Wells.

maybe scouts are just now realizing that moreno is a much better back but that still doesnt guarantee either back to be drafted before 12. i see mostly qb's, wr's,ot's, dt's, lb's and de's all as bigger needs this year for teams. only 2 people can fit in the phone booth a one time. so, someones gonna fall. might be crabtree.