Start CJ Anderson!

[Slick]

I don't get to see training camp or pre season games so I haven't seen much of this guy. Man was he impressive today. He must not show a lot in practice to have been used so sparingly in games up to this point.

Dude looks like a gamer! Get him more touches. He turned the tide for the Broncos in the game today. His fantastic RAC and Roby's INT woke Denver up out of a hazy hangover.

[SR]

Here we go...

[Zweems56]

Choooooooo chooooooooooooooo

[BroncoWave]

Hard to argue after the game today. It seems like we're just gonna be one of those teams with a different hot hand at RB every week though. We just need to ride out whoever is hot at the time. It was Hillman earlier, now it's CJ. Juwan could have a monster game next for all we know.

[Dapper Dan]

Meh. It's a good problem to have. Let's start a different guy each week. Keep them fresh.

[Al Wilson 4 Mayor]

Let's keep this is in perspective....it's the Raiders.

[Hawgdriver]

He looked good in space. #Interstellar

[Ziggy]

I think the bringing him along slow part was more a product of injuries than anything. He's always looked good when given a chance.

[BroncoWave]

Let's keep this is in perspective....it's the Raiders.

And? They have NFL players on their team too. What CJ did yesterday would have been impressive against any team. He was hitting holes, breaking tackles, making great catches, doing everything you could ask of a RB yesterday.

[Northman]

Honestly, i dont think it really has that much to do with practice. I think the FO just likes what they see out of him, Hillman, and Thompson. But finally they did what they are supposed to do (unlike how long they waited to bench Ball in favor of Hillman) and use the hot hand and adjust in the game. CJ was on fire and they went to him a lot more. Perhaps next week it might be a different guy or CJ again who knows. But so far i havent been disappointed with CJ or Hillman. See who catches on fire early and ride them for that game.

[Northman]

Hard to argue after the game today. It seems like we're just gonna be one of those teams with a different hot hand at RB every week though. We just need to ride out whoever is hot at the time. It was Hillman earlier, now it's CJ. Juwan could have a monster game next for all we know.

Beat me to it.

[VonDoom]

Hard to argue after the game today. It seems like we're just gonna be one of those teams with a different hot hand at RB every week though. We just need to ride out whoever is hot at the time. It was Hillman earlier, now it's CJ. Juwan could have a monster game next for all we know.

I said virtually the same thing in the game thread. As long as they identify early in the game who has "it" that day, then we should be fine. Hillman didn't have it yesterday but CJ looked great every time he touched the ball. Kudos to him.

[blamkin86]

hard to argue after the game today. It seems like we're just gonna be one of those teams with a different hot hand at rb every week though. We just need to ride out whoever is hot at the time. It was hillman earlier, now it's cj. Juwan could have a monster game next for all we know.


this!

[Nomad]

Hard to argue after the game today. It seems like we're just gonna be one of those teams with a different hot hand at RB every week though. We just need to ride out whoever is hot at the time. It was Hillman earlier, now it's CJ. Juwan could have a monster game next for all we know.

At least you attempted to answer Slick's question without a smartass comment. I agree with your answer too.

[BroncoJoe]

It appears CoachChaz was right about this kid.

[7DnBrnc53]

They need to run C.J. inside and Hillman outside. Running Hillman inside continuously was the problem against NE.

[Slick]

He looked like a complete NFL back yesterday. Ran inside, got the edge a few times, caught the ball. Maybe this is a bit of a Mr. Wolf overreaction thread but he had me excited. Kid looked solid. If I'm calling the shots, I start Anderson and let Hillman spell him after CJ's softened them up a bit.

[GEM]

I said virtually the same thing in the game thread. As long as they identify early in the game who has "it" that day, then we should be fine. Hillman didn't have it yesterday but CJ looked great every time he touched the ball. Kudos to him.

Hillman looked hurt on the sideline in the 4th quarter, looked like he was limping. Pretty cool that we have a stable that 2 guys are down and running game still does some work.

[OrangeHoof]

All I know is it looked like a classic choke job for a quarter and a half before C.J.'s electrifying catch and run. Then, Roby made the pick and the Broncos became the Broncos again just like in those Snickers commercials. I hope C.J. got the game ball afterwards.

[SR]

They need to run C.J. inside and Hillman outside. Running Hillman inside continuously was the problem against NE.

Continuously? He had about 10 carries.

[SR]

Hillman looked hurt on the sideline in the 4th quarter, looked like he was limping. Pretty cool that we have a stable that 2 guys are down and running game still does some work.

He was hurt in the first quarter I believe

[7DnBrnc53]

Continuously? He had about 10 carries.

What I mean was that they never ran Hillman outside in that game but once. I think that the rest of his carries were inside.

[GEM]

All I know is it looked like a classic choke job for a quarter and a half before C.J.'s electrifying catch and run. Then, Roby made the pick and the Broncos became the Broncos again just like in those Snickers commercials. I hope C.J. got the game ball afterwards.

Two balls should go out. CJ on offense and Roby on defense. Those 2 plays turned the entire game around.

[slim]

He looked like a complete NFL back yesterday. Ran inside, got the edge a few times, caught the ball. Maybe this is a bit of a Mr. Wolf overreaction thread but he had me excited. Kid looked solid. If I'm calling the shots, I start Anderson and let Hillman spell him after CJ's softened them up a bit.

Yes. Ronnie is better off as a change of pace back, anyway. He is too small to be the primary back long term.

[Valar Morghulis]

Man we are so stacked at RB.......sarcasm lol.

CJ was awesome yesterday though, i love me some CJ

[VonDoom]

Our RB cast of characters keeps changing. Ball should be back next week, but now it looks like Hillman will be out for a couple of weeks:


The Broncos will be without Ronnie Hillman for at least two weeks after the starting running back suffered a midfoot sprain in his right foot Sunday, according to an NFL source.

Hillman seemed to suffer the injury as he was attempting to catch a pass early in the Broncos’ 41-17 win against the Oakland Raiders. He limped off the field and had his right ankle taped then returned to the game.

The rest: http://blogs.denverpost.com/broncos/2014/11/10/ronnie-hillman-midfoot-sprain/30811/

[Buff]

That had to be the single longest RB play from scrimmage in YEARS. For that alone, he deserves more time as the featured back.

With Hillman out, I'd probably split carries between Anderson and Ball, but keep Ball on a short leash.

[Zweems56]

That had to be the single longest RB play from scrimmage in YEARS. For that alone, he deserves more time as the featured back.

With Hillman out, I'd probably split carries between Anderson and Ball, but keep Ball on a short leash.

Meh. Tatum Bell had a lot of long RB plays from scrimmage. I get a good feeling about CJ, but a long play does not a reliable running back make. I do appreciate his ability to keep his feet, which our RBs have not shown to be adept at in quite some time.

[Buff]

Meh. Tatum Bell had a lot of long RB plays from scrimmage. I get a good feeling about CJ, but a long play does not a reliable running back make. I do appreciate his ability to keep his feet, which our RBs have not shown to be adept at in quite some time.

Tatum Bell?!?! That guy has been selling cell phones at the Aurora Mall for like 10 years now. I think you just inadvertently validated my point. :D

[weazel]

I dunno, he said he was a raiders fan

[HORSEPOWER 56]

CJ does something our other backs don't, break tackles in the open field. He did it several times, not just on the big TD play. There was another big 1st down he picked up earlier in the game where the defender had him dead to rights but he just shrugged him off. That's the one thing Ronnie can't do.

CJ is built like a fire hydrant. Short, squat, and thick. He's built like Travis Henry (without all the illegitimate children and baggage). I really liked what I saw from him yesterday. He looked like what enamored me to him in the preseason his rookie year.

[Al Wilson 4 Mayor]

He'll get his shot now.

[tomjonesrocks]

I guess Ball returns next week. Will be interesting to see if Denver tries to get him going while Hillman is out. He's essentially been outplayed by everyone, but high draft pick...

[BroncoWave]

I guess Ball returns next week. Will be interesting to see if Denver tries to get him going while Hillman is out. He's essentially been outplayed by everyone, but high draft pick...

Which is exactly why he should at least be given a chance to crack the rotation. He was drafted high for a reason, it would be stupid to give up on him this early in his career.

I'm absolutely not saying to start him and give him 20 carries when he gets back, but when you invest a high draft pick in someone you absolutely have to give them every chance to succeed. It's incredible how quickly and easily fans give up on young players.

[capt. Jack]

Ball is only going to be 24 in December, so I am still hopeful he is going to be a good RB for us?

[Al Wilson 4 Mayor]

And? They have NFL players on their team too. What CJ did yesterday would have been impressive against any team. He was hitting holes, breaking tackles, making great catches, doing everything you could ask of a RB yesterday.

I actually thought he was our most impressive runner last year.

I'm just sayin', It's the Raiders.

[Joel]

1) Anderson has as many yards as Ball (172) in just over HALF as many attempts (30 instead of 55.)
2) Thompson has as many TDs as Hillman (3) in about a third as many attempts (30 instead of 91.)
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/11854633/ronnie-hillman-denver-broncos-expected-miss-two-three-weeks

I couldn't care less who's drafted where; Anderson and Thompson are out-PRODUCING Ball and Hillman. They find holes better than Ball and break tackles better than Hillman. Thompson picks up blitzers well and Anderson's a good receiver, so my SOLE reservation's how well they've learned the offense in their young careers. But Hillman's only working on his third season, and Anderson's been here just as long as Ball, who only has a single year on Thompson: Start the guys who get it done; let Elway justify draft picks. If drafts were foolproof, Terrell Davis, Rod Smith and Chris Harris wouldn't have made the team.

[Simple Jaded]

Ball was a late 2nd round pick, early but not early enough to get the best RB's in the draft, it's not like Denver passed on Fabio Matthews to draft him. By most accounts Ball and Hillman were drafted about where they were projected and you can't go into a draft knowing Anderson, Thompson and Bibbs will still be available where they're projected later on.

I know they passed on Lacy, believe me I wanted them to draft him too, but let's not pretend that Lacy hasn't regressed this season too.

[Valar Morghulis]

but let's not pretend that Lacy hasn't regressed this season too.

yeah - agreed

[Bronco9798]

CJ needs to start this week. He deserves the start.