Thread: Entering Camp as the #1 back?

Ronnie Hillman.

The Denver Broncos will be entering training camp with RB Ronnie Hillman as the number 1 option in the running game. That doesn’t mean he will start the season as the number 1 guy though. Rookie RB Montee Ball will be doing everything he can during training camp and preseason to overtake that spot as the number 1 guy.

http://nflspinzone.com/2013/07/21/ro...-as-lead-back/

Lost in the other news of today...this is pretty damned interesting.

No mention of Knowshon. Interesting...

eh i guess.

We already know how the depth chart is going to look.

montee
ronnie
knowshon
hester

The only way that changes is via bad news ( I refuse to say it) or that hillman or someone else really kicks some serious ass in tc and preseason and forces the coaches to sit another guy.

Not sure why this would be surprising.

Knowhon is still not ready to play and Hillman was getting 1st team reps in OTAs.

Hillman is 1st team because he was here last season. Ball should have the starting spot locked up by the time the 2nd preseason game is over.

No way Ball can make up for all of Hillman's veteran experience ( /sarc )

Ideally I see Ball as the starter with Moreno the third down back and Hillman the change of pace back to give Montee a rest.

Originally Posted by Ziggy

Hillman is 1st team because he was here last season. Ball should have the starting spot locked up by the time the 2nd preseason game is over.

Pretty much. Hillman is the healthy and experienced guy at the right time. Obviously, he is not a starting running back in this league. I think Moreno will hold onto the starting job, assuming he can stay healthy this year. He's a better receiver and pass blocker than any other back on the roster (by a wide margin) and those traits are only going to be more critical now that we should be even more pass happy than in 2012.

Originally Posted by MOtorboat

Lost in the other news of today...this is pretty damned interesting.

Eh, I don't think it's that interesting. Moreno is still recovering and Ball is just a rookie. Hillman is the only option left to be #1 at this point. You almost never see rookies given starting jobs this early. Assuming Ball is even halfway decent, he will likely assume the starting spot by week 1.

I don't think we'll be more pass happy this season. We drafted Ball for a reason, and we also know we need to keep a balanced offense consdering how things were trashed in the playoffs when Moreno got inured (again).

We also don't know that Moreno is the best pass blocker (by far) since Ball hasn't been on the field.

Originally Posted by Ravage!!!

I don't think we'll be more pass happy this season. We drafted Ball for a reason, and we also know we need to keep a balanced offense consdering how things were trashed in the playoffs when Moreno got inured (again).

We also don't know that Moreno is the best pass blocker (by far) since Ball hasn't been on the field.

Oh I definitely think we'll be more pass happy now. We've got two (three, depending on how you see Decker) elite receivers now, along with capable tight ends and two good receiving backs, along with a line that is generally better at pass than run blocking. We had a 56/44 pass run split last year and with Manning becoming more comfortable and taking more control of the offense as well, I'd be surprised if we finished under a 60/40.

Ball was a serviceable at best blocker in college, so unless he has made some incredible improvements in that area (unlikely) he'll still cede significant ground to Moreno there.

Pass will rule the day, but when we run, season should start with Knowshon (if healthy) as starter, as he was super-productive last season when Willis went down, proved himself to the naysayers (who were always wrong to begin with)...then see how Montee/Hillman grind it out in camp. I suspect Montee will surpass them both eventually, and I'm still skeptical of Hillman as a feature back.

cant wait to see Hillmans speed on draw plays after passes to thomas, decker, welker

Eddie Mac is on with Vic now on XML. Vic ask Eddie who would be the Broncos' starting running back, and Eddie stated that he feels it will be running back by committee, and Eddie also stated that Knowshon is the best running back on the team.