Thread: Knowshon flying a bit under the radar...

Originally Posted by DenBronx

I think it would be easier to replace Knowshon than Decker. All we have to do is keep drafting RBs. I love that Knowshon has really stepped up this year but I dont see us giving him more than 2 mill a year. Decker on the other hand I do.

Ask Montee Ball how quickly most rookie RBs learn to pick up blitzes, and ask Peyton Manning how important it is. Moreno's our only everydown back, and I HATE telegraphing our plays to defenses by passing with the guy who blocks/catches but can't run and running with the guy who runs but can't block/catch.

Not to mention that the injuries to McGahee and Moreno the past couple years have reminded us how important it is to have a PAIR of everydown backs for when one is hurt or just tired. We've lost two huge games in as many seasons (i.e. last years playoff and @NE this year) simply because Moreno's flesh and blood and we had NOTHING behind him to ice the win.

Welcome to the party guys. Mo and I have been keeping the seats on the bandwagon warm the past few years.

Originally Posted by BroncoWave

Welcome to the party guys. Mo and I have been keeping the seats on the bandwagon warm the past few years.

I have two of his jerseys. Been a big supporter of him....you are more than welcome to thumb through the draft threads as well to see he was in a few of my mocks.

But at this point, if he wants a huge pay day, this might not be the place. Not so sure anyone else will dish out a huge contract either. Knowshon hasnt been all that consistant throughout his career. I am thinking Fox has more to do with his success though because he knows how to use RBs. Manning has also contributed to that. Huge credit goes to Moreno himself as well....he isnt turning the ball over and has been a multi purpose back. I am proud of the guy and hope we are able to fit him in next year with a reasonable salary.

I hope we make every effort within reason to re-sign him. I would give him a 3 year deal. That makes his contract run through the end of Peyton's, and once Peyton is gone we can rebuild with a younger guy. Moreno is just such a great fit for this offense, and I would hate to lose him.

I owe the guy an apology. I hated him. Despised him. Couldn't stand that he walked around wearing the number 27.

I was wrong. I was wrong about his heart, I was wrong about his passion and I was wrong about him as a player. He's easily been one of my favorite players this year. He has so much heart and it shows. I love the kid.

Originally Posted by GEM

I owe the guy an apology. I hated him. Despised him. Couldn't stand that he walked around wearing the number 27.

I was wrong. I was wrong about his heart, I was wrong about his passion and I was wrong about him as a player. He's easily been one of my favorite players this year. He has so much heart and it shows. I love the kid.

You weren't exactly wrong. Some of us felt the same way. Something clicked with him and he turned it on. His first couple years were dreadful and he appeared to have no heart. It just took him awhile to get it going. I felt the same way. I love the way he plays now. He used to stumble over his own feet. Now he keeps his feet moving and gets every yard he can. He's a keeper now. I thought he was going to be a bust.

It hasn't hurt to have an offensive mind like Peyton Manning working around him every day. Two years of practices and guidance gave Moreno an opportunity to turn his career around. He's now a halfback that is reaching his first-round potential. No doubts that Moreno had the talent. He flashed greatness when he was at Georgia. Talent is all good and well, but a player has to develop mentally to be a success in the NFL. Especially when you're called upon to be a premiere back in a complicated offense. Moreno has to be credited for staying focused, buying into the challenge of learning this offense, and developing the mental toughness to become a smart football player. Clearly he has as much dedication to winning than anybody on this team now. He's still developing, and he's not perfect, but for the most part, compared to even last year, you can see how much smarter he plays. It's playoff time. No matter how great your QB is, you've got to lean on your halfback to play smart and get those tough yards to win playoff games. Moreno's got to be great this post season if we're going to win a championship.

Originally Posted by Bronco9798

You weren't exactly wrong. Some of us felt the same way. Something clicked with him and he turned it on. His first couple years were dreadful and he appeared to have no heart. It just took him awhile to get it going. I felt the same way. I love the way he plays now. He used to stumble over his own feet. Now he keeps his feet moving and gets every yard he can. He's a keeper now. I thought he was going to be a bust.

^This

He really didnt give reason to support him. Still making the same mistakes 3 years in but towards the end of last year the bulb went off and we are a much better team and he is a much better player for it.

He's playing with so much heart and determination. Every time he runs for a 1st down, or even on the side line he has this swagger about him. I love it. He has given the Broncos character, it often times lacks.

There was so much going on with Peyton Manning’s single-season touchdown pass record and Eric Decker giving the Broncos a record five players to score at least 10 touchdowns that Knowshon Moreno’s first 1,000-yard season got overlooked.

During the Broncos’ 37-13 win Sunday at Houston, Moreno crossed the 1,000-yard milestone with an 18-yard run on the first play after Mike Adams’ momentum-turning fourth quarter interception. On the play after Moreno’s run, Manning threw his 49th touchdown pass with a 10-yard strike to Decker.

Moreno now has 1,015 yards rushing for the season, one of 11 NFL running backs to reach the milestone. It’s a remarkable accomplishment for Moreno considering the adversity he’s overcome through the first four seasons of his career.

rest - http://blogs.denverpost.com/broncos/...-season/24420/

I have to say his benching last season for his fumble changed him. He is more humble more passionate for game and gives it all he has.

Fox saved his career with that benching.

Originally Posted by Bronco9798

You weren't exactly wrong. Some of us felt the same way. Something clicked with him and he turned it on. His first couple years were dreadful and he appeared to have no heart. It just took him awhile to get it going. I felt the same way. I love the way he plays now. He used to stumble over his own feet. Now he keeps his feet moving and gets every yard he can. He's a keeper now. I thought he was going to be a bust.

I disagree; he always kept moving and got every yard he could, but with the blocking he had that usually wasn't much. As run blockers, Walton was crap, Beadles still is and Kuper was never better (and often worse) than average. Kuper was a great pass blocker, and Beadles became OK, but run blocking? It was only slightly better at tackle; Clady's a stud, but Franklin was pretty useless his rookie year (though better run blocking than pass blocking.)

Flash forward a few years and we've got a standout G in Vasquez, surprisingly good C in Ramirez and Franklin's come into his own, a decent pass blocker but devastating run blocker. When Clady was still in there it was breathtaking, like watching Heston raise his hands in "The Ten Commandments." Lo and behold, Moreno averaged >5 yds/att through our first 4 games, but when Clady went out and then Franklin joined him we were back to "Moreno takes the han—is hit in the backfield, stumbles forward, is hit again, stumbles forward and is tackled for a 1 yd loss."

Meanwhile, Moreno just keeps plugging away as fans call for his head year after year, the coaches bench him repeatedly, and the press runs stories about FO plans to cut him on not one but TWO occasions. No wonder he's playing like a man possessed EVERY down; you know what they say: "Don't look back—someone might be gaining." In Morenos case, it'll probably be Broncos fans with torches and pitchforks, led by his coach.

Let's not forget that even after he "finally turned it on" last year many fans still dismissed his critical catch and long run for a TD in the playoffs because he had the audacity to get HURT when we needed him to run out the clock at the end, then he entered training camp as the number THREE back on the depth chart. I guarantee MORENO hasn't forgotten any of that. If we offer to make him the permanent starter in exchange for less money next year, I wouldn't be surprised if he says, "I'd rather have the money." I would.

Originally Posted by Joel

I disagree; he always kept moving and got every yard he could, but with the blocking he had that usually wasn't much. As run blockers, Walton was crap, Beadles still is and Kuper was never better (and often worse) than average. Kuper was a great pass blocker, and Beadles became OK, but run blocking? It was only slightly better at tackle; Clady's a stud, but Franklin was pretty useless his rookie year (though better run blocking than pass blocking.)

Flash forward a few years and we've got a standout G in Vasquez, surprisingly good C in Ramirez and Franklin's come into his own, a decent pass blocker but devastating run blocker. When Clady was still in there it was breathtaking, like watching Heston raise his hands in "The Ten Commandments." Lo and behold, Moreno averaged >5 yds/att through our first 4 games, but when Clady went out and then Franklin joined him we were back to "Moreno takes the han—is hit in the backfield, stumbles forward, is hit again, stumbles forward and is tackled for a 1 yd loss."

Meanwhile, Moreno just keeps plugging away as fans call for his head year after year, the coaches bench him repeatedly, and the press runs stories about FO plans to cut him on not one but TWO occasions. No wonder he's playing like a man possessed EVERY down; you know what they say: "Don't look back—someone might be gaining." In Morenos case, it'll probably be Broncos fans with torches and pitchforks, led by his coach.

Let's not forget that even after he "finally turned it on" last year many fans still dismissed his critical catch and long run for a TD in the playoffs because he had the audacity to get HURT when we needed him to run out the clock at the end, then he entered training camp as the number THREE back on the depth chart. I guarantee MORENO hasn't forgotten any of that. If we offer to make him the permanent starter in exchange for less money next year, I wouldn't be surprised if he says, "I'd rather have the money." I would.

Sorry, you're wrong here.

He danced behind the same line that opened holes for McGahee. It wasn't the line with Moreno, it was Moreno didn't have the vision to find the hole.

Yea, sorry Joel my man Gem is correct. Ive watched replay's of KnowMO from the past and he ran right up the backside of his blockers. Its not that the blocking was perfect every single time but from what i noticed early on his vision and decision making was very very poor.

Originally Posted by GEM

Sorry, you're wrong here.

He danced behind the same line that opened holes for McGahee. It wasn't the line with Moreno, it was Moreno didn't have the vision to find the hole.

The line didn't open holes for Moreno, he MADE them with his own body. That's why he led the NFL in yards after contact in 2011, and almost certainly why so many people complained about him AND Moreno having a "glass vag." Moreno danced around in the backfield because that's where the people trying to tackle him usually were; it's amazing how much easier it is to run N/S when you don't have to make guys miss and/or break tackles before you even get the handoff.

I won't deny there were some times he was indecisive, but it's kind of like Manning flipping fastballs to DT before he's even cut back in for that bubble screen: When your blocking collapses at the snap 50% of the time, you never know which plays it'll be, only that there'll be LOTS of them. Put it this way: I find it hard to believe Willis McGahee just happened to be the only decent back Denver's had since Mike Anderson, and Moreno just happened to get MUCH better when we replaced 2/3 interior linemen.