Broncos report: RB Hall making way up depth chart

By Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published August 4, 2008 at 11:30 p.m.

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Photo by Barry Gutierrez © The Rocky

Andre Hall is listed as the No. 2 running back on the Broncos' first depth chart of training camp.

Andre Hall knows the deal about running the ball for the Denver Broncos.

He knows it's an equal-opportunity affair, that first-round, last-round or even no-round picks have the same chance to earn the job and the same chance to lose it. And he wouldn't have it any other way.

"All you want anywhere in football is a fair shot," Hall said. "I went to Chicago, I didn't have one. I went to Tampa Bay, I didn't have one. Here it is different, here they look at you and decide by what they see. So everybody is on the edge here, everybody is on eggshells here, and that's the way I like it because at least you know you're in the mix."

And when the Broncos dropped their first depth chart into the public view Monday morning, Hall was the No. 2 running back behind Selvin Young. Rookie Ryan Torain is at No. 3 with rookie Anthony Alridge behind Torain.

But for Hall, it is a big leap forward from his experiences in last year's training camp with the Broncos, a time that followed his being signed and released by the Bears and Buccaneers in a four- month span in 2006.

He signed with the Broncos practice squad in November of that year and has been with the team ever since.

"Last camp there was Cecil Sapp at running back, Mike Bell, Travis (Henry) and me and Selvin weren't really getting any reps," Hall said. "Now a few of those guys are gone, it really gives me and Selvin a lot more opportunities.

"Last year, it was just mental reps for me, just hoping to get two or three plays in a whole day of practice."

This time around, Henry has been released, Bell has been released, Sapp has been moved back to fullback and Michael Pittman, who was hoping to compete for the starting running back job, is listed only at fullback and is getting only limited plays in practice at running back.

That has cleared the way for Young and Hall to try to hold off the rookies through the preseason.

"More work has helped, I see stuff before it happens, the game is just a lot slower now," Hall said. "There's not so much weight on my shoulders, I can relax now. But I always worry about getting cut, that's how I play. Either I'm going to be here or I'm not and I feel like if I'm messing up I'm not going to be here. Every down is serious to me."

No news

The Broncos, by the time the team had gathered for dinner, still had not been notified of receiver Brandon Marshall's fate under the league's personal-conduct policy.

Marshall, who has had several off-the-field incidents that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has been reviewing, is eligible to be suspended under the policy.

Goodell said Friday at the Hall of Fame activities in Canton, Ohio, the league was in its "final stages" of its review of Marshall's case and he expected to make a ruling within a week.

"I can't update every time there is a rumor out there . . . ," Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said Monday. "When we know something, we'll deal with it."

If he receives a suspension, Marshall still would be able to practice and play in the preseason. The punishment would begin in the regular season.

"If he gets suspended two, three or four games, it will hurt the team, but it will give other guys an opportunity to step up," Broncos cornerback Dre Bly said. "Brandon is a big part of what we try and do. He is Jay's (Cutler) guy. It would be disappointing to know that he is suspended."

Nalen on hold

Center Tom Nalen continues to have pain in his left knee and was held out of practice for the seventh practice day.

Nalen had surgery to repair the knee in June and had participated early on in training camp.

"You're always concerned when one of your best players is having problems, but I am not concerned that Tom needs to play in the preseason," Shanahan said. "He'll keep getting treatment and we'll go from there. But if he can be out there he'll be out there."

Casey Wiegmann worked with the starters in Nalen's place.

Shanahan said a magnetic resonance imaging exam last week didn't reveal any issues that could be surgically repaired at the moment.

Etc.

* Other depth chart items:

Nate Webster was listed as the starter at middle linebacker, but the Broncos will continue to split time between Webster and Niko Koutouvides all through the preseason.

At receiver, Eddie Royal is listed, and has practiced, as the backup behind Marshall at one spot, while Darrell Jackson was listed as the starter at the other receiver spot.

On the offensive line Ryan Clady (left) and Ryan Harris (right) were listed as the starting tackles.

Montrae Holland, who reported overweight after starting at right guard last season, is formally in the No. 2 spot at the position.

Chris Kuper has been working at the right guard spot with the starters throughout camp.

In a quirk, Sam Paulescu is listed as the starting punter, but the backup - Brett Kern - is listed as the starting holder for placekicks.

That would be a highly unlikely configuration during the regular season.

* Former Wall Street Journal reporter Stefan Fatsis, whose book A Few Seconds of Panic chronicles his time as a kicker during the Broncos' 2006 training camp, will be signing books at the Boulder Bookstore from 7:30-9 p.m. tonight and at the Highlands Ranch Tattered Cover from 7:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesday.

* Royal made a leaping grab of a Cutler pass along the sideline in team drills during the morning practice.

Marshall lined up as a tight end/H-back in some red-zone work. Rookie running back Alridge turned a cutback into a 50-yard scoring run in run-game drills.

* In addition to Nalen, safety Hamza Abdullah (groin) did not practice. Fullback Peyton Hillis (hamstring) participated in the morning workout, but did not take part in the afternoon workout.

Tuesday

The Broncos will practice at 8:30 a.m. - gates open at 7:30 - to go with a 3:40 p.m. workout. The afternoon workout will be special teams only and not include the entire roster.

• August 5, 2008

  8:56 a.m.

  BMat writes:

  (This comment was removed by the site staff.)

• August 5, 2008

  9:20 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  arvada_mark writes:

  Wow, sounds like Pittman & Holland may get cut. Holland for sure if he's too fat. Shanny don't put up with that kind of lack of commitment.

• August 5, 2008

  10:06 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  jmdeshazer writes:

  BMat,

  Oh brother. With negative comments like yours, I am surprised you even took the time to read an article about a team that you are obviously never happy with. It's "fans" like you that make me wonder you waste your time with the Broncos. Yet it will be you when the Broncos get close to another championship that says you supported them all along.

  If Shanny really liked these guys you mentioned, they would still be with the team. If anything, he's been LESS tolerant than previous Denver coaches. Dan Reeves kept the likes of Vance Johnson, Gerald Wilhite, Clarence Kay and Bobby Humphrey on the team who all had worse rap sheets for YEARS and never got rid of them soon enough.

  Marshall has yet to be convicted, had a psycho girlfriend that he has since split with, and got a traffic ticket. I got tickets when I was 24 too. Big deal. That being said, I don't agree with his off-field antics, but he's not a Pacman Jones, Tank Johnson or Michael Vick. Let's bring this back into perspective.

  Lastly, Andre Hall has game breaking speed and is a hard worker, I hope he does some great things for the team this year.

• August 5, 2008

  10:23 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  kmeissner writes:

  Way to go, jmdeshazer! We don't need fans like BMat!

• August 5, 2008

  10:34 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Orange_Crush18 writes:

  Well put Jmdeshazer! BMat got worked.......

• August 5, 2008

  10:52 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  bigbadthor writes:

  I doubt Pittman will make the roster, not sure if Hall can win the starting role, my money is on Torain, from what Coach Turner said about him "I didn't like what I saw on tape, I loved what I saw on tape" indicates to me that they think they have the rel deal in Torain and are waiting for him to adjust to the system and be able pick up blitz protections, TD wasn't named a starter until after the preseason, so I think the same will be for Torain, I think Young will be a good change of pace back, and Hall a primary back-up, with Aldridge being a gadget guy that can create mismatches in space. I think our RB position looks the best since we had Portis here, just the rest of the league hasn't seen it yet.

• August 5, 2008

  10:59 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  RustyWon writes:

  BMat, more like BToff.
  You have had poor posts before, so whatever.

  Andre Hall is exactly the kind of back the Broncos use.
  He runs hard and low, and his cut back is instinctive.

  Every team has players that have shown poor judgement from time to time. So does every company, restaurant, office, retail center, etc...

  The Broncos have made strides this offseason, in spite of losing some good locker room guys. We're going back to the playoffs for sure.

• August 5, 2008

  11:49 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  LingLingfor_prez writes:

  Yeah, BMat is pretty negative. Although it is difficult to feel good about players with a long rap sheet especially when they get suspended. Go Chargers!

• August 5, 2008

  12:27 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  R8R_H8R writes:

  O.K. I'm sick of hearing that B_Marshall PUNCHED his girlfriend. I know he had "Domestic Violence" charges. But everything I've heard said that she told him she was leaving, for good, and he blocked her taxi with his car and told her to give him his cell phone then. I have NEVER heard any report in print or radio that he every touched her.

  also, Holland will DEFINITELY not get cut.

• August 5, 2008

  1:30 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  arvada_mark writes:

  Even if he's too fat? Being out of shape has nothing to do with talent, & everything to do with commitment. Portis mildly ticked off Shanny (on other terms of coarse), & he was shipped, & he's not missed...in comparison to how much we'd miss Champ if he were to leave.

• August 5, 2008

  1:46 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  jvill writes:

  BMat writes: With Larry Johnson, Darren McFadden and LT in the division Andre Hall better be a world beater.

  You're comparing the guy currently ranked #2 at the RB position to 2 veteran pro bowl starters and a #4 pick? That's weird.

  BMat writes: But the Bears already cut him and kept Cedrick Benson. The Bucks already cut him and kept Michael Pittman who is trying to make the Broncos squad this year too.

  It's almost like the Broncos have a history of finding unheralded or rejected players and making stars out of them. Or making stars out of players, only to see them fail on another team. It's almost like it's less about the players themselves, and more about how they fit the unique Broncos system.

  This is the same kind of logic that says, "if we beat the Raiders, who beat the Chargers, who beat the Colts, than we really beat the Colts and we're champs!"

  BMat writes: Shanny loves a guy with a rap sheet. Go ask Maurice Clarrett or Travis Henry or Brandon Marshall or Javon Walker or. . ., etc.

  Only one of whom is still with the team, and BMarsh has shown contrition and already has counseling lined up. So your point would be...?

  People keep referring to you as a "fan," but you really don't seem to know much about the team you keep writing about.

• August 5, 2008

  3:31 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  bgeist writes:

  Why is everyone ganging up on BMat? My mom always told me to be nice to stupid people. Try being a fan or shut up.

• August 5, 2008

  7:07 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Dynamicdave writes:

  jvill, I didn't catch BMat's response because it had already been reported and removed? Must have been a real piece of artistic literature? Come on, BMat. Keep the conversation within logic. No sense in wasting your effort if you know it will be deleted. That's Raider logic. Try having a little bit of common sense and think your response through. Speak with your head, not with your heart.

• August 5, 2008

  7:31 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  intma21 writes:

  I was truly disappointed in the Broncos Draft picks this yr.

  I thought they should have drafted James Stewart , Jamal Charles (who

  the proto-type RB for Denvers system) or Rashard Mendenhall .

  Then you have RB's like Lamont Jordan , Julius Jones , Kevin Jones ,

  hell would have taken a chance at Warrick Dunn before getting

  Pittman . Or I would have went after Marion Barber "HARD" .

  The only way the Cowboys would have kept Barber would be for

  Jerry Jones to offer him half ownership of the team , Lol .

  Nothing would have stopped me from getting him . With him in the

  backfield , he would give the Broncos a 2k season this yr. or

  close to it !! I hope Hall can withstand the pressure and be the

  next good back coming from the broncos system .

• August 5, 2008

  8:26 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Dynamicdave writes:

  intma21, I'm quite happy with our draft picks. Hall is a good back. Young is a good back. Watch out for Torain. Every time Denver picks a player there will be someone who doesn't agree with the choice. That's what makes the football season fun. To have disagreements and find out who was right and who was wrong and the "I told you so" that comes later, during the season. Of course, none of us are coaches, so our opinions mean nothing. But Denver felt their choices were the right ones. I'll trust their judgement more then mine or anyone else's on the blog, for that matter, when it comes to football decisions.

• August 5, 2008

  11:03 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  wjrudy writes:

  dynamicdave, FTR, jvill, et al - You guys are o.k. Positive trumps negative... even when things don't go the way we had hoped. Hey, I was born in, and spent a great deal of my life in Colorado... Bronco fan all the way (even sold sodas at old Mile High back in early 70's). But for the time being I'm out here in CA - amidst the Raider and 49er crazies. All you Shanahan whiners - TRUST me, it could be a heck of a lot worse! Talk about coaching merry-go-rounds and subsequent disasters on the field year after year. With the Broncos and Shanahan we are almost ASSURED every year of a competitive product. EVERY year. Good owner (or perhaps one would prefer crazy Al Davis?), good coach, and for the most part, good players with decent character (or average players who an excellent coach gets a great deal out of) - EVERY year. I can live with that. I can't remember ever being embarrassed to be a Bronco fan, even through the heartbreak of 4 Superbowl loses. It's o.k. to disagree or be disappointed with how things are or decisions that are made, but it's like dynamicdave said - THINK before you say anything too dopey... consider the alternatives and remember that there are professional coaches with a heck of alot more information than we have - who want to win badly making those decisions. I'm looking forward to a good year.

• August 6, 2008

  8:40 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Dynamicdave writes:

  wjrudy, well said.

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