Broncos rookie running back returns to familiar ground for debut

By Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published August 8, 2008 at 5:09 p.m.

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Ken Papaleo © The Rocky

Broncos rookie running back Anthony Alridge breaks away from a defender during a practice earlier this month.

Photo by Brian Lehmann © The Rocky

Anthony Alridge stretches before practice at Broncos training camp Tuesday.

HOUSTON — In the time it takes to bounce through the words and reach the period at the end of this sentence, Anthony Alridge hopes he has already done something to make you go hmm.

Something to impress, something to remember, something fast, very fast.

"People called me 'Quick Six' in college," Alridge said. "That's the way I play, that's my thing. My goal is to put on a show and do it enough times I can make this team."

Alridge, an undrafted Broncos rookie, talks fast, runs fast, catches fast.

In short, he is a don't-blink-or-you'll-miss-it player, trying to blaze his way onto the Broncos' roster for the regular-season opener in Oakland.

The former University of Houston running back gets his first crack at the preseason tonight, in Reliant Stadium against the Texans, in front of as many family and friends as can snare tickets.

"People are going to love to watch him run. I mean, I love to watch him run," Broncos running back Andre Hall said. "I hope he stays around."

And the flurry of numbers tell at least some of Alridge's story:

* His 4.36 electronically timed 40-yard dash at the scouting combine in February, one of the fastest of any prospect.

* And 5-foot-9 and 170 pounds, his height and weight at the combine.

"I know that's it, I know that's why I didn't get drafted," Alridge said. "I know that's why some people say I can't play. People didn't see what I did, they just saw my size. But once coaches get to know me, I'm as tough they come, that's how I feel.

"I've always been the smaller guy, I've always been one of the smallest people out on the field playing one of the toughest positions. I'm always going to be, but I'm still playing and I'm going to keep playing."

The Broncos long have been the league's Ellis Island for running backs. A place of equality and hope for those who are a tad slower on the stopwatches, for those who are vertically challenged, for those who yearn to be in a professional huddle.

"They only care how you run here," Hall said. "That's it. Show them you can perform, you'll carry the ball. They don't care where you came from."

Alridge is hoping to be next in line in a backfield that features three undrafted players among the top three runners on the depth chart (Selvin Young and Hall are the others).

Rookie Ryan Torain's injury has removed him from the mix for the time being.

Alridge, a wide receiver when he began his career for the Cougars, has flashed his top-end speed and ability to cut at full tilt in Broncos workouts.

"We liked him coming out. We think he was a guy who carried the ball a lot, ran tough and had that big-time speed," Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said. "And he was a receiver, so you know he can catch the ball."

Alridge moved to running back in 2006 and promptly led the nation in yards per carry - at 10.1 - on his way to 959 yards rushing. This past season, he lugged the ball 259 times on the way to 1,597 yards - 6.2 per carry - as well as 14 touchdowns.

He also caught 42 passes, including five for touchdowns. Those rushing numbers compare favorably to the five running backs selected in the first round in April.

"He shows you his toughness all the time," Hall said. "He doesn't care, he just sticks his face up in there. Sometimes he gets hit pretty hard and gets knocked back, but he gets up and just goes again."

But for Alridge or anyone else to carry the ball for the Broncos, they have to convince running backs coach Bobby Turner they will live by the offense's credo for the position: They get one cut and must get up the field.

Alridge also is learning patience, keeping himself behind his blockers instead of bolting out before they have engaged the waiting defenders.

"(Turner) likes you to get the ball back to the line of scrimmage as fast as you can and look for the lane to run in," Alridge said. "He tells us all the time there's only been one Barry Sanders in the league, and he's retired. He wants us to be us, he doesn't want to be a player killer, but we also can't be coach killers, we've got to listen to him. And on certain plays, we have to be patient, we can't outrun the blockers. I always outrun the offensive line because I just want to get there right now, use my speed. Speed kills, but speed can also kill you if you run out there without any blocking."

Tonight will be the third time Alridge has performed in Reliant Stadium, having played the Cougars' 2006 season opener against Oregon and the Texas Bowl against Texas Christian last December.

He said he expects at least 10 family members, possibly more, to be in the stands, along with "a lot, a lot, a lot" of friends from the University of Houston.

"Hopefully, they get a show and I get a few carries," Alridge said. "Because they know I don't need to have the pads off to run fast. I can run fast with the pads on, as fast as when I got them off. They say you're just a track guy, but I'm a football player, that's why I play this game. I love football, I don't try to shy away from contact.

"I don't shy away from anything."

• August 8, 2008

  7:30 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Horvil_Tiki writes:

  Ya guy, I like this guy. Guy have chip on shoulder. He want show all other team make big mistakey not draft. Run like wind. I wisht to see clady. I get the directional tv satelite and guy say tree is blocked. Satelite signal way down. I listen to Bronco on radio hopeful. I hoped bronco win even if pre seasonal. Old deviate offensive master wisdoms of Shanhan must destruct student kubak.

• August 8, 2008

  7:46 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  broncodano writes:

  lol

  the tiki god is everywhere....

  and i agree...

  Shanny needs to spank the Kubiak and his traitorous son Kyle.... (well not traitorous.. but definately a bad boy...)

  bd

• August 8, 2008

  8:15 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Dynamicdave writes:

  Hey, Jeff, that's twice you said the game is tonight? The game is SATURDAY NIGHT!
  Anyways, Yeah, with Torain down, this is Anthony's time to shine. Our problem in the past was scoring in the red zone. These quick kids will help to score fast in tight areas.

• August 8, 2008

  8:44 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Dynamicdave writes:

  I ive in Vegas. Is there something we're not being told, Jeff? Here is the schedule for preseason:
  2008 PRESEASON SCHEDULE (home games in caps) DAY DATE OPPONENT SITE TIME/RES. TV/REC.
  Sat. Aug. 9 at Houston Reliant Stadium 7:00 PM CDT CBS 4
  Sat. Aug.16 VS. DALLAS INVESCO Field at Mile High 7:00 PM MDT CBS 4
  Fri. Aug.22 VS. GREEN BAY INVESCO Field at Mile High 7:00 PM MDT CBS 4
  Fri. Aug.29 at Arizona University of Phoenix Stadium 7:00 PM MST CBS 4
  Why is the game being listed for tonight????????????

• August 8, 2008

  10:38 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Horvil_Tiki writes:

  I fortunate of the KOA. I listen to radio. Game is satday night guy. Definitly. I bet for to see this post early was supposed to come later posted.

• August 8, 2008

  10:54 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Dynamicdave writes:

  Horvil_Tiki, yeah, not one of RMN's finest moments.
  Hey, the Raiders beat the 49er's, whoo, whoo. They must think they are contenders, now.

• August 9, 2008

  6:36 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  LOUIE writes:

  Hey, wake up Rocky, our atheletes are being stabbed and murdered in China while our president is watching the games. Anybody home, it happened last night; maybe it's time to catch up in the world of online instant news. Ah hell, go back to sleep Temple, Scripps don't care if your losing market share, haven't cared in the last ten years, why would they start now. Online the Rocky still lags behind the world media.

• August 9, 2008

  6:47 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  LOUIE writes:

  Finally caught up with the rest of the world at 6:28 am. Slow but you made it. Coaches relatives get stabbed is breaking news in world olympic games.

• August 9, 2008

  12:10 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  OregonBroncFan writes:

  I just want to say "Kudos" for having an article about the Broncos playing today. Your competitors apparently have forgotten they are in Denver, do once again thank you for remembering what city your in.

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