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KRIEGER: Even Shanahan needs roster this year

By Dave Krieger, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published December 17, 2008 at 8:54 p.m.

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P.J. Pope

Photo by Chuck Burton / Associated Press

P.J. Pope

Tatum Bell

Photo by Darin McGregor/The Rocky

Tatum Bell

Selvin Young

Photo by Jack Dempsey/Associated Press

Selvin Young

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Granted, you might never hear about this particular record from the NFL, but history will record it anyway.

In 48 seasons of football, including those really awful early ones, the Broncos have never had a leading rusher run for fewer yards than their current leading rusher.

If they clinch a playoff berth Sunday against Buffalo, they will do it with perhaps the most fractured running game of any playoff team in history.

"You've got to learn a new name every week, it seems like," tight end Daniel Graham observed. "But it's exciting to see the younger guys get in and make a name for themselves."

In fact, you would think the dubious franchise record would be unassailable, having been set during the strike-shortened 1982 season, when the Broncos played only nine games. Gerald Willhite led them in rushing that year with 347 yards.

This year, through 14 games, Peyton Hillis leads with 343, and he won't be getting any more, having followed four other running backs to the injured reserve list. Next is Michael Pittman at 320, and he's not getting any more, either.

After that is Selvin Young, at 287. He needs only 61 yards in two games to surpass Willhite's total, but he'll have to escape Mike Shanahan's doghouse to get them.

Last week, while undrafted free agent P.J. Pope was averaging 7.3 yards a carry and former cell phone salesman Tatum Bell 6.1, Young was averaging 3.2 and committing a costly fumble at Carolina. So I asked Shanahan how he'll decide whom to start Sunday with a playoff berth on the line.

"You go from last week's game, how people performed in that game," he said. "You sit down with your coaches and look at who took advantage of the opportunity to play in Carolina, then get a depth chart and go with it."

I'm just guessing that review didn't put Young at the top of the heap.

Here's the weird thing: Even with a revolving door in the backfield, the Broncos are averaging 4.5 yards per carry, good for fifth in the league. Their running game still works; it's just extremely unpredictable as the depth chart moves into double figures.

Ten players have toted the rock more than once for the Broncos this season. By contrast, four have carried more than once for the Bills, this week's opponent. Buffalo's leading rusher, Marshawn Lynch, has 239 carries. Pittman's 76 lead the Broncos.

A proponent of the cutback running game since his arrival 14 seasons ago, Shanahan has never experienced anything quite like it.

"I've seen people have a lot of injuries, but it seems like it's pretty well spread out," he said. "I've never seen it at one position before."

By necessity, Shanahan has had to leave his game-planning comfort zone. It is no coincidence that Jay Cutler is 238 yards from the franchise record for passing yards in a season.

"It's different," Shanahan acknowledged. "You kind of just work through it. But I've been pleased with our guys because we have run the football and we've been fairly effective doing it."

Still, Shanahan thought he saw a number of big-play opportunities in the running game wasted last week in Carolina.

"There's no question about it," he said. "I was disappointed in a few plays that you got 4 or 5 yards and you're hoping you got 40 or 50 yards."

On the bright side, a team with five running backs out for the year has a chance to clinch a playoff spot a week early. The weak divisional competition has a lot to do with that, but it's still remarkable.

"I don't even pay attention anymore," Cutler said. "We're not for sure what we're going to do this week, who's going to be back there, but hopefully we get the running game going."

Even Shanahan can't keep all these guys straight, and he's the one who hires them.

"About a week ago, two weeks ago, I was in the locker room and you've got names and you've got numbers, but you don't know everybody's faces, especially some of the new guys," he said.

"So I looked at people and I said, this is a little scary, when I'm not sure of two or three guys' faces in the locker room, exactly who they are. If they had a number on their chest I would have been fine."

For Bell or Pope, eclipsing Willhite's 1982 yardage total would require a serious surge. Bell needs 205 yards; Pope, 261. That leaves Young, who has to get back on the field first.

The attrition has had its effect. During their Super Bowl years, the Broncos routinely ran the ball more than 500 times per season. This year, they are on a pace for 400. It would be their fewest rushing attempts in a season since . . . well . . . you know.

Comments

  • December 17, 2008

    10:26 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    den2mke writes:

    Was it me or was it kind of odd to see Selvin taking the Broncos first kickoff in the second half after fumbling the last drive of the first? Maybe Royal was having equipment problems or something--but he (Royal) was back in returning the next kick I believe. Wondered if maybe it was Shanahan's way of letting Young know he was being relegated to special teams.

    I will have to agree with Shanahan on one thing: There were a lot of missed holes, cutbacks, etc. from the running backs against Carolina. Runs that could have easily kept drives going in the first half--and maybe changed the outcome. I used to think it somewhat odd that Shanahan would blame losses--even some by a reasonable margin--on offensive missed opportunities, ie not keeping drives going when they had a chance or turning the ball over. But, if you look at the successful games the Broncos have had in the past 5-6 weeks, been pretty clear there's something to that. How many 3rd down conversions did they have against the Jets, Falcons and Chiefs? Contrast that with some of the missed yardage in the running game against Carolina.

    I'm thinking Pope totes the load this week. Bell used to have a pretty reasonable understanding of the running lanes in the Broncs zone blocking scheme but doesn't seem to be getting it now. And, after showing promise early last year, Young is just flat-out disappointing now. Difficulty keeping balance, selecting the right lane, getting yards after contact, etc. Pope may be the best chance they have to resurrect the running game this year.

  • December 18, 2008

    9:42 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    MrWright writes:

    PJ by far has the best vision of this group. He is tough and hits the hole quick. Bell and Young seem to gravitate to the pile to much, no cutbacks, leaving tons of yards on the field. If our offense is dynamic this weekend with solid play calling we will win easy. GO BRONCOS!!!!!

  • December 18, 2008

    11 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Spotcheck writes:

    It's still time to rebuild this football team from top to bottom and upon both sides of the line of scrimmage too. While, I've enjoyed Shanahan's tenure, ever since our two Super Bowl victories we have, at best, gotten to the AFC Championship game against Pittsburgh and lost.

    Face it: this team is going nowhere until some serious changes are made, and those changes must come from the top on down, so that we can then build from the bottom up.

    Cutler's not Elway, but then nobody else has been either. For that reason I'd discount the chances that we'll ever find another one that good. Hence, the rest of the team around our QB has to be better it seems to me. Let's get on with the rebuilding, please?

    DFH

  • December 18, 2008

    11:28 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Dynamicdave writes:

    Spotcheck, the offense, aside from the injuries to RB's, is fine. It's the D that needs retooling. They are needing to work on D and ST. Leave the offense alone. They have what they want except maybe a 4th WR to step up. It sure isn't D. Jackson. If the RB's were healthy, they would have a well balanced offense.

  • December 18, 2008

    11:42 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Brain writes:

    Cutler may end up being better than Elway; so far his stats are better, and his rating, at this time in their careers.
    We have a franchise QB that will take us to the SB in time; we also have the start of a GREAT OL; add one more player on the offense (RB?) and get the D to play better than average and the Broncos are there.
    I predict the Broncos will be a competitive playoff team next year and with some luck in the SB; then the next year they will be a SB contender.
    Buffalo will not be an easy game but I think they will get the win; I hope I'm wrong and it turns out to be an easy win.

    GO BRONCOS!!!!!!!!

  • December 18, 2008

    12:50 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    anothermeaninglessopinion writes:

    Spotcheck must have stopped watching the donks last year. Are you kidding me? Completely rebuild the from top to bottom? What team are u watching? Our offense, minus a running back, is ready to roll for years to come. Yea our D weak, but now that the offense is set we can focus on building the D the next couple of years. Then we'll be ready to make a serious run.

  • December 18, 2008

    1:04 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    baylinorcrush writes:

    The Broncos win against the Bills, the Chargers lose to Tampa and win the last game against us. We go into the playoffs with a 9-7 winning record, and no matter who we play, the AFC is wide open this year. Any team can beat anybody, no one is dominant. So I pick our team. How exciting is that?

  • December 18, 2008

    1:59 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Dynamicdave writes:

    hillbillygoth, Brain was correct. Cutler is already shattering all of Johns records for his 3rd year. Without a running game, per say (injuries). If we were living in the same neighborhood, I would place a friendly bet with you on the Denver/Buffalo game. But, we'll see what we'll see. Even if Denver beats Buffalo and SD, you will say they will be "1 and done" anyways, so there is no convincing you.

    baylinorcrush, I think our team can beat SD. It just depends on how long we play our starters? Also, I would love to see Hackney play. If we could beat them with 2nd and 3rd stringers (hell, we're playing them now), what a slap in the face it would be to SD. GO BRONCOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • December 18, 2008

    5:09 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    broncosfaninohio writes:

    If we play the Colts in the first round then Shanahan should get the tape of the Browns vs. Colts game. If Cleveland had any offense what so ever in that game, they win. If you can hold the colts to 10 points that is a "W" usually. we have the offense to do that.

  • December 19, 2008

    10:48 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    johnb writes:

    I think the Broncs will take down the bills, but if not I would love to see Cutler beat Rivers. That would be more of a playoff game than anything. And I think the Broncos are the better team. If we can't beat them we don't deserve to move on.