All Broncos backs in the running
Competition open for No. 1 ballcarrier
By Lee Rasizer, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published July 25, 2008 at 8:28 p.m.
Barry Gutierrez © The Rocky
Denver Broncos running backs, from left, Anthony Alridge, Selvin Young, Ryan Torain, Andre Hall and Michael Pittman challenge each other during the opening day of training camp Friday at Broncos headquarters.
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Who will be the Broncos’ primary running back this season?
Broncos running backs coach Bobby Turner must sift through a large group of competitors in the next month to find his primary ballcarrier and lead blocker. Turner offers his thoughts on each of the players, who form a group he believes will be highly productive in 2008:
Halfbacks
(Player, heigh, weight, experience)
Selvin Young, 5-11, 215, 2.
* "He's got great work habits and a great mental approach. And what is not obvious to everyone is what a player does away from the ball. He has an ability to react under pressure and without even thinking about it. . . . We're working on him being the complete and total package - in other words, a receiver, blocker and making big plays. . . . The key thing is keeping him fresh where he can make plays with the ball, because when he's fresh, he can definitely make plays with the ball. . . . I'm expecting him to be a complete back, period, without limitations."
Andre Hall, 5-10, 212, 2.
* "The key thing there is just maturing another year in the system. He's not a big back, but he's explosive and has an ability to change the game because he has outstanding speed. He's strong. . . . He can run, catch; unfortunately, he got injured last year on the very first play in the Chicago game but was willing to fight and play through pain."
Michael Pittman, 6-0, 225, 11.
* "Obviously, he's experienced. He's played in big games as a starter, as a backup. He's a complete player. He's played in 'special' situations; in other words, he was used in the passing game and all that. He's mature and very, very footballwise intelligent. . . . And he's tough, with and without the ball."
Ryan Torain, 6-1, 225, rookie.
* "I loved, not liked, loved what I saw on tape of him. But that's why we all date and marry different people. It's in the eyes of the beholder. So what I see or don't will vary. . . . I'm definitely expecting him to play and perform and be productive. He's a player with ability. (But) I'm not going to say he's a 'sleeper;' I don't look at my guys that way. We coach them all the same."
Anthony Alridge, 5-9, 185, rookie.
* "He's a kid we signed as a (undrafted) free agent. . . . He has tremendous, outstanding speed and quickness. His deal is putting a move and he's going to blow by you. That's his deal. . . . You will notice him."
Fullbacks
Cecil Sapp, 5-11, 236, 6.
* "Consistency. Reliability. He has both and he's capable of playing both positions in an emergency. He's awesome on special teams. Accountable. . . . He's been a fullback for quite awhile now. I'm happy with him but not content. And I am expecting him to be tough and physical at the point of attack."
Peyton Hillis, 6-2, 250, rookie.
* "Right now, he's another kid with a great attitude and a lot of ability. He's coachable and teachable, that's a big plus. . . . Now we'll have to see, along with Ryan and Alridge, what happens when we put the pads on. . . . (But) he can run, catch. He has mobility, movement of his hips and running in space, yards after the catch, things like that."
Practice times and dates are subject to change without notice. Gates open to the public at 7:30 a.m. for morning practices and one hour before afternoon practices.
| Date | Morning | Afternoon |
| Aug. 5 | 8:30 | 3:40* |
| Aug. 6 | 8:30 | 3:50 |
| Aug. 7 | 8:30 | 3:40* |
| Aug. 8 | 8:30 | None |
| Aug. 9 | at Houston | 6 p.m. |
| Aug. 10 | None | None |
| Aug. 11 | None | 2:45 |
| Aug. 12 | 8:30 | 3:40* |
| Aug. 16 | Dallas | 7 p.m. |
| Aug. 22 | Green Bay | 7 p.m. |
| Aug. 29 | at Arizona | 8 p.m. |
The Broncos will practice with the Dallas Cowboys on Aug. 13 and Aug. 14 at their Dove Valley facility, but those sessions will be open to the media only.
* Special teams only; ** Media only
Frozen food section, the pharmacy, it doesn't matter.
Bobby Turner gets more than he's bargained for when he shops.
People want information from the Broncos running backs coach.
"I constantly get that," Turner said as training camp opened Friday. "Whether I'm in the grocery store during quote-unquote 'down time' or if I run to pick up a prescription or something like that. I'll run into someone and it's the usual questions - 'Who's going to be toting it? Who's going to be carrying the ball?'
"And everybody has their favorite."
Um, so Bobby, just one question: Who is going to be toting it this season for Mike Shanahan's crew?
"We don't know yet," he responded.
Turner got that message across to his group during Friday's first position meeting. He told them nobody's No. 1 and while there's an opening rotation in place, the top job is open.
Selvin Young, last year's leading rusher with 729 yards, opens the summer as the lead back. But given recent history, where virtual unknowns have emerged in August to eventually play a pivotal role in the backfield, it's hardly a lock several weeks down the road.
Young himself knows that either Michael Pittman or Andre Hall or rookies Ryan Torain or Anthony Alridge could surpass him if he doesn't play well in the next few weeks. Because last year at this time, he was one of the virtual unknowns just clawing to make the team, just like Mike Bell, the No. 2 rusher on the team in 2006, was the previous training camp.
"I was thinking about that (Thursday). And I have the same exact feeling I had last year. No one's told me, 'Hey Selvin, you're the guy that's going to be taking snaps against Oakland,' " Young said, referring to the Sept. 8 regular-season opener. "I still feel like I'm the guy that they're going to tell that to. But once you go to work every day, it doesn't matter if it's Year 1, Year 2 or Year 3, you try to keep the same mind-set. I'm still a rookie in one sense. I haven't done anything well enough to prove anything to anybody. I've still got proving to be done. So my mind-set hasn't changed one bit."
The circumstances, though, have changed.
The sudden release of Travis Henry last month added a further element of chaos to the proceedings.
But Turner isn't altering his approach. He'll coach them all up, watch them perform, then select his favorite in unison with Shanahan and offensive coordinator Rick Dennison.
"The thing that you want is to have a successful running game," Shanahan said. "I don't care if it's by committee or one guy who takes the opportunity to be the guy. The main thing I'd like to do is average over 5 yards per carry. We've had some backs here that have averaged over 5 yards per carry. If we can do that by committee, great. If one guy takes the opportunity and wants to get it done and can stay healthy, that's great as well."
Young averaged 5.2 yards on 140 attempts last year, which is a key reason why he currently is heading the pack.
Rushing numbers drop
But by Broncos standards, the running game hasn't been great lately, only good. The club ranked second in the NFL in rushing yards in 2005, but dipped to eighth and ninth the past two years. Denver hasn't had a 1,500-yard rusher since Clinton Portis in 2003. And the four rushers carrying the ball the most over the past four years (including Henry last year) have averaged 4.5, 4.2, 4.4 and 4.1 yards per carry.
"I'm upset if we're not No. 1 every year," Turner said. "That's what I come to work for."
The wide-open competition at Dove Valley seemed excited at the opportunity at hand.
On Friday, Hall followed Young in the rotation, with Pittman, Torain and Alridge next. But that mix will change frequently, depending on performance.
"It's definitely motivating," said Pittman, the most experienced player in the bunch with 10 years, 1,316 carries and 5,307 yards under his belt. "Right now, Selvin's slotted No. 1 and he should be. . . . But when coach comes in and says, 'Don't worry about the depth chart that comes out, we're going to play the best guy on the football field,' you know the job's open and if you go out and perform, you'll play."
Pittman hasn't played in a zone-blocking scheme as a pro, but it was the core philosophy during his days at Fresno State. And he's been waiting a long time for a chance to use the stretch-and-cut dynamic as a pro.
But, he noted, "There's a lot of good backs here."
Waiting in the wings
Hall might be overlooked in the competition right now, but that could be a positive given the rapid ascension of other young players previously. In his only career start last November, he suffered a severe ankle sprain on his first carry but grinded out 26 attempts for 98 yards and added a 65-yard reception. He was with the Bears in 2006 camp before he was released and picked up by Denver three months later.
"When I was in Chicago, they said the job was open and all that and truthfully I don't think the best man got it," Hall said. "But here, I think the best man will get it, just like last year."
And if that means Torain or Alridge break through, so be it. The Broncos had individual 1,487-yard and 1,508-yard rookie rushing seasons since 2000. Tatum Bell, Quentin Griffin, Mike Bell and Young averaged 528 yards in their first years in Denver. And Turner admitted he "loved, not liked, loved" what he saw from Torain at Arizona State, before a severe foot injury ended the player's season.
"I'm approaching things the way I always do," Turner said. "With an open mind."
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July 26, 2008
10:33 a.m.
Suggest removal
Dynamicdave writes:
Yeah, ok Lincicome. Sheesh, allen12, you sound just like him. Give it a rest, Mr. doom and gloom.
July 26, 2008
1:50 p.m.
Suggest removal
TomPepsi writes:
It's a new season. Let's at least give them a chance. Before the Broncos worry about who will be running the ball, they first need to fix their o-line problems. Running back (insert name) won't be going anywhere without them making a hole first.
July 26, 2008
3:56 p.m.
Suggest removal
Dynamicdave writes:
Frankr, huh? I really hope you're joking because otherwise that sounds extremely homophobic. Oh, and by the way, the majority of gymnastic girls are teenagers? Is that how you get your kicks?
July 26, 2008
4:50 p.m.
Suggest removal
Dynamicdave writes:
Hey, so do I, but you made it sound like the love of playing football, means a person is gay? When I served in the military, we had to use group showers. It didn't mean we are gay. When you go to gym class in High School and are playing sports with guys, does that mean you're gay? Hardly. I think it's the way you came across in your comment that throws me. It sounded like "if it walks like a duck" type thing.
July 26, 2008
5:23 p.m.
Suggest removal
Dynamicdave writes:
Hah, isn't that the truth. That's why, tonight, me and my gal-pal are going out to the strip for some dinner and dancing. We're bored to tears. Vegas always has something to make the night fun.
July 26, 2008
5:46 p.m.
Suggest removal
Battlehoss writes:
So the Broncs are heading into the season with a group of backup running backs? Good luck! You'll need it!
July 26, 2008
6:14 p.m.
Suggest removal
Dynamicdave writes:
Battlehoss, you won't be saying that when they're running all over your Raiders defense. Plus, your statement holds no merit or reason. Selvin is not a backup, the second we released Henry. Sapp has not been a backup. Hillis, Torain are rookies. Pittman is a bull. And Hall is coming into his own. I would love to hear back from you again mid-season. Oh, I assume you're a Traitors fan because only they would say something as stupid as that. As I recall, Terrell Davis was special teams and not a starter. We all saw how that turned out.
July 26, 2008
6:55 p.m.
Suggest removal
Welcome2Boise writes:
FrankR, How is it that you described all the man love type stuff without even a mention of them giving each other a "good game". That's all I think you left out though
July 27, 2008
3:26 a.m.
Suggest removal
Horvil_Tiki writes:
I hope Selfin young run to glory and 6. Guy show poise last year. Guy bulk up for to get strong. Not go down like bag of sad rice when takkle. Not this year guy. I buyed his cards on the ebay come on guy dont let down. Got to break down. Run like wind. I want see Allridghe play. I want see guy run like lightning blast megaton through field into goal. I not seen guy play but guy look like chisled momentous speed. I heard guy say want makey all the teams pay for not to be for drafted. Come on guy let see makey all the teams pay. Let see glory and 6 all day.
I worry I pay crazy mony for direction tv. I got sunday tikket guy pay crazy mony for. Direction guy come install guy say I got tree block way for to make satelite not good.
July 27, 2008
8:51 a.m.
Suggest removal
incognitoboy writes:
horvil-
got to call cut down tree guy makey way for satellite good so crazy mony not waste.
i wanna see alridge makey all teams pay too! enemy guys gonna be grabbing at air as he go lightning blast right on by!
glory and 6, baby!! and 6, and 6, and 6, etc. etc..........
July 27, 2008
12:38 p.m.
Suggest removal
Dynamicdave writes:
Horvil_Tiki, "Ugh"! Naw, I agree, Cutler needs to shut the glass half empty critics up, once and for all. I think the kids got game. Alridge? I don't know. He's fast but he's small. 5'9" tall and 172 lbs. That's small in the NFL when being tagged by the defense while in full stride. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to see the kid excel and make a liar out of me. I just think he needs to get to be at least 180-185 to take the hits he's going to receive. We'll see.
July 28, 2008
3:26 p.m.
Suggest removal
bigbadthor writes:
Granted the running game has been down, by Denver standards, but when you look at the injuries on the O-line last year and before, and QB transition where defenses were loading up on the run, and rotation of players, it's amazaing that we haven't had worse outputs. It is a testament to Turner, I hope he is the best paid assistant coach in the league, he and Alex Gibbs have been the two best assistant coaches ever for the Broncos. My guess is that Torain and Hillis start and amaze everyone, think of a young Mike Anderson with more power and speed and a young Tom Rathman, except with more speed. That could be a scary backfield for a long time, barring injuries.