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Broncos' backs squeeze out yards

Ground game adds to balanced attack to stifle Falcons

By Lee Rasizer, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published November 16, 2008 at 5:55 p.m.

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The cowboy boots Peyton Hillis slipped on long after Sunday's game were comprised of python.

The footwear, weathered by three years' use, hinted as much about the person wearing them as the performance Hillis and his fellow running backs had just mustered on the field: tough, rugged, with a hint of flash.

The Broncos only 10 days earlier were down to the last man standing, with barely a leg to stand on in their backfield.

Four players were on injured reserve at the position.

Hillis, the starting fullback, had to ride to the rescue in Cleveland.

But this time, sing along now, on the road again, Hillis had a posse to back him up.

There was Tatum Bell, fresh out of the Towncenter at Aurora mall and back into the limelight.

There was P.J. Pope, with a holy name and a few holy-smokes runs against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome in his first NFL game since 2006.

And there was Hillis, running into Falcons red like so many brick walls and knocking a few down in the process.

When it was over, the passing-centric Broncos had rediscovered something that had been missing for most of their season: balance.

The Broncos ran 25 times for 124 yards and threw 27 times, helping squeeze every ounce of life out of its offense as that python probably once did to its prey.

"Most definitely, we need that balance," said Hillis, who scored the first two rushing touchdowns of his now 10-game NFL career.

"We probably need it a little more, to tell you the truth. But we'll get that. We've got a lot of young guys, a lot of 'rooks' that are out there doing their best. And we'll catch on."

The Broncos had thrown nearly 62 percent of the time entering the game. The injuries had something to do with it. A lack of a dominant back contributed, as well, as did the Broncos' ability to spread the field with dangerous targets and strong-armed Jay Cutler orchestrating things.

Falcons players on the field at halftime for the reunion of their Super Bowl XXXIII team probably didn't recognize this current Broncos crew, which used to pound away with Terrell Davis unmercilessly.

Other than Hillis' 7-yard touchdown on the Broncos opening drive, there was little evidence to suggest anything other than another wide-open game plan.

The Broncos went three-and- out four straight times after that, including Bell getting stuffed on third-and-1.

The sum total at halftime: seven carries for 19 yards.

"It was just a matter of catching a crease, and then when you catch a crease, you feel a little bit better about it," offensive coordinator Rick Dennison said. "We didn't get many creases in the first half. We did in the second half."

The Broncos rushed for 62 yards in the third quarter.

On the opening series, all three backs touched the ball. Bell started with a 4-yard run. Hillis rumbled 12 yards up the middle into the red zone. And Pope, newly added from the practice squad, got the corner on a 15-yard dart.

"I don't think a lot of people knew who I was," said Pope, who finished with four carries for 35 yards.

Hillis' 2-yard rush gave the Broncos a 14-13 lead.

"Everybody brings something different to the table and has a different running style," Pope added of the Broncos' three-headed backfield attack. "And everybody can stay fresh that way."

Hillis was stopped on third-and-goal from the 1 on the final play of the third quarter. And when the Falcons drove 77 yards to Michael Turner's touchdown, the Broncos again were behind.

Brandon Marshall's 47-yard catch highlighted the next possession. But once that took Denver to Atlanta's 33, the backs went to work again.

Hillis went for 6 yards, running over Falcons safety Lawyer Milloy, whose helmet went flying.

"He's a big dude," Bell said of Hillis, who was sporting a large ice pack on his right shoulder afterward from an earlier collision with linebacker Curtis Lofton. "So he's a load when he comes and gets you."

Bell then carried twice for 7 and 9 yards.

"It beats selling cell phones," Bell said, alluding to his occupation the past several weeks before he re-signed with the Broncos.

Hillis (10 carries, 44 yards) caught a 14-yard swing pass and tiptoed down the sideline and past the first-down marker. He'd tote the ball again before Daniel Graham's go-ahead points.

Bell would then help run out the clock.

"When you can show two dimensions, it really makes defenses play us honest," Broncos right tackle Ryan Harris said. "And when teams play us honest, we have too many weapons."

The Broncos running backs met Saturday night and arrived at the stadium on the first bus Sunday to go over X's and O's with position coach Bobby Turner. All of them wanted Turner to have full confidence to use them as needed, whether it be because of inexperience as a ball carrier (Hillis) or a short time within the Broncos system (Bell, Pope).

Spencer Larsen, another rookie, also got some time in two-back sets as a fullback as the Broncos put up its second-highest run total since Week 2 and averaged 5 yards per carry for only the second time this season.

"For the past decade, we've been one of the best running teams," Marshall said. "And we wanted to get back to what we used to do, as far as proving to everybody we can run the ball and not just pass it."

Comments

  • November 16, 2008

    8:30 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    myshkin writes:

    "unmercilessly?" What the huh?

    Mercy means compassion or forbearance. Merciless means having or showing no mercy. Mercilessly describes an action that displays no mercy. Unmercilessly describes an action that does not display no mercy, or it would, of it were a word in the English language! :)

  • November 16, 2008

    9:35 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Coltgm56 writes:

    Pope and Bell looked quick today, not fast, QUICK. They went straight ahead and got through the line, that is all we needed. No turnovers and we pulled it out. The young inexperienced linebackers and defense gave it their best and that was good enough. Not perfect by far, just guts and heart and I will take that anyday. GO BRONCOS!!!!

  • November 16, 2008

    10:17 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    jvill writes:

    myshkin, thank you. i totally stopped and thought, "unmercilessly"? It's a word that sounds like a word, but isn't really a word.

  • November 16, 2008

    10:30 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    zippy66 writes:

    Irregardless, I could care less whether "unmercilessly" is a word.

  • November 16, 2008

    10:34 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    incognitoboy writes:

    just take off the 'un' or replace the 'less' with 'full' and you have it!

  • November 16, 2008

    11:18 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    myshkin writes:

    Sorry for the brainfreze fellas! Thought I was reading the post for a moment there!

  • November 17, 2008

    1:22 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Bcra4u writes:

    The boys looked good against the Falcons. I wish our defensive players would hold onto some of those would-be interceptions. oh and since we are learing our grammer...irregardless is a double negitive. Regardless is the correct word. I digress. GO BRONCOS!

  • November 17, 2008

    7:24 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    BroncoRick69 writes:

    The big thing here is the D held Michael Turner of all people to what was it 77 yards? Unbelievable. Go Broncos.

  • November 17, 2008

    7:44 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Hillandale writes:

    I'm gathering zippy knew about "irregardless" ;-) Anyway, it was somewhat nail-biting, but gratifying to see Bell make some good ball-control carries at the end. He was obviously wrapping up the ball, and taking a dive before risking the big hits. Good for him - and good to see us make the plays to close it out!

  • November 18, 2008

    10:16 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    droppindimes writes:

    are you kidding me?? the guy is talking "sports" and there are people out there giving him @%*^ about grammar lessons?? gimme a break!! (go ahead and tear "gimme" apart too!!) it's all in fun guys/gals!! how may times have you read an article someone has "created" a word to show emphasis?? i thought so.. anyway, my boys played a decent game!! here's to hoping we can keep it rollin' !! BTW: ROLLIN' isn't a word either!!