Denver Broncos Position Preview 2018: Running Back Rotation a Top Camp Sub-Plot by Ryan O’Halloran Denver Post July 19, 2018
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Denver Broncos position preview 2018: Running back rotation a top camp sub-plot By Ryan O’Halloran Denver Post July 19, 2018 Each season from 2012-16, two Broncos running backs had at least 100 carries. Coach Vance Joseph wants a return to that divided workload. “We want two or three guys to be our main core backs,” Joseph said during minicamp last month. But which two or three guys? The Broncos have five tailbacks — Devontae Booker, De’Angelo Henderson, Royce Freeman, David Williams and Phillip Lindsay — likely competing for four spots. Andy Janovich is the only fullback on the roster. Teams have differing philosophies at the tailback position: Workhorse or by committee. Last year, 16 teams had a player with at least 200 carries, including seven playoff clubs. C.J. Anderson led the Broncos with 245 attempts, but is now in Carolina following his release. Sixteen teams — half the league — had two backs with at least 100 carries. “Every place is unique and different,” new Broncos running backs coach Curtis Modkins said. “The bottom line in this league is, you need (two) or three guys with diverse skills to get you through a season.” Joseph said “somebody’s got to be the starter,” which means the first snap of the game and nothing more. At the start of camp, that figures to be Booker, who has the experience edge (29 games) over his competition. But there is a reason why the Broncos used a third- (Freeman) and seventh-round (Williams) draft pick and signed Lindsay after the draft: Booker’s per-carry average of 3.6 yards is 27th out of the 29 backs in 2016-17 who had at least 250 carries (Booker had 253). “He’s got to come out and work and earn the right to be the (first) guy,” Joseph said. “He understands that with C.J. gone, it’s a wide open race. He’s a good football player, but we want more from him, obviously.” Henderson was a sixth-round pick last year and played only 20 snaps (seven rushes). His roster spot is far from secure. Freeman is the most likely challenger to supplant Booker, or at the very least, be the top reserve. He scored 60 rushing touchdowns at Oregon and caught 79 passes so he is not totally foreign to playing an all-around game. But the Broncos have only seen him on their practice field in non-contact drills. “It’s hard to evaluate a running back without pads, but you can see his cutting ability,” Joseph said. “You can see the vision he has when he’s carrying the football. He also catches the ball well.” Williams and Lindsay could be fighting for one roster spot and it may depend on what type of player the Broncos prefer. If they want the bigger, more prototypical back, Williams (229 pounds) would be the favorite. If they want the change-of-pace back, Lindsay (190 pounds) could emerge. Williams averaged 4.8 yards per carry in 42 games for South Carolina (three years) and Arkansas (one year). Lindsay had 117 catches in college and after watching him dart around the field in offseason practices, it’s not difficult to envision him having a package of plays. As much as the Broncos will say they have time to make a decision, that is hardly the case. Once the pads go on, it will be a race to determine roles, ideally, by the third preseason game. “We have a lot of running backs and they all can do similar things,” Booker said. “We’re just looking forward to seeing what we all can do.” Denver Broncos running backs No. Player Age Year Ht./Wt. College 2 Phillip Lindsay 23 R 5-8/190 Colorado 2017 team: Colorado Signed through 2020 Cap number: $485,000 Aurora native had 765 carries and 117 catches in CU career. Intriguing change-of-pace back. 23 Devontae Booker 26 3rd 5-11/212 Utah 2017 team: Broncos Signed through 2019 Cap number: $725,848 Former fourth-round pick will get chance to be Week 1 starter. Has averaged only 3.6 yards per carry. 32 Andy Janovich 25 3rd 6-1/238 Nebraska 2017 team: Broncos Signed through 2020 Cap number: $671,077 Only fullback on the roster. Ten carries (two TDs) in 27 career games (nine starts). 33 De’Angelo Henderson 25 2nd 5-7/208 Coastal Carolina 2017 team: Broncos Signed through 2020 Cap number: $591,291 Carried seven times in five games as a rookie. Will be challenged to remain on the roster. 36 David Williams 24 R 6-1/229 Arkansas 2017 team: Arkansas Signed through 2021 Cap number: $503,495 Started career at South Carolina before playing senior season at Arkansas. Scored 15 TDs in 42 games. 37 Royce Freeman 22 R 6-0/238 Oregon 2017 team: Oregon Signed through 2021 Cap number: $480,000 Ultra-productive in college (three years of at least 1,300 yards). Could emerge as Week 1 starter. Broncos Training Camp Preview: Demaryius, Emmanuel and the receivers By Mike Klis 9 News July 19, 2018 In retooling his roster from last season’s 5-11 disaster, John Elway wanted to give the core of his Super Bowl 50 team one more chance. Give that 2015 nucleus a playoff-caliber quarterback, Elway’s thinking went, and the Broncos will be all right in 2018. No two players embodied Elway’s loyalty to the SB50 core than Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders. The local media may have speculated after last season that one of those two receivers would not return this year (cough! cough!). All Thomas and Sanders need to know is Elway believed in them. “Communicating with you, I thought I was going to be gone,'' Sanders said in May. "But at the end of the day, I’m happy to be back. I’m ready to work and I’ve been working. I’m excited about this year, new quarterback. We have a system that now we can work the entire offseason on. Things are looking good.” And not only does Elway believe Thomas and Sanders can still play at an elite level, he’s willing to pay the Broncos’ receiver duo a combined $20.75 million this season to prove it. It should be noted there is a tentative expiration date to Elway’s trust. In the draft, he selected receivers Courtland Sutton with the No. 40 pick in the second round and DaeSean Hamilton midway through the fourth. With Broncos rookies holding their own training camp practice in five days (Wednesday) and the first, full- squad workout in nine days (next Saturday), 9NEWS continues its daily positional preview today with a look at the receivers. Overview: Thomas and Sanders were Pro Bowlers as recently as 2016, but both suffered production declines last year. Thomas failed to record 90 catches and 1,000 yards for the first time since 2011. Sanders, who battled an ankle injury much of last season, also saw his receiving stats reach 2011 levels. Blame for these statistical slumps has been pointed at last year’s quarterback trio of Trevor Siemian, Brock Osweiler and Paxton Lynch. Now that the Broncos have signed Case Keenum to direct the offense, we’ll see if that’s true. Behind Thomas, who is 30, and Sanders, 31, is an infusion of youth. Sutton will play with hopes he will quickly emerge as the No. 3 receiver. Hamilton also got plenty of first-team reps during the offseason. Tiny-but-fast Isaiah McKenzie, who struggled as a rookie, will get a chance in year two to become the slot receiver. Second-year receiver Carlos Henderson, a third-round draft pick last year, spent his entire rookie season on injured reserve following thumb surgery and did not have a good offseason. Strength: If all goes well, this group has an exciting mix of decorated veterans in Thomas and Sanders, and promising rookies in Sutton and Hamilton. Question mark: There are many, starting with whether Thomas and Sanders can rebound now that Keenum is their quarterback. Sutton and Hamilton are confronting the challenge that rookie receivers almost always struggle. Just ask McKenzie and Henderson. Perhaps, the biggest question mark is the health of Jordan Taylor after the fourth-year pro underwent offseason surgeries on both hips. Everybody loves “Sunshine.” His friendly disposition; long, blond locks; long, lean frame; enormous catching radius and hustling play has made him a fan favorite. Although he’s not a burner, Taylor rescued the Broncos’ punt return team last year by replacing the muff-prone McKenzie. But the hip surgeries forced Taylor to sit out the offseason and he won’t be ready for the start of training camp. It may be wise for the Broncos to place him on an injury list for the start of the season with hopes he can contribute in the second half. Pro Bowl material: Thomas (5) and Sanders (2) have combined for seven Pro Bowl appearances. Sleeper: Tim Patrick. As an undrafted rookie out of Utah last year, he was cut by the Ravens, 49ers and Broncos. But he has an impressive 6-foot-5, 210-pound frame and he had a nice offseason. The Broncos’ coaching staff likes him. Dolphins say 'all options still open' regarding potential anthem discipline By ESPN News Services ESPN July 19, 2018 Miami Dolphins players who protest on the field during the national anthem reportedly could be suspended for up to four games under a team policy issued this week.