Until proven otherwise, Henry is the premier back, and therefore the starter. He gets the tough yards, and has decent speed to break of to a long one…

Henry demonstrated a “team first” attitude by restructuring. I do believe that Shanahan is behind him, and (barring injury or some other fluky event), Henry is the “starter.” Torain was brought in for insurance (in case Henry is injured; he does have a history of that), and because the RB position in the NFL is not exactly a long-term thing. Henry gets the majority of the carries for Denver this year, with Torain (if he’s healthy) gets occasional spell duty, just to see what he has.

Young is the change-of-pace back, and I’d guess he gets around 30-35% of the carries. Young’s speed is just an awesome compliment to Henry’s pounding, and recent trends in the NFL show that a platoon of RBs with different styles is about as effective (and probably cheaper) than one elite back (LdT, Larry Johnson, etc.) I know little to nothing about Alridge, so I’ll assume that he plays a bigger part in ST than in the run game…but if there is any place in the NFL where a RB can be assured of a fair chance based only on performance, Denver is it!

The other RBs: I think Andre Hall may be the odd man out. He’s not quite the elusive back that Young is, so it would seem that his best bet for making the team is as kick returner. But if Alridge or Royal (or someone else) fills that role better…I think Hall is out. Not that he’s a bad RB, but if he’s not the best at a certain role, he’s out. Mike Bell…I love his story and his heart. But I think this training camp is his last shot at the NFL. He’ll have to show the coaching staff that he can do something that the other backs cannot…and I do not think he does. I’m guessing that both Hall and Bell are off the team. And I’ll be the first to wish both of them the best of luck!

On to FB. Cecil Sapp had a bit of an endorsement from Shanahan, and would have to be the favorite to break camp as the FB. He’s done whatever the coaches have asked of him, including being an okay FB. He’s been with the team, he knows the system, and most of the other FBs have been cut. Cecil the Diesel is in. However, I think that Hillis gets some spot duty as FB (along with other varied positions.) Hillis will most likely see most of his playing time on STs this year, but I’d bet the coaches are going to experiment with his abilities, seeing just where he makes the most impact. He’s a jack-of-all-trades, but master of none, so expect the coaches to spend a good bit of time working on all facets of his game.

I’m excited. This is a talented and hard-working group of backs, and most bring something different to the table each game. I’d bet that I get no more than 75% of my predictions right…but I’ll still enjoy watching it all shake out.

Thanks again, HT!!!

I’m a sentimentalist and I empathized with him making the Broncos and fulfilling his dream of playing for his favorite team, but he caught on when the Broncos were thin at RB and I’m coloring him gone. I think the fumble hurt him badly and here’s why. If a player is trying to make the team as a rookie or is on the bubble as a veteran each shot on the field is his own private Super Bowl. It’s not just another play. He has to rise to the occasion, and in Shanny’s universe that means not fumbling, even if the play doesn’t gain an inch. I think in Shanahan’s mind he blew his big chance. It wasn’t just fumbling. It was fumbling on his first carry after having been consigned to oblivion, when not fumbling should have been paramount above all else. I feel for the kid, but he missed a chance at rdemption and in the Not For Long that’s often fatal.

The main thing is, we just have a lot of talent in the backfield right now, and with Shanahan’s surprising recent emphasis on having a true fullback it doesn’t leave much of a refuge for Bell. I’d be interested in your thinking on this, but I’m thinking that Shanahan wants a Howard Griffith plowing the road on short yardage situations. Once he decides to fix something he goes all out, and I think stabilizing the line and developing a true blocking fullback means he’s really serious about not struggling in short yardage situations this year. That’s the only way I can make sense of him not only drafting a fullback but considering making one of his defensive draftees into one. In Shanahan’s philosophy you control the ball with the run, you get the tough yards with the run, you put the game away with the run. It must have cut him to the quick that the Broncos weren’t really able to do that the last couple of years.

I don’t remember how many RBs we carried last year, but my thinking right now is Henry and Torain as the power backs, Young and Hall as the scatbacks, a stud blocker at fullback, and maybe a guy who can contribute as backup FB, ST, and maybe even LB. Right now the starting job is Henry’s to lose. He’s not just a battering ram. If he were a draftee we’d be extolling his combination of power and speed. I think a lot of people forget high fast he is in a straight line. He’s just not as shifty as Young, Hall, and Bell. As much as I like him I can’t see Bell cracking the lineup. I see him, Sapp, Larsen, Alridge and possibly Hall competing for the last roster spot. I think Alridge is competing with Young and Hall for two scatback positions, and Hillis, Sapp, Larsen and Bell for one, maybe two FB spots, in addition to Henry and Torain. A wild card consideration is that Alridge is also a kick returner, and will probably be one of the guys competing with Royal for that job.

I’m very curious about what you think Shanny has in mind and how you think the running back situation will sort itself out.

I’m very curious about what you think Shanny has in mind and how you think the running back situation will sort itself out.

To be honest, I think that both you and Disco_Stu have good thoughts on the positions. I have no idea how the position will sort out, and I was hoping to get the opinions of members. I feel much more comfortable with projections on the other side of the ball. Beyond Henry being the primary starter I only know that we have a lot of options, and some decent player is not going to make the cut.

in Bronco history I think. Here is my depth chart…

HB:
Travis Henry
Young
Hall
Torain Train(No rook starts out anywhere but at the bottom)

FB:
Sapp
Hillis

bubble: Bell and Aldrige

Here is my prediction:

Henry 1100 yards (misses 5 games injured, gone in 2009)
Torain 600 yards (mostly at the end of the season)
Young 250 yards (with some game breakers)

Hillis won’t play until the end of the season and then will be involved in goalline plays and will catch a TD as a tackle-eligible.

But… There has been a true competition for this position since 2000 and Shanahan will put the guy he is most comfortable with in the spot. Unfortunately I think Mike Bell lost something from training camp 2006 and I don’t see him making the squad either—- which means he will probably start.

I agree the Henry is a ‘class act’ for taking a cut in pay, but don’t foget the ‘class act’ that came to his defense. Shanny would not have gone out on a limb if he did not want him back…Henry will start.

Talking Selvin Young: I am in Seahwk-land, don’t have cable, and I work every other Sunday. I read more about the Broncos than I see. I can’t remember which game but I walked in the dealerships’ lobby (to see how Denver was doing) and watched this Selvin Young take the ball around the 15 or 20, make a couple re-direction moves, run towards the goal, look like out of bounds was the course, suddenley change directions, and plow-dive through two defenders into the end-zone. Young may be a niffty-move-back but he is also a heart-for-the endzone-back. (I apologize for the run-on sentences.)

Henry starts…Selvin is the change-up.

Torain, if his foot heels, might have been the best steal of this draft,but then came Alridge. Torain’s nickname may be train but it should be pile-driver. I have seen him hit a pile like a sledge-hammer and carry half the defense three yards. What a Red-Zone dream. As to Alridge ( and I know little about him) somewhere I read that he averaged 10.1 YPC one year (correct me if I’m wrong) and 10.1 yards a carry either has to be a misprint or he is even more special than Torain.

Who knows what goes though Shanny’s brilliant mind, but I’ll take a wild guess.

Henry starts and Selvin is the change-up.

Torain (if his foot is healthy) backs up Henry, but comes in at the start of the season on first and goal from the four or closer.

Mike must be giddy with happy happy with what he has…and Shanny is clever. Don’t be astonished if, very early in the season, you see Sapp, Henry, and Alridge in the backfield on first-down. Teams will look at that and say, “What”?!!

I may be an idiot, in fact I know I am. I should with any kind of wisdom stop here—but idiots walk through pastures without looking. I like the T formation. Back in the late 30’s or early 40’s, I don’t know the year, Chicago beat Washington 70’something to 0 using the T formation. I admit that defense was the probable cause…but I still like the T formation. I realize that times and defenses have changed and that what seems to be old is just that…old. But the ‘Statue of Liberty’ is old and how often do you see a hook and lateral (or ladder) play. I am a Boise State fan and still get warm fuzzies. Not only that (dramatic pause) the NFL hasn’t really seen it for years. I may be crazy…wait a minute I am crazy…but I think you will see T formation, from Shanny and the Broncos, sometime this season.
HT thankyou…I will take you up on the offer on days I am not working and Denver is playing.

hooper,: In this pass-happy new NFL, and thankyou for not calling me crazy…which I may be, the T formation has endless quick options that the Q-Back controls. I agree that it will not become a norm…and can’t. But with a good blocker, a very power back, and a very fast back (and keep in mind there is no rules as to how far apart they are) I think the T formation would have defenses wondering …’what’s up?’

Denver will keep six backs total and I think they will expect to get special teams contributions from two of them (I am thinking more coverage units than return teams). I’ll start with the fullbacks since that is a bit easier. Sapp will start with Hillis as his backup. I think that as the year progresses, Hillis will get more time and will be used as more than a traditional FB.

At tailback, Henry is still the guy until someone knocks him off the perch. Torain could start the season as a goal line back before becoming Henry’s backup, a job that Selvin Young will have to start the season. Young will get time all year long as the change of pace guy. Anthony Alridge is probably practice squad bound which would leave Mike Bell and Andre Hall fighting for the final spot (probably the better ST player will get the spot)

That is my “safe” version of what will happen. Going out on a limb, Torain’s foot will be an issue and he will end up on the Physically Unable to Perform list. Hillis will be used as the power back to replace Torain while Alridge earns his chops on ST ala TD and gets Torain’s spot on the roster (and eventually his role as the backup RB). Hall and Bell fight it out for the last spot. When Torain comes off of PUP, he will take that last spot.

I just read that the Broncos are thinking of bringing in Dominic Rhodes and Shaun Alexander in for visits. I dont know how i feel about either of these guys. I really think Shaun is way passed his prime, as for Rhodes he is a change of pace type back but much more durable than Selvin Young. Honestly if we were going to get a back from the Raiders i think i would rather wait till Lamont Jordan gets cut. He at least brings a power running style that Young or Hall could come in and change up the pace on a defense. What are your guys’ thoughts on this?

Great thoughts man! I really see denver having a strong rotation going this year at RB. I was one of the fans who wanted Stewart or Mendenhall in the draft, but all along i knew LT was the smart pick, so i hope we dont get another George Foster situation. But i really would not mind seeing Rhodes come in, Im starting to think that Shanny doesnt have much faith in Selvin staying healthy or carrying even somewhat of a big load.