Welcome back for another edition of Virtual Broncos.  This time the ball carriers of the league stand front and center.  Sportsgamer recently released the running back ratings for the 2009 edition of Madden.  Guess what?  The Denver Broncos recently released Travis Henry!

While Henry is currently on the list under the Bronco name, that will all change come release day.  This list does not leave Bronco fans depressed, however, as the back-ups do make an appearance.  Madden fans can get their first look at Selvin Young as the starter before...well, before he's even the starter.

Selvin Young has recently made a lot of fuss about being 'the guy' in Denver.  He must've known something Denver fans didn't, as his team cut ties with Travis Henry two days after a confident Young spoke to the Post's Jim Armstrong.

"I feel totally different," Young said. "I feel like more of a, if I can use the word, beast. I feel I can do a lot more than last year. Now I know I can do it. It's not, 'Wow, I really did it.' I knew I could do it before. Now I expect to do it."

The undrafted running back out of Texas presently competes in a division of "beasts."  While he may seem confident, and coach Shanahan may feel confident, Young still has something to prove.  After amassing 729 rushing yards in his first season, Young faces added competition each day: competition from a rookie rated two overall points ahead of him in madden.

That's right, Run DMC has entered the picture and now adds to a division already including LaDainian Tomlinson and Larry Johnson.  Ouch.  Broncos owners in online leagues have already gotten familiar with the latter two, but now wince at the latest addition to the running machine.  Can Selvin, a player whose contract signing went virtually unnoticed by the rest of the world, stack up against the latest and established threats of the AFC West?

He'll have to make an impression during the season to increase his ratings and prestige in the national spotlight, because right now, Selvin's living life down below.

via www.sportsgamer.com

Woah.  That's a lot of running backs!  However, the ones that matter are the ones the Broncos are going to play the most, and the ones madden owners are going to face the most in franchise mode.

To tell you the truth, neither Travis Henry enticed me: the one in real life OR the one in the virtual world.  One had too many troubles with injuries and the other wasn't fast enough to break a touchdown run after splitting the seams and entering the open field.  Henry's 87 overall rating, now simply a figment of our imagination in a Bronco uniform, would have ranked third of AFC West running backs.  Darn.  It looked like he was getting some speed this year.

Now to the opponents.  First of all, I have no problem with LT's high marks.  The guy's electric.  His lowest rating is an eighty-seven!   Some backs can barely say that for their highest mark!  Try picturing a player with 99 speed and a 92 truck rating.  Oh wait, that's LT.   In a world of constantly improving rushers, LaDainian Tomlinson is a nightmare.  Just as I must attempt the feat each year in Madden, the Broncos must stop LT in order to win this season, or at least contain the San Diego speedster.

Another back who is almost unfair is Larry Johnson, with his combination of size and speed.  Unless you’re Champ Bailey, once this guy trucks a defender in the open field, you’re not catching up to him.  However, injuries are catching up to the pounding back from Penn State.  Nevertheless, the 97 rated truck move and the 90 plus speed that sometimes follows is only eclipsed by LT in the West.  If he's able to beat out injuries again, I see LJ as my Steve McNair of running backs.

Non-Raider fans won't be happy with the high props given to D-Mac.  One other person who won't be all too happy with the ratings either, if he plays Madden, is Justin Fargas.  Those rookies seem to be getting the benefit of the doubt everywhere they go.  Such is life in overrated, top draft pick running back land.  Don't get me wrong, Run DMC may terrorize opposing defenses next season, but to provide him with that much weaponry from the get go?  Scary thoughts involving facing the virtual Raiders' rush attack have crept into my head.

It seems that McFadden has problems with his vision and with catching the football.  Now go run that one by the Broncos' defensive staff before they get a better look at Oakland's latest addition.  From his 99 rated acceleration onward, the kid's golden.  Peterson may have deserved the high marks he got last season, but Darren McFadden received even higher specific ratings from the madden team.  Here's a comparison between Peterson's ORIGINAL ratings pre-2007 season and Run DMC's marks.  You'll notice Peterson and McFadden share the same rating overall, but the further breakdown of the ratings is listed with the ones in bold superior:

* - Madden 2008 Original Rookie Rating (obtained from sportsgamer)

Well folks, we've reached the bottom of the barrel.  That's right, Selvin Young ranks last among the featured backs in the West (and no I did not count Kolby Smith and Darren Sproles silly).  

How does Selvin Young stack up?  Surely, he’s better than a rookie.  While some may have a problem with his rating, others feel he’s right where he belongs: last.  Young was never considered an every-down back in the NFL, and McFadden is a highly touted rookie.  Those in the "show me" camp in terms of Selvin Young starting are glad Young has to prove himself.  However, Young has tacked on a few pounds and wants to compete with and measure up against the rest of the backs in his division.  Then again, it’s only the off-season.

The defensive minded among us will point out the number of talented running backs in the 2008 version of the AFC West division and the need for defensive help against the run.  However, the Broncos want to have the same rushing success those teams will have against opponents.  Selvin Young could very well be that first step.

It looks like Young's weaknesses lie in the vision, stiff arm, and catching areas.  Agree?  Disagree?  Whatever the case, it looks like the man's got some work to do this off-season.  Whoever starts at tailback next season, Selvin included, should make it their personal mission to beat out opposing backs in the West after a few roster updates.

One thing's  for sure, with an average rated speed of 94.4, the AFC West is going to be one lightning bolt of a division.

More Notes:

After Tomlinson, Steven Jackson and Brian Westbrook have number two ranked, 97 ratings.  Then comes Adrian Peterson at 95, followed by Fred Taylor and Larry Johnson with 94 ratings.  I’m glad Westbrook continues to get some well-deserved respect.  The AFC West also boasts two backs in the top five.

Our old friend Tatum Bell, who I vividly remember speeding down the field with in years past, apparently hasn’t been able to keep his fumblitis much of a secret.  Bell’s carrying stands at seventy-five.

While Cedric Benson was off boating and speeding, the Bears picked up a rookie competitor in the draft.  Say hello to Matt Forte and his 80 overall rating Cedric.  Some guys here at MHR liked Forte coming out of college, but you’re not going to like his better speed ratings.

I will leave you with the rookies and "all-timers":

via www.sportsgamer.com

via www.sportsgamer.com