But the bottom line is that serviceable RBs in the NFL are a dime a dozen. Barring the crazy injuries, I think our running game would have been fine this year, and we didn’t have any superstar players. With our solid line in place, I don’t see ANY reason to use a 1st round pick on a RB when the defense needs so much attention.

I’m so used to discussing baseball when it comes to statistics and player evaluation, I wish we had the concept of replacement level and average in the NFL. Replacement level being the guy you can pick off the metaphorical street who will cost you league minimum, and average being the average across the league (slightly above replacement level, but not superstar). I don’t think we need a superstar RB, average will do fine. And in the NFL my gut tells me the gap between replacement level and average at RB is far smaller than other positions, like QB or WR, or even OL.

When people like myself wanted to take a go at Mendenhall or Chris Johnson…or even Tashard Choice in the third to later rounds. The Broncos have done well in the past with average, serviceable RBs (and it would also help for the backs not to fall like a bunch of bowling pins). I don’t know if it’s that realistic at this point. Trust me, running the ball is certainly important, but defense is going to probably come first in Colorado this off-season. I wanted that flashy, intriguing top running back last year too, but sometimes a team goes for needs more often than ‘best available.’ That’s the age-old argument.

Instead of trading down and taking one of those big running backs, the Broncos made the smart pick and took Ryan Clady out of Boise State based on need…and that certainly panned out quite nicely this season. Trust me, I’m with you on the need for a big time RB (CLINTON! haha…Plus, I LOVED TD), however I don’t know if that’s the most realistic option this off-season. Denver can still do well with the ‘average’ as appleshampoo said in the comment above, and has proven so in the past. Getting a guy like Knowshon may be as wishful thinking as hoping Cowher would come coach in Denver. Heck, because I like the guy I’m hoping C.J. Spiller out of Clemson gets a look. However, I’m willing to throw it to the guys who know what they’re doing and I have some confidence that a healthy one-two punch can be found in the Denver running game (in addition to Hillis that is). Hopefully. I was all for Clady last season and I’m all for the smart pick this year…whatever that turns out to be.

When you can score rushing TD’s your effeciency goes up and the percentage of ill advised passes into triple coverage goes down.

I like Moreno, but I still think you can get a good back in the latter rounds and paying a RB 1st round money for someone that may or may not last 4 years is a waste. Look at Matt Forte (late round pick), Willie Parker (late round pick) Bradon Jacobs and Derrick Ward (late round picks) and our own successes in that area. So I am not opposed to getting a RB in the draft, just not with the 1st three picks, there will be good guys that slip, look for guys like Jerimih Johnson out of Oregon to slip (Had a great year last year, good year this year but was banged up some, he will get overlooked).

tell me: how many sacks does he have?
how many interceptions/pass defenses?
how many solo tackles?

While I believe in pounding the ball as much as anyone, our needs on defense are far too great to spend high draft picks on offense, to use up any more cap space on offense, or to send the wrong signals to the defense.

Our needs next year are defense, defense, defense and maybe some more defense.

If he doesn’t make sacks, get picks, or make tackles, he doesn’t fill our most pressing needs, regardless of how good a RB he might be.

BTW: the NFL is littered with “can’t miss” RBs who turned out to be draft busts: Cedric Benson anyone? How about KiJana Carter?

That running the ball, especially the ability to pick up short yardage, is critical to winning. But I contend that history is against your argument. Yes many Super Bowl victors have had great running backs: Denver with TD, Dalas w/ Smith, etc. But, who was Pittsburg’s “franchise runner” in 2005? Who was NE’s in 2001, Tampa’s in 2002, SF’s in 1995? Many teams have also won WITHOUT franchise backs.

Now, how many teams have ever won the Super Bowl with a solid defense, not necessarily a great, but a solid defense (actually I can’t think of a single team that has won without a good defense)?

You mention the Broncos, but the 1997 Broncos defense held KC to 10 points. Without a stiff defense even TD couldn’t have won that game. I could argue that it was two defensive take-aways that won the championship against Pittsburg (most Steelers fans consider them two give-aways). Even in the SB, while TD was pivotal, it was a fumble caused by a blitzing Atwater that put the Broncos in front.

You mention Indy. In fact Indie had a great RB, James, before they got Addai. And it was Rhodes, not Addai who did most of the damage in the SB. But what put Indie over the top was the improvement of their defense when Sanders returned from injury.

Yes, the saying in baseball is, “pitching beats hitting.” There’s also a saying in football, “Offense wins games but defense wins championships!”