The rush is on in Denver

July 26, 2008   ·   Paul Raymond   ·   Jump to comments

The Denver Broncos have opened training camp with an all out battle on their hands for the running back position. Initially it was believed that Selvin Young had the starting role locked up and the real battle was for his back-up. Well, like I said once before the plans could change at a moments notice. It looks like that is the case, as the backfield was informed that there is a battle for the job.

“The thing that you want is to have a successful running game,” coach Mike Shanahan said. “I don’t care if it’s by committee or one guy who takes the opportunity to be the guy. The main thing I’d like to do is average over 5 yards per carry. We’ve had some backs here that have averaged over 5 yards per carry. If we can do that by committee, great. If one guy takes the opportunity and wants to get it done and can stay healthy, that’s great as well.”

Denver is going to use a rotation during camp to see who works best with each unit. During Friday’s practice Young held down the top spot, followed by Andre Hall, Michael Pittman, Ryan Torain and Anthony Alridge. Performance in practice will dictate rotation changes, so it won’t be a daily change. Running backs coach Bobby Turner is welcoming the competition and has said he won’t change his style of coaching. This means he’ll do the right thing and coach all the players as if they were the starter.

The one concern this rotation could bring up is the attitude of Selving Young. Almost everyone believed Young would be the without a doubt starter this season, so you have to wonder is he going to take this decision the wrong way. Surprisingly the youngster has taken it in stride and welcomes the challenge.

“I was thinking about that (Thursday). And I have the same exact feeling I had last year. No one’s told me, ‘Hey Selvin, you’re the guy that’s going to be taking snaps against Oakland,’ ” Young said, referring to the Sept. 8 regular-season opener. “I still feel like I’m the guy that they’re going to tell that to. But once you go to work every day, it doesn’t matter if it’s Year 1, Year 2 or Year 3, you try to keep the same mind-set. I’m still a rookie in one sense. I haven’t done anything well enough to prove anything to anybody. I’ve still got proving to be done. So my mind-set hasn’t changed one bit.”

Others on the team such as Michael Pittman are very excited about the opportunity. “It’s definitely motivating,” said Pittman, “Right now, Selvin’s slotted No. 1 and he should be. . . . But when coach comes in and says, ‘Don’t worry about the depth chart that comes out, we’re going to play the best guy on the football field,’ you know the job’s open and if you go out and perform, you’ll play.”

Andre Hall has been in this situation before back with the Chicago Bears. That year things didn’t turn out to well for him but here he believes otherwise.

“When I was in Chicago, they said the job was open and all that and truthfully I don’t think the best man got it,” Hall said. “But here, I think the best man will get it, just like last year.”

This battle is going to bring nothing but positives for a team that can use them. A competition like this will make sure every back is fresh and also fully abreast of the playbook and what is expected of them. The running game is going to be very important for a team that’s not sure what is going on with their star wide receiver, Brandon Marshall.

I still believe Young is going to be the Broncos Week 1 starter, but anyone who watches football knows the Broncos running game is plug and play. It always feels as if an unknown comes in, gets his chance and then runs away with the job. You’ve had Tatum Bell, Quentin Griffin, Mike Bell and even Young all performed well when no one expected much from them. With that in mind don’t be surprised if you see Torain or Alridge starting at some point.

The Broncos have a chance to be either a really exciting team or a complete dud. What better way to find out which by attending a game at Invesco Field this year.

Here is a much more in depth article by the Rocky Mountain News. Photo courtesy of ESPN.

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