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Broncos can get running game back on track vs. Browns

By Sayre Bedinger

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The Denver Broncos have no running game to speak of offensively. It’s getting so bad, I’ve starting conjuring up some trade ideas that this team could take a look at before this season’s deadline.

Something needs to change.

Lucky for the Broncos, this weekend’s matchup against the Cleveland Browns should afford them that opportunity. The Browns are the NFL’s worst run defense according to Pro Football Focus, and they have the 31st ranked run defense in yards allowed this season.

In week 1, Chris Ivory and Bilal Powell combined for over 150 yards. Week 2, Dexter McCluster and Bishop Sankey combined for 140. Week 3, it was Oakland’s Latavius Murray who ran for 139 yards and a touchdown. This past week, it was Justin Forsett of the Ravens getting his game back on track against the Browns, rushing for 121 yards and a touchdown while rookie Javorious Allen added 58 yards.

Needless to say, these guys are getting gashed on the ground, and the bleeding shows no signs of stopping.

On the flip side, the Browns are probably thinking their run defense is going to get a much needed shot of confidence going up against one of the worst running games in the NFL. The Broncos have been anemic when it comes to running the football, almost not even trying.

For a frame of reference, Ronnie Hillman’s 72 yard touchdown run against the Vikings represents nearly 20 percent of the team’s rushing yards this season.

Yuck.

For all the talk of how great Gary Kubiak’s offense would be in fitting these backs with a zone blocking scheme, it’s been an absolute uphill battle for these guys to get absolutely anything going. Neither C.J. Anderson or Ronnie Hillman are finding open running lanes, and neither are showing the patience or burst necessary to succeed in this offense as of right now.

Though Hillman had his one big run, for the most part the Broncos have been significantly limited and some people want to see Juwan Thompson get a longer look, but he’s been injured and is battling that at the moment.

Going up against the Browns, who are giving up around 150 yards per game on the ground, should provide the Broncos the kind of spark they need on the offensive side of the ball to get something going, even to force the running game a little bit if they have to.

It’s been non-existent to this point, so force-feeding it is almost a necessity.

With virtually nothing working offensively, the Broncos will look to start anew against one of the league’s worst defenses so far this year. Let’s hope it works.

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