Xavier Omon during OTA's at the Broncos training facility. (Ron Chenoy-US PRESSWIRE)

There are some parallels between the Broncos greatest running back of all time, and a guy who is simply scratching just to make the 2012 Broncos 53-man roster.

Running back Xavier Omon crashed onto the radar screen Thursday when he had 7 carries for 36 yards and 1 touchdown.

“I’m not used to all these cameras in front of my face, but it’s been good,” Omon said following Tuesday’s practice. “I’m having fun. I’m just trying to enjoy the ride.”

Terrell Davis was in a similar place in 1995 when he was taken in the 6th round (196th overall) of the draft out of Long Beach State. The rest, as they say, is history. Davis went on to make the Pro Bowl three times, he won two Super Bowls, he was the league’s MVP and the Super Bowl MVP in 1998, and he is the Broncos all-time leader in rushing yards with 7,607 yards during his eight year career.

“Terrell Davis, I have the most respect for him,” Omon said. “He used to be my favorite running back when I was younger. Until I got older, I didn’t realize what he had to go through…He didn’t come out here and just get the starting job…I’m definitely trying to follow in his footsteps and hopefully it all works out for me.”

Davis didn’t see much playing time in training camp during his rookie year until he made a big play on special teams during the Broncos second preseason game. He was a long-shot to make the roster.

That’s where Omon’s story comes in. Like Davis, Omon was selected in the sixth round (179th overall) of the draft in 2008 out of Northwest Missouri State. He had 1,575 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns his freshman year of college, and he finished with over 7,000 yards during his collegiate career.

He played his first two seasons in the NFL with the Buffalo Bills and he’s spent time on the practice squad with the Broncos, Browns, 49ers, and Jets. His practice squad days are over, however.

The Broncos already have some established runners on the roster with Willis McGahee, Lance Ball, and Knowshon Moreno. Ronnie Hillman was the team’s third-round pick in this year’s draft, and Jeremiah Johnson sits a notch higher than Omon on the depth chart.  That puts Omon at No. 6 in line.

“When you look around, that’s when you start missing out on your opportunities,” Omon said of the backs that are already there. “I just do what I can, work as hard as I can, come prepared everyday, and give it my best.”

Some more performances like the one he had Thursday will certainly slingshot him up the depth chart. He’s already becoming a fan favorite and after leading the team in rushing the other night, he can become a coach’s favorite as well.

“Everybody thinks that this is just a passing offense because of Peyton, but Peyton needs a running back just as much as any other quarterback does,” Omon stated.

Omon is just trying to be that back.

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Aug 9, 2012; Chicago, IL, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) under center against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. (Credit: Matthew Emmons-US PRESSWIRE)

If you found yourself researching a running back named Xavier Omon after the Denver Broncos preseason game against the Bears last week, you were not alone. There was no shortage of stars during the Broncos 31-3 demolition of Chicago, but several players stood out and made names for themselves. Omon carried the ball 7 times for 36 yards and a touchdown. He finished with an average of 5.1 yards-per-carry and caught one ball out of the backfield. He ran with the authority and toughness that NFL fans love to see and it will be interesting to find out if he can keep it up when he plays against some better competition.

The running back battle was one of the deepest and most competitive camp battles going in Denver, and that was before we were forced to take notice of Omon. The Broncos will most likely carry 4 or 5 running backs depending on how things shake out. With Willis McGahee and Ronnie Hillman locks to make the final roster, and Chris Gronkowski the likely starting fullback, there are possibly 2 roster spots available for other running backs. Lance Ball, Knowshon Moreno, Jeremiah Johnson, and Omon have all shown that they have their sights set on one of those spots, and it’s going to be the camp battle to watch the rest of the way.

Here are some other observations from the Broncos first preseason game of 2012:

• Denver’s electrifying performance did nothing to temper the excitement of fans in Broncos Country. It’s easy to overstate things after a single preseason game, but Denver came to play across the board and looks like a team with the talent to make some serious noise in 2012.
• A lot of draft day doubters feel much better today after watching Derek Wolfe completely destroy the Bears’ offensive front. He finished with 3 solo tackles, 2 sacks, and 1 tackle for loss in his Denver debut. If he can play with that kind of presence consistently the defense will be in great shape going forward.
• Peyton Manning’s only series of the game had some mixed results, but that should have been expected considering it was his first real game action in a year and a half. He ended up going 4/7 for 44-yards passing and an interception on the goal line after a deflection. Despite the ending, the first drive of the game was beautiful. 5:39 came off the clock in 11 plays and it went for 50 yards. The highlight of the drive was a 19-yard completion to Eric Decker for a first down conversion on 3rd-and-17. Manning still has some rust to shake off, but it looks like the Denver offense is going to be a lot of fun to watch with Manning at the helm.
• All four quarterbacks showed some flashes against Chicago. Brock Osweiler and Adam Weber both threw for a score and Caleb Hanie made some nice throws after a rough couple of series. Hanie is getting the reps with the second team for now, but it would surprise me if Osweiler doesn’t move into that position soon.
• The defense as a whole played with tenacity and tackled very well, and it looks like Jack Del Rio has already made an impact. Some youngsters like Mike Mohamed and Nate Irving made some nice plays in space and will get some praise in the film room.
• Tight end Cornelius Ingram is another lesser known player who turned some heads last week. He caught two passes for 45 yards including a 25-yard touchdown reception from Weber. The tight end position is another one with a logjam of players, but Ingram could sneak in there and take a roster spot. Keep an eye on him.
• One of the most underrated things coming out of the Bears game was that the Broncos escaped relatively injury free. The preseason is always a nerve-racking time in regards to injuries, and the injury bug has already seriously bitten some other teams around the league. Hopefully this will be a trend for Denver during the preseason.
• The first preseason game at home will be against the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday, August 18th. I’m sure the atmosphere at Mile High will be electric and Broncos Country will be soaking up every moment. Hit me up on Twitter so we can break it down in real time. Go Broncos!

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Peyton Manning drops back to pass against the Chicago Bears in the first quarter at Soldier Field. (Mike DiNovo-US PRESSWIRE)

If you watched the Denver Broncos first preseason game against the Chicago Bears you had to walk away with a smile on your face, that is if you’re a Broncos fan.

The Broncos beat the Bears 31-3, showing that the team has depth, toughness, and the will to win. It didn’t matter that this was a meaningless game from a standings perspective. All of the guys that stepped onto the soggy turf at Solider Field played exceptionally hard. That’s how you get a 31-3 score in preseason play.

Let’s break it down:

- Believe it or not, Peyton Manning was the only QB not to lead the Broncos on a scoring drive. Manning led just one drive that ultimately ended when a pass intended for Brandon Stokley was tipped by D.J. Moore and intercepted by Major Wright. Before that, Manning looked comfortable back out on the field and went 4-for-7 for 44 yards. Even though the drive kept the goose egg on the scoreboard, you couldn’t help but get excited about the way he was leading the offense down the field. That 19-yard completion to Eric Decker on 3rd and 17 would not have happened last year, at least not in the first three quarters.

- Derek Wolfe is an animal. He’s this season’s Von Miller; ready to produce and hungry for quarterbacks. Wolfe had 2 sacks for a loss of 8 yards. Well worth picking him up with the first draft pick.

- We know what Willis McGahee can do, so we thought we would be watching Knowshon Moreno and Lance Ball battle for the backup role (Ronnie Hillman didn’t play). However, it was Xavier Omon who was the surprise spark out of the backfield.

“He’s got a good quick step to make guys miss,” John Fox said after the game.

Omon finished with 7 carries for 36 yards and a touchdown. He showed that he’s a back with good vision and good feet for a guy his size. A few big plays on special teams and this guy will easily make the regular season roster.

- Everyone wanted to see the big guy in action. Brock Osweiler got his time in the second half and made the most of it. He looked more steady than No. 2 QB Caleb Hanie as he went 4-for-7 for 38 yards and a touchdown.

“He’s coming along,” Fox said of Osweiler. “I think he grew up some tonight.”

- Yes, Jay Cutler didn’t play and the Bears’ first string offense wasn’t out there, but this Broncos defense was excellent from top to bottom.

- Whenever you win this big and escape with just minor injuries, it’s a major win. Danny Trevathan (sprained ankle), Chris Gronkowski and Chris Clark (Groin strains) were the ones in the training room after the game. Much better than Chargers’ RB Ryan Mathews suffering a fractured clavicle and requiring surgery.

- This was the most lopsided win for the Broncos in team history. If this game is any indiction of what’s to come, then we’re all in for a special treat, and perhaps a trip to New Orleans in February.

Go Broncos!

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