Broncos’ Moreno Needs To Pick Up Pace

This off season was a different one for Knowshon Moreno. Instead of battling through injuries and spending his time rehabbing, Moreno was able to work out with the hope of improving his speed, strength, and endurance.

Moreno showed up to training camp 14 lbs. lighter and looking like a lean mean running machine.

In 2010, Moreno played in 13 games and averaged nearly 60 rushing yards per game. However, that’s not the kind of production that the Broncos had hoped to get out of him when he was the team’s No. 12 overall draft pick in 2009.

This season, Moreno has missed two games due to a hamstring injury. He’s only carried the ball 10 times, but for good reason. He’s averaging just 2.6 yards per carry. The Broncos have used him more as a receiving back, preferring to use Willis McGahee as their primary back. Moreno has 6 catches for 82 yards on the season.

Over the summer, Moreno decided to change up his workout and use CrossFit with the hopes of preventing more injuries which in the past had slowed his development.

Here’s a video detailing Moreno’s workout:

While there’s no doubt that CrossFit would whip anyone into tremendous shape, it makes you wonder if it did anything to improve Moreno’s game.

Moreno has yet to show why he should have been the Broncos No. 12 draft pick. He’s now considered a secondary back since McGahee is averaging 76.8 yards per game and has over 100 yards rushing in his last two games.

The Broncos have the offensive line now. Their zone blocking has worked for McGahee, but why can’t Moreno get anything going? He’s still timid, dancing around in the backfield, and waiting too long to make his move upfield.

The concern here is the number of carries that 30-year-old McGahee is getting in John Fox’s run heavy offense. With 85 total carries through 5 games, he’s ranked 7th in carries. An injury to McGahee at this point would kill the Broncos improving run game. Moreno simply cannot carry the entire load.

As the Broncos attempt to pick up the second half of their season, Moreno needs to pick up his production. A duel back system is the only way to win games in the NFL.

With McGahee’s arrival, Moreno now has a different role. He’s a receiving back out of the backfield and a change of pace runner.

Now is the time for him to change the pace of his NFL career as well.

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