Denver Broncos running back C.J. Anderson knows he’s going to have to work hard in a group full of talented running backs to earn his carries in the Broncos’ new offense, even though he was a Pro Bowl player. He’s keeping a level head on his shoulders.
“Take care of business, that’s what they say. Nothing’s handed to you. I know I’ve got to go out there and work hard every day, bring my lunch pail every day.”
Anderson stood before the media on Monday afternoon and talked about the Broncos’ offseason program, getting back into football, and how he’s preparing now coming off of a Pro Bowl season as opposed to last year at this time when he was potentially fighting for even a roster spot with the Broncos.
Despite what’s been said even by Gary Kubiak about him preparing to be the starting running back, Anderson isn’t going to let anyone take his job because he’s not working as hard as he possibly can.
“It’s just up to me to take care of business and let everything play out itself.”
One thing that everyone loves about C.J. Anderson is that he wasn’t just an unheralded free agent coming out of Cal his rookie year, he plays like it. Emmanuel Sanders talked earlier this offseason that Anderson was walking through the facilities with a bit more pep in his step, a confidence he didn’t otherwise have last year.
Anderson came in out of virtually nowhere to lead the Broncos in rushing, and to establish himself as a featured back. And the fans fell in love.
He says that getting more reps in the offense last year has given him some motivation this offseason, but it’s not being picked in the draft that still drives him today.
“That (reps last year) and being undrafted. That always helped play with a chip on my shoulder. The more reps you get, the more confident you get. The fact that I was undrafted and there were a lot (21) of backs picked before me will always feed my hunger.”
Though Anderson isn’t taking anything for granted, he’s a lot more comfortable this year, even though the new offense being installed has everyone furiously studying and preparing this offseason, trying to get on the same page before the lights come on.
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Anderson is the type of guy that doesn’t seem easily rattled, but he knows based off of some teaching from Cowboys veteran tight end Jason Witten at this past year’s Pro Bowl that a new coaching staff means you have to make a first impression all over again. He’s not going to change who he is, but his focus on the task at hand is stronger than ever before.
“I feel comfortable with myself going into camp…I knew coming in this offseason I had to be in shape and ready to go, just had to be ready for whatever.”
Anderson talked about the value of a running back in today’s NFL, and that he doesn’t care much for the number crunching nature of NFL free agency or situations like that of DeMarco Murray, who didn’t receive a top dollar contract like, say, Adrian Peterson after his stellar season last year for the Cowboys, and wound up signing with the Eagles.
Statistics have never been the goal for C.J. He’s all about winning football games. He has one personal goal for this season, and he made sure the microphone picked it up when he leaned down and said his top personal goal was to:
“Win the Super Bowl.”
So what’s the key to this guy’s success? Obviously, it’s all about hard work and being a ‘lunch pail’ guy as he alluded to earlier, but C.J. Anderson is a lot smarter than people give him credit. This guy picks up on things quickly, makes adjustments on the fly, and is willing to do whatever it takes to help his team win.
“I feel like when I’m having fun I’m at my best.”
Let’s just keep having fun then, shall we?