Broncos Have Crowded Running Back Position Battle
Jan 11, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos running back C.J. Anderson (22) against the Indianapolis Colts in the 2014 AFC Divisional playoff football game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Colts defeated the Broncos 24-13. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The Denver Broncos have a great problem at the running back position. Where it appeared to be lacking experience and any sort of ‘certainty’ last year, this year it couldn’t be more opposite. The Broncos saw their running back position go through a trial by fire with a variety of injuries forcing nearly everyone on the active roster into action.
C.J. Anderson wound up making the Pro Bowl, but he’ll have former second round pick Montee Ball and former third round pick Ronnie Hillman right on his heels, along with undrafted free agent darlings Juwan Thompson and Kapri Bibbs.
Even Jeremy Stewart, who was a special teams player and mid-season backup running back addition last year, returns to compete for carries this offseason.
The Broncos had four players last year with at least one rushing touchdown, but perhaps most surprising was the fact that it was Montee Ball who had just one.
This year’s group returns a Pro Bowl player, two high draft picks who have had varying levels of success, and undrafted free agent pickups that have done well enough to make the active roster at one point or another and play a role at worst on special teams. Let’s take a look at the cast of characters and what each guy brings to the table.
C.J. Anderson
Anderson was nothing short of spectacular in 2014. The Broncos needed a boost in the running game, and it initially came from Ronnie Hillman until Anderson got his carries.
The Broncos’ ball of fire was running like a man on fire last season, and literally carried the team in the second half of the season. He did so well, Anderson was voted as a Pro Bowl alternate, finishing with 849 yards rushing and eight touchdowns to go along with 34 receptions for 324 yards and another pair of touchdowns.
He is a bruiser, but more than that, Anderson has great bursts of quickness in a short area, and he knows how to get the ball in the end zone. His overall size and low center of gravity make him almost impossible to tackle on first contact, and they also make him the ideal running back for a zone blocking scheme.
It doesn’t take anything more than C.J. Anderson’s fourth down run against the Colts in the playoffs or his catch and run against the Raiders to get me excited about what he’s capable of this year. To me, he deserves to be a starting back on this team and receive the lion’s share of carries.
Next: Montee Ball