Broncos roster battles: Montee Ball on the bubble?
By Aric Manthey
With one week left of the preseason, NFL rosters are starting to take shape. With the first wave of cuts this Tuesday followed by the final cuts on September 5th, there is a furious scramble for the last few roster spots on every team right now.
Careers can be made or broken around this time every year. It’s never easy letting go of players, but it is a necessary evil in the NFL.
Most of these cut players range from undrafted rookies to well traveled journeyman. Although it does not happen very often, there are times when a highly touted player is let go.
Former starters and high draft picks occasionally see the big ax and the reasoning for such can vary. Injuries or poor play could determine a player’s fall from grace, but sometimes, maybe that player is just an odd fit for that team.
The player who could potentially find himself on the way out in Denver is Montee Ball. Yes, the highly touted 2nd round pick from two years ago, the great bell cow back from Wisconsin, could very well be on the outs with the Broncos.
With only 16 carries for 41 yards this preseason, Ball’s number in the running back rotation has continued to drop.
Aug 22, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Denver Broncos running back Montee Ball (28) runs with the ball prior to the game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Although he is currently listed as the #2 RB on the depth chart, it’s clear through three preseason games that Ball has sunk to #4 in the rotation.
With Ronnie Hillman continuing his explosive preseason and Juwan Thompson showing his consistent play on offense and special teams, Montee Ball’s reps have greatly diminished.
In an offense that has a hankering for running the ball, only so many reps will be split amongst the different backs.
Kubiak’s offenses tend to have one running back that carries the majority of the load, with a few other backs splitting carries along the way. Flexibility on special teams can go a long way in determining a reserve player’s spot on the roster.
With the exception of Montee Ball, every back on the Broncos roster has some sort of experience playing on special teams.
Despite their lack of preseason action, Jeremy Stewart and Kapri Bibbs could make a case for themselves in the final preseason game with a combination of good offensive play with consistency on special teams.
Although their odds of making the 53-man roster are very slim, they do hold more versatility in their skill set than Montee Ball.
In all fairness, when was the last time Montee Ball was asked to do anything for the team except rack up yards and touchdowns on offense?
With the gaudy numbers he put up at Wisconsin, it was not necessary for him to take on other roles with the team. This trend continued when he came to the NFL.
The hope for Montee Ball was to become the Broncos main back, giving us similar production to what he had at Wisconsin.
Unfortunately for Montee Ball, a myriad of factors has played into his sharp decline. A new coaching staff, injuries and other running backs making the most of their playing time has placed Ball in the position he finds himself today.
Now with that said, I do think the Broncos will keep 4 running backs on the active roster. With Kubiak’s offense using multiple tight ends and emphasizing the run, depth at the position is key for success.
Another reason for optimism is the Broncos recent trend of keeping their draft picks as long as they can. In Elway’s tenure as the head man with the Broncos, he has shown that he is willing to give draft picks every opportunity to stay with the team, almost to a fault.
Only two years removed from his 2nd round selection, Montee Ball does have his draft status and Elway’s history of keeping draft picks around going for him.
That alone can’t save him, though. With one game left before the regular season starts, Montee Ball needs to make the most of every play he gets in that game.
It could very well mean the difference between a third year with the Broncos or on the streets with an uncertain future in the NFL.