With the Broncos in the midst of OTA’s, the process has officially begun for acclimating rookies and new Broncos to the team’s playbook with the hopes of repeating as Super Bowl Champions (that never gets old). With the first few pages of the playbook being installed, the look of the 2016 Broncos offense is beginning to take shape.
Much has been made about the Broncos efforts to revamp the Offensive Line this off-season and for good reason… For lack of a better word, they(the Offensive Line) sucked in 2015. With the recent additions of Donald Stephenson and Russell Okung via Free Agency and Connor McGovern via the Draft, the Broncos appear prime for a massive upgrade in the offensive trenches in 2016. Although that position group will take great satisfaction in improved group play, no position group will be the biggest beneficiary of the offensive change more than the Running Back group.
With the return of CJ Anderson and Ronnie Hillman and the addition of Devontae Booker via the Draft, the Broncos are eager to get more “horsepower” out of their running game in 2016. As a matter of fact, Booker’s confidence in himself and the offense could be summed up in a recent quote of his.
Not your average 4th-round pick...
— NFL (@NFL) May 20, 2016
Devontae Booker has big plans in Denver. pic.twitter.com/7exsmBi88w
Some call that quote cocky while others spin it as having “moxie”. If you ask me, I’ll take the latter. After suffering a Draft weekend slide, it’s clear that Booker has a chip on his should and he’s ready to do some damage to opposing defenses. Although I think he has the potential to be the starting back down the road, all signs point to CJ Anderson being the main man in the backfield for the foreseeable future.
That may appear to be bad news for Booker, but he shouldn’t fret about becoming the starter for
one simple reason.. With the shuffling of the Offensive Line and questions surrounding the QB position, the emphasis on the running game will become the top priority on offense. There’s no need to worry about who the “starting back” is because quite frankly, there’s a good chance that the top 2(maybe even three backs) could see double digit touches in every game.
In an era where the passing game remains the dominating offensive attack, multiple Broncos backs will have the opportunity to get a starting caliber amount of touches on a consistent basis. That’s a real rarity in today’s NFL.
Between their lucrative contracts and a highly touted rookie joining the stable, the Broncos top 3 backs will all be given their fair share of opportunities to shine throughout the season. If the Broncos can replicate the kind of success they had in 2005 with Mike Anderson/Tatum Bell or in Carolina with DeAngelo Williams/Jonathan Stewart for a few years, then there’s no doubt that this Broncos running game will be dominant and be great AS A GROUP for years to come.
This group provides a unique dynamic. On one hand, you have two complete bruisers in Anderson and Booker. With their similar play, one would assume that they will be the top two backs. On the other hand, you have a complete burner in Ronnie Hillman. With two bigger backs being able to take on more carries in 2016, Hillman will be able to be more utilized more effectively, giving the Broncos a true “thunder and lightning” approach to the offense.
Depending on their health throughout the season, it wouldn’t be out of the question to see not one, but two Broncos backs rush for over a 1,000 yards in 2016. As much as I love Anderson and now Booker’s approach to the game, it’s important for both to remember that their success as a GROUP will be what ultimately helps this team get back into title contention. One of them could certainly emerge as a “bell cow” back, but until one establishes himself in that role, I hope that the backs embrace the great opportunity that is presented to them as a group and do whatever they can to propel the team to victory every week.
In summary, the Broncos backs should do follow these steps below
- Stay hungry and keep that chip on your shoulder.
- Make the most of every carry you get.
- Support each other as a group, because how they find harmony in the backfield will be key to the team’s success.
If they can do that, I expect to see the Broncos in prime position to repeat as World Champions. So don’t fret about where you are on the depth chart, Mr. Booker, because odds are, you’ll be contributing more than most starting backs in the NFL anyways. His time will come, but until then, keep that unity in the backfield. It’s up to them to lead the way…