Day Three: Denver Broncos Champ Camp Update
By Steven Kriz
It’s no secret what the Broncos are looking to do this year; pound the heck out of the rock. During the team sessions, while everyone is looking at what the quarterbacks are doing, the overlooked aspect is they are just handing the ball off two out of every three plays. C.J. Anderson is the starter; there is no doubt about that. C.J. looks faster than he has ever looked, and in year two of the ZBS, he figures to enjoy a highly productive year.
It’s behind C.J. where things get interesting. The Broncos used a fourth round draft pick on running back Devontae Booker, and for now, he is clearly entrenched as the number two running back, and has even taken a few reps with the starting offensive line. C.J. is going to have the autonomy to decide when he stays on the field, and when he comes off. Make no mistake, if the season began today, when C.J. is out of the game, it would be Booker that would be coming in for him. Booker certainly appears to be fully recovered from his injury and he has some sweet runs, including a big one during team drills as he took a handoff from Paxton Lynch and broke a real sweet run up the right side. He has shown the Broncos thus far that he was certainly worth the draft pick, and figures to be a key player in the running back rotation this season.
Kapri Bibbs is also a name that has been heard a lot over the course of the offseason, as the former CSU Ram was a standout during OTA’s. Bibbs has spent his first two seasons in the league on the practice squad, but if the way the Broncos line up at the beginning of practice during their initial walkthrough’s is any indication, Bibbs has played himself into that third string running back position, and put himself squarely ahead of the teams leading rusher from a season ago, Ronnie Hillman. Bibbs, who has a very fluid and smooth running style certainly impressed and he showed great patience, and was able to cut back just the way they want him to. Bibbs is doing everything he can to seal the deal, and earn himself a spot on the final 53.
Hillman had a nice season a year ago, but after testing the cold waters of free agency and coming back with nothing to show for it, the Broncos decided to bring him back on a one year contract, guaranteeing only $600,000. Hillman seems to already be feeling the pressure, as he was working with the special teams during the earlier part in practice. He knows that his roster spot is far from guaranteed, and knows that if he can be a key player on special teams, that could be a deciding factor on keeping him around.
One last interesting note; Ronnie Hillman is entering his 5th season in the NFL, and Devontae Booker is entering his rookie season. Both players are 24 years old.
Next: Receivers