Predominantly Orange
FanSided

Denver Broncos: Players we’re excited to watch on Color Rush weekend

By Sayre Bedinger

HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 8: Drew Lock #3 of the Denver Broncos throws a pass during the second half of a game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on December 8, 2019 in Houston, Texas. The Broncos defeated the Texans 38-24. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 8: Drew Lock #3 of the Denver Broncos throws a pass during the second half of a game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on December 8, 2019 in Houston, Texas. The Broncos defeated the Texans 38-24. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 6
Next
DENVER, CO – OCTOBER 1: Running back Phillip Lindsay #30 celebrates after scoring a third-quarter touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on October 1, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – OCTOBER 1: Running back Phillip Lindsay #30 celebrates after scoring a third-quarter touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on October 1, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) /

Phillip Lindsay & Royce Freeman, RBs

It’s been a while since we’ve seen the running game really do its thing for the Broncos.

Not coincidentally, the team has not run for 100 yards since the game Andy Janovich dislocated his elbow against the Minnesota Vikings.

In the games since, check out Denver’s rushing totals:

  • @BUF: 17 attempts, 85 yards
  • vs. LAC: 25 attempts, 84 yards
  • @HOU: 27 attempts, 90 yards
  • @KC: 15 attempts, 52 yards

In two of these games, the Broncos were playing from behind mostly and so establishing a ground game was obviously not top priority. In the other two games, the Broncos attempted to establish the run with 25-plus carries, and it didn’t really take.

I’m not sure what exactly to attribute this to other than teams perhaps just loading the box and challenging Denver’s young quarterbacks to throw, but this game against Detroit is an opportunity for the Broncos to exercise their will, hopefully re-establishing the running game with Phillip Lindsay and Royce Freeman, who are both having interesting years.

Despite playing fewer snaps this season than Freeman, Phillip Lindsay has topped 1,000 yards from scrimmage for the second straight season. He has six touchdowns and leads the Broncos’ offense with 220 touches.

Still, he’s 151 yards away from 1,000 rushing yards this season and Lindsay is not involved enough in the passing game as far as I’m concerned. I’d love to see a game where he or Freeman go over 100 yards rushing.

Speaking of Freeman…

Freeman quietly is third on the Broncos in targets this season. He also has quietly put together a solid all-around season in terms of yards from scrimmage with 711 so far and he’s on pace to top his rushing total from last season.

He’s already blown away his yards from scrimmage total from a year ago (593) and with two games left, he has a chance to match or exceed his TD total of five last season.

The Broncos just haven’t found continuity in the running game in the second half of the season. It would be nice to see a big performance from either Lindsay or Freeman, or even both of them.

Home/Broncos News