Let's Talk Positions - RB

[SpringStein]

From thinking we would lose CJ in free agency to signing him and drafting Booker, what could have been looked at as a position with a question mark now looks like a strength. Who do you think starts, makes the team, makes the PS, etc.

CJ Anderson
Kapri Bibbs
Devontae Booker
Cyrus Gray
Ronnie Hillman
Juwan Thompson

I'm going to add FB here as well rather than having a separate thread for them:

Manasseh Garner
Andy Janovich

 

[Draft Crazy]

Excited about Anderson being healthy (if he ever is) and a new OL for him. When our offense was our best last year it was when Anderson was at his best.

You know what I think of Booker. Very exciting. Perfect fit and can catch.

I don't have a lot of hope for Hillman but I don't have an issue with him as a 3rd RB who can have a carry here and there.

I think Thompson will struggle this year to make the roster, he has been injured through his first two years and hasn't really excelled on special teams.

Cyrus Gray seems to be a long shot a once promising college player.

Bibbs could be a sneaky one if Hillman shows he really doesn't fit in here.

I like our top two. Our 3rd is up in the air.... Thompson has done well in camp, but really can't stay on the field and may be running out of time here.

FB's- Garner is a former TE in college turned FB

Janovich stands a better chance as a special teams guy. Thompson has also played some FB.

 

[RDog]

After Anderson and Booker I like Thompson for his special teams play. Unfortunately he needs to be on the field to play special teams and Janovich will likely replace him.

 

[Draft Crazy]

Juwan Thompson has made 1 career assisted tackle on special teams in 2 years with the team. Not really what I call impressive on special teams.

We need a Lance Ball like RB as our 3rd RB, a guy who gets the job on special teams and can fill in at RB if needed. I always appreciated Lance's roll when he was here.

if Thompson makes the team he will have to beat out Hillman which he can do. I see the 3rd RB job wide open, but not overally excited about any at this point.

Bibbs has had two years on the PS, Thompson can't stay healthy and hasn't done much on ST's but he can play some FB, so he has some versatility. I'd say right now Hillman has a strong up on the other two because of his experience, not that he has been impressive, but unless the other guys have a solid preseason he's probably gonna be sticking around.

Bibbs is eligible for another teams PS, but not ours. Can't spend a 3rd year on the same PS that you spent the first two years on.

 

[randymon]

Pretty much agree with DC here. I'm a Bibbs homer and was thinking he might finally get a good shot this year to make some noise but after the Booker pick,his odds go down again. I don't feel quite as comfortable just yet with this group if Denver were to lose just one of the two ( CJ, Booker ) early on. Pretty sure Elway will grab one or two rbs a team might try to sneak thru waiver before final cuts or even a vet. There's just no way IMO anyway that if CJ were to go down or show up out of shape this year,that this crew is deep enough to carry load. At least to this point.

 

[58crash]

Bibbs should get a fare shot at beating Hillman ... I think he is more what we need .

 

[randymon]

For our # 3 back, yes. If either is thrust into a # 2 role....I don't like it.

 

[SpiritOf77]

I like what I have seen with Bibbs, esp on special teams ..

Of course, Hillman is great on special teams - he always runs out there and picks up the tee with the best of 'em

 

[randymon]

What's our O line depth look like right now? That's going to be HUGE this year with whoever is qbing this rodeo. The way things look right now, this run game is teetering on major prob s again if any of the projected starters get boo-boos. Hope Elway finds some more big boys up front that can handle the zone blkg via waiver wire in coming months. The O line makes me verde nervous with lot of you suspect of Okung/Stevenson durability issues.

 

[SpringStein]

What's our O line depth look like right now? That's going to be HUGE this year with whoever is qbing this rodeo. The way things look right now, this run game is teetering on major prob s again if any of the projected starters get boo-boos. Hope Elway finds some more big boys up front that can handle the zone blkg via waiver wire in coming months. The O line makes me verde nervous with lot of you suspect of Okung/Stevenson durability issues.

Thursday's discussion.

 

[58crash]

Juwan Thompson I hope he can stay health IMO his rookie year looked like a zone RB that was out of this world good ..

 

[Draft Crazy]

I like what I have seen with Bibbs, esp on special teams ..

Of course, Hillman is great on special teams - he always runs out there and picks up the tee with the best of 'em

He might be the best at that in the NFL.

 

[CEH]

Bibbs should get a fare shot at beating Hillman ... I think he is more what we need .

I disagree. Hillman has a skillset that no other back has. See Minny game and his 72 yard run. Bibbs is CJ 2.0.

 

[58crash]

I disagree. Hillman has a skillset that no other back has. See Minny game and his 72 yard run. Bibbs is CJ 2.0.

I would agree if he could see open field .. He cannot and at this point I am fine with us moving on to someone that can see open field and getting every yard available .. he is not able

 

[58crash]

Bibbs is a beast compared to Hillman . he will black and blue a team up in the 4th quarter

 

[randymon]

Bibbs is a beast compared to Hillman . he will black and blue a team up in the 4th quarter

As much as I love Bibbs, I wouldn't put him in the black and blue category as much as I would the " has short base,hides behind the big boys,explodes when he sees hole,excellent vision and balance " kind of guy. Not a pounder really. Not a CJ.

 

[Mingo]

CJ, Booker - then Hillman and Bibbs. I don't think the Broncos have a guy who would be eligible for the PS - which is a soft weakness.

 

[cdumler7]

Well right I think it is obvious

CJ and Booker are on the team as well as Janovich. Because Janovich actually has some RB ability I think we only keep 3 on the roster this year to make room for other positions.

Hillman--Gave us decent production this past year. Knows the scheme and has a good relationship with the coaching staff. Seems to be a guy that everybody thinks will be gone most years but seems to do enough to stick around. He also offers a bit of a different skill set than others. I honestly think this will end up a pretty boring position and we keep the most likely guys and Hillman makes the roster as his contract is cheap.

Bibbs--If anybody stands a chance of beating Hillman it is Bibbs in my opinion. He has shown ability in the run game and is decent out of the backfield catching the football. His biggest issue and why he hasn't made this team is his blocking ability. I'm told he is down right terrible at this. So if he can improve this area he stands a chance.

Thompson--Injuries to me will keep him from having a chance. Good runner when healthy but seems to come in for like 5 carries and then has to miss a few games because of injury. With both Anderson and Booker having injury concerns I would rather not have a guy behind them that can't even last a single game.

 

[randymon]

Only three on roster and Denver is going have to rely on the run game heavily this year more than likely? Find that kind of boggling.I know there isn't a lot of positions that they can take risks on but that is one that would seem at the top of the list at having a strong back up plan were CJ were to go down. We don't really know about Booker for sure as too how soon he will learn assignments,etc but we know what Hilman and Thompson bring to table,right?

 

[Mingo]

Only three on roster and Denver is going have to rely on the run game heavily this year more than likely? Find that kind of boggling.I know there isn't a lot of positions that they can take risks on but that is one that would seem at the top of the list at having a strong back up plan were CJ were to go down. We don't really know about Booker for sure as too how soon he will learn assignments,etc but we know what Hilman and Thompson bring to table,right?

I'm also surprised the Broncos literally do not have a promising RB on the roster who could be stashed on the PS -even a UDFA or two. It really shows how much of a role Janovick will have.