Montee Ball

[grim rpr]

I just NEVER liked the drafting of Montee Ball.. I was hoping for lacy or bell... but .. the draft is long gone and I am wondering what people are thinking is going to happen.. CJ A. I believe is our guy... 10 total touchdowns almost 1000 yards rushing 350 receiving and all from basically week 10.. PLUS just made the pro bowl !!!! I would like to try to rid ourselves of Ball for a later draft pick.. CJ and Thompson are beasts with Hillman as a change of pace ????? Need all thoughts, broncos fans or not

 

[Mondo Jay]

You can never have enough backs, but I wouldn't shed a tear if he is shown the door.

 

[TDs3nOut]

You can never have enough backs, but I wouldn't shed a tear if he is shown the door.

True. Doesn't take long to go from a crowded backfield to signing guys off the street (e.g., anyone remember Tatum Bell's second stint in Denver?).

Ball has been disappointing other than a pretty good stretch of games toward the end of '13. He is supposed to be well suited to the new style of offense that Kubiak will implement, so my guess is that he has more value on our team than he does in a trade.

 

[TDs3nOut]

Also, this thread made me think about just how unpredictable it is who will emerge as our top RB, or if that even happens. For example, did anyone expect Justin Forsett last year, in Kubiak's offense, to nearly double his rushing production over the first five years of his career combined?

Justin Forsett Stats - Baltimore Ravens - ESPN

 

[Broncos6482]

True. Doesn't take long to go from a crowded backfield to signing guys off the street (e.g., anyone remember Tatum Bell's second stint in Denver?).

Ball has been disappointing other than a pretty good stretch of games toward the end of '13. He is supposed to be well suited to the new style of offense that Kubiak will implement, so my guess is that he has more value on our team than he does in a trade.

Yep, I agree. I think the job is Anderson's to lose going into next season, but you can never have too much quality depth at running back. And who knows, maybe losing the starting job and having a bit of a lost season is exactly what Ball needs to make him better.

 

[TDs3nOut]

Yep, I agree. I think the job is Anderson's to lose going into next season, but you can never have too much quality depth at running back. And who knows, maybe losing the starting job and having a bit of a lost season is exactly what Ball needs to make him better.

True. Similar situation certainly seemed to have that effect on Moreno a couple of years ago.

 

[WalkerBoh]

Yep, I agree. I think the job is Anderson's to lose going into next season, but you can never have too much quality depth at running back. And who knows, maybe losing the starting job and having a bit of a lost season is exactly what Ball needs to make him better.

Didn't Ball try to "bulk up" a bit before this season? I thought I read that, and it would explain why 2014 Ball was a lot different from late 2013 Ball. Also lends more hope that he can improve again, especially in a full ZBS scheme.

I see this as an open competition, with Anderson having the early upper hand. He will have to work to keep the starter's job though.

 

[Broncosr0k]

I say keep Ball at least for the time being. Remember back in the early 2000s we ran whoever for 1000+ yards and moved on when needed. We may even pull off Champ Bailey-Clinton Portis trade again.

I can dream.

 

[randymon]

Well one thing we are seeing for sure with the two teams in the SB is you can win with the one back scheme or the multiple back scheme. Obviously you need one or the other. The day of the rb has gained more strength recently and I expect more teams to focus on O-line,rbs ( versatile) a qb that is mobile some what and strong D going forward. That`s what is winning again gents,just like for almost the entire existance of the NFL. Only a few teams haven`t given in to all that pass heavy crap we`ve seen as of late, and their both in the SB and the other one, GB/Rodgers/Lacy/ and D that led the NFL in turnovers, came very close. I see it coming now. the transition back to the norm and for one, rbs and O-lineman are going to be even more prominant in the early rds again in the draft, and of course the D,like always. You`ll see a difference in rds 1-3 this yr.

 

[notorious98]

I think, in order for the running back scheme to work, you either have to have a great defense or an extremely good QB. The Patriots have a little of both. But I think that you're wrong about the first few rounds. If anything, things have been proven otherwise. Forsett, Anderson, Lamar Miller, Foster, Alfred Morris were all drafted later than the 3rd round or not at all. What teams have come to understand is that you don't have to snatch a back up in the first few rounds and be able to run the ball. Guys like Ball or Lacy would have been surefire first round picks a number of years ago.

 

[cdumler7]

I actually want to see what Ball can do in this system. The ZBS should make it a bit easier on the decision making part of where to cut for him. He seemed to really struggle this year with seeing the hole (missing most of training camp and pre season will do that to a guy). Anyway I do think Anderson deserves first shot at starting but I think Ball should get a chance to show he deserves to get 5-10 carries a game as well. Have to remember that Ball his rookie year was one of the top-3 backs in making people miss per rush. This year Anderson was that guy. The ZBS lives on the idea that there will most likely be that one guy that is not blocked and the RB is responsible for making them miss. So if these two guys can get going we could go from bottom half of the league rushing wise to one of the top-3 real quick.

 

[randymon]

I think, in order for the running back scheme to work, you either have to have a great defense or an extremely good QB. The Patriots have a little of both. But I think that you're wrong about the first few rounds. If anything, things have been proven otherwise. Forsett, Anderson, Lamar Miller, Foster, Alfred Morris were all drafted later than the 3rd round or not at all. What teams have come to understand is that you don't have to snatch a back up in the first few rounds and be able to run the ball. Guys like Ball or Lacy would have been surefire first round picks a number of years ago.

Very true Notorious but what happens when the rest of the NFL decides that they want a Lynch or Lacy type back for their team? The demand esculates, they don`t want to miss the oportunity for this guy and thus the rb's start moving up the draft ladder. I think we`ll see more this yr in first 3 rds than last few yrs anyway. Maybe not. Will be interesting to watch though

 

[notorious98]

Very true Notorious but what happens when the rest of the NFL decides that they want a Lynch or Lacy type back for their team? The demand esculates, they don`t want to miss the oportunity for this guy and thus the rb's start moving up the draft ladder. I think we`ll see more this yr in first 3 rds than last few yrs anyway. Maybe not. Will be interesting to watch though

True, but the point I'm making is that guys like Alfred Morris, CJ Anderson, and Arian Foster are proof positive that you don't need to draft one high. You can also look to the guys like Trent Richardson, Mark Ingram, and Knowshown Moreno as reasons why you WOULDN'T use a high draft pick. RBs have the shortest shelf life of any other position on the field and they're not as important as a QB, OL, or any defensive player. Hell, since you need a guy to catch passes from your QB, even WRs have a higher degree of importance.

 

[randymon]

I think I didn't express my thought very well Notorious. I am with you on the fact that you can find very good backs later in the draft as we've definitely seen over last 5 yrs anyway. What I am thinking is though that BECAUSE of the fact that the teams with strong run games are winning the SB's again, that the supply and demand could push the rb's back into early rds just due to the fact of the concept that many teams have to be rethinking what's going to propel them to the next level to be able to compete with the big boys. I agree with you,I just think the thought process alone in the NFL could be the culprit for that to happen. Hell, I've been wrong more than right in my existence,so one more shouldn't hurt too bad

 

[grim rpr]

a lot of good points.. I say he is on a short leash.. fox won a ton and was fired.. I don't see Elway holding dead weight if ball cant get it done EARLY

 

[cdumler7]

I think with Ball you have to go back to the college tape to see how he functions in this type of system. Wisconsin actually ran quite a bit of the ZBS and obviously Ball flourished in this type of system. Throw in Ball has lost his starting position. He knows he is going to have to work his tail off this off season to get it back. There are rumors that this past off season Ball just expected the starting job to be handed to him and did not work as hard as he did his rookie year. I don't like hearing that but if it is what gets him motivated to actually produce like he did his rookie year at around 6 ypc then I will take it for this next season.