Special teams will shape crowded Broncos RB room
Aug 7, 2021, 4:09 PM | Updated: 4:17 pm
One of the tightest battles for the Denver Broncos in training camp might be at the running back position.
Melvin Gordon III is trending toward the Week 1 starter, followed by rookie Javonte Williams. But the remainder of the spots in the room are up for grabs, and the competition is stiff.
“Obviously we have Melvin, Javonte, Mike Boone, Royce (Freeman), (Damarea) Crockett and (LeVante) Bellamy,” said head coach Vic Fangio after practice Saturday. “They’re all good players. It’s going to be hard choices for us there at the time we have to cut.”
The great equalizer in the competition, however, comes down to how each running back plays not on offense but special teams.
“Special teams is one area. You’re right, we have six backs right now, and one of them is in there for each play,” Fangio said. “Obviously, you’re not going to keep six. The more anybody can do above and beyond the running back position will help.”
Within the running backs room, Boone has seemed to stand out thus far in camp, earning kudos from special teams coordinator Tom McMahon this week, who called the free agent acquisition a “legit four-core running back.”
“He’s been that for two years, and that’s what you always search for. That third running back has to play all four core, and he has to be a producer,” McMahon said. “Anybody, you can throw them out there, but he’s been productive in Minnesota, he’s been productive in practice. We think we’ve found kind of a new niche for him that is going to help us.”
As for who else has stood out on special teams throughout the offseason and training camp, McMahon said, well, everyone.
“They all have. Free agents, draft guys — everybody’s playing hard, playing well,” McMahon said. “The thing is we have a lot of rookies with our ones right now, and they act like ones, which is great. All those guys have — nobody’s really stood out, but the best part is everybody’s standing out, if that makes sense.
“All these guys are playing their tails off, and I love the speed and the physicalness of this group.”
