Stokley: ‘Obvious choice’ for Broncos to name Freeman the starter
Sep 3, 2018, 7:14 PM | Updated: 7:30 pm
The Denver Broncos made official Monday what many expected, naming rookie running back Royce Freeman the starter.
Head coach Vance Joseph credited Freeman’s maturity and endurance, both mental and physical, as the chief reasons for making the third-round pick the Broncos lead back.
“He can carry the load from a physical standpoint and a mental standpoint,” Joseph said.
Brandon Stokley, however, saw Freeman as more the “obvious choice” because he flat outplayed third-year pro Devontae Booker.
“He’s the better back. He has the most upside. Now let’s give him the opportunities and see what it looks like,” said the “Stokley and Zach” co-host.
Stokley said he envisions the Broncos utilizing Freeman the most, sprinkling in fellow rookie Phillip Lindsay in some packages and Booker spelling the two when they need a breather.
“He’s the guy who will fill in when Royce Freeman and Phillip Lindsay are tired, need a break, situational ball,” Stokley said of Booker. “But other than that, I think this is the way it should be with Royce Freeman being the guy.”
However, Joseph said the personnel on the field will largely be determined by different packages.
“Royce is our leading runner, but on third downs you’ll probably see Booker, and obviously having a package for Phillip is going to be important to each game plan we have each week,” Joseph said.
Joseph also lauded Freeman’s pass protection skills, a sticking point for many rookie running backs.
“He was really good in pass pro, so that’s your biggest worry about having a young halfback playing with a veteran quarterback — it’s the pass-pro issues,” Joseph said. “He’s shown the IQ and the maturity to be a great pass-pro guy, on third downs especially.”
“Pritchard and Cecil” co-host Cecil Lammey echoed a similar sentiment, saying the move to make Freeman the lead back means the Broncos trust him in pass protection.
“We’ve seen Freeman make some improvements as training camp has gone on,” Lammey said of Freeman’s pass pro abilities, “and there’s no doubt, there’s no question about his talent as a runner.”
Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @JohnnyHart7.
