Sometimes lost in the Denver Broncos’ 2016 season is the fact that rookie Devontae Booker led the team in rushing. In 2017, he expects to be even more impactful thanks to the new offense being installed by offensive coordinator Mike McCoy.
Les Shapiro of Mile High Sports AM 1340 | FM 104.7 caught up with Booker after Tuesday’s OTA practice to find out just how things have changed in year number two.
“My role will be very different just because of my ability to catch the ball out [of] the backfield,” Booker told Shapiro. “You [have] seen them splitting me out wide or in the slot, it just gives me different options, different ways to get the ball.”
In 2016, Booker took over the primary ball-carrying duties when C.J. Anderson went down in Week 7 with a season-ending knee injury. Booker rushed for 612 total yards and four touchdowns during his rookie campaign. He averaged 3.5 yards per carry. As a receiver, he put up 265 yards on 31 catches, scoring once.
Booker was a dynamic dual-threat back in his two years at Utah, rushing for more than 2,700 yards and catching passes for over 600 in two years with the Utes. He found the end zone 23 times in his college career.
In McCoy’s new offense, Booker has the chance to put up even bigger numbers than he did as a rookie, even with Anderson coming back healthy.
“This fits off my skill set,” Booker said. “[I’ve] got good hands out the backfield, can run between the tackles as well, so could possibly get a mismatch on some third downs and be out of the slot so, you know, I like this offense so far.”
In addition to working in a better scheme fit, Booker has also bulked up this offseason at the direction of his coaches. That extra weight and strength should make him more durable and dangerous in year two.
“There were a lot of times you know where I got tripped up off of one tackle, stuff like that, stuff that I normally break, it just, when game time came, just falling and stuff like that, but like I said, that was year one stuff, it’s a whole different level, and it’s going to be fun and exciting to watch me play this year,” he said.
Listen to the full interview with Booker, including his thoughts on playing alongside Jamaal Charles, in the podcast below.
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Catch Afternoon Drive with Goodman and Shapiro every weekday from 4p-6p on Mile High Sports AM 1340 | FM 104.7 or stream live any time for the best local coverage of Colorado sports from Denver’s biggest sports talk lineup.
