Ronnie Hillman is back.
It’s official; Monday, he was inked to a one-year deal worth a reported $2 million, $600,000 of which is guaranteed.
C.J. Anderson, he’s back, too.
Anderson forced the hand of John Elway to the tune of four years and $18 million after the restricted free agent had a deal in place with the Dolphins. But today, he’s a Bronco.
And the O-line is back as well – sort of.
At tight end, Virgil Green returns; Owen Daniels will not. Russell Okung (who’s coming off a shoulder injury) comes in at left tackle, replacing Ryan Clady (who was out the entire year anyway) and Ryan Harris (who’s off to Pittsburgh). Gone is left guard Evan Mathis who was a Bronco for just a year. Bargain center, and arguably Denver’s most consistent offensive lineman, Matt Paradis will be back. But on the right side, gone are right guard Louis Vasquez and recently retired right tackle Tyler Polumbus. Replacing them in a combination that’s yet to be determined will be Ty Sambrailo (who spent most of 2015 injured), Max Garcia (who logged five starts last season) and Michael Schofield (who started 13 times at right tackle and became a household name in Denver for all the wrong reasons).
The exact same line it’s not. A line in flux it is. At most, one out of six starters will be in starting in the same spot. And hey, “in flux” was Denver’s line last season, so in a way, that will be the same.
So, in short, the Broncos running game is back!
Aren’t you excited?
(Pin drops.)
No? You mean the same offense that ranked 17th in the NFL in rushing yards per game (107.4) and 13th in yards per attempt (4.2) doesn’t excite you?
You don’t believe that the addition of Russell Okung – who, in theory and if healthy, should be an upgrade in both run and pass blocking – will drastically improve the Broncos ground attack?
All okay, because the passing game, which tallied 248 yards per game, has been upgraded, right? Well, Mrs. Sanchez, hopefully you’re right.
Do you favor the notion that defenses won’t dare Mark Sanchez (for now) to beat them over the top by stuffing eight defenders in the box? That’s what they did against Peyton Manning. The box loosened up a bit when Brock Osweiler was taking snaps in Denver, at least between the 20s, but defenses sure tightened up again when he was in the red zone. They dared Denver to run, and for good reason.
Osweiler only completed 47.37 percent of his passes inside the 20, and only 42.86 percent inside the 10. As a team, the Broncos ranked 28th in red zone scoring percentage (touchdowns).
In 2014, Sanchez’s red zone numbers were similar to Osweiler’s (worse actually), at 45.65 and 38.89 percent respectively. The Broncos – particularly Anderson and Hillman – had better hope he’s better than that. Otherwise, the red zone will be one tough place to run the ball.
Denver actually ran the ball slightly better last year than they did in 2014 (4.0 yards per carry), 2013 (4.1) or 2012 (3.8). But that might have been because they had one of the game’s historically great passing attacks. But, in terms of offensive efficiency, the Broncos ranked a paltry 25th. Translation: They weren’t very good (but you already knew that).
None of it mattered though. Denver’s D was so good, they won the Super Bowl anyway.
Let’s say, however, that the running game truly is back, or, better yet, it’s the same. Let’s say too that the passing attack couldn’t get any worse. And let’s say – just for the sake of saying it, and forgetting for a moment that Danny Trevathan, Malik Jackson and David Bruton are all gone – that the dominant defense that won Super Bowl 50 performs at a similar level.
If we’re assuming all of that, then what’s the worry? Shouldn’t it all be enough?
You don’t seem convinced.
But hey, the running game is back.
