Montee

Ball

The club is expected to release either Willis McGahee or Knowshon Moreno, with a slight lean toward McGahee due to his more severe 2012 injury, age, and cost. In an ideal scenario, rookie Ball would run away with the Broncos’ feature back job and Hillman would work in as a change-of-pace back. The team does not consider 2012 third-rounder Hillman a viable option to play starter’s snaps.

Cosell cited Ball’s “burst, fluidity, and ability to get skinny at the point of attack” as reasons why he’s already the most talented back on Denver’s roster. While Ball was often criticized for lacking “special” qualities at Wisconsin, on college tape we were enamored with his better-than-advertised first-step burst, high-effort efficiency, and consistent downhill run style, never dancing in the backfield. He’s going to be a high-upside RB2 as a rookie.

Although the sessions are technically voluntary, McGahee is the only Bronco with an unexcused absence. It’s not a good look for a 32-year-old back that is coming off a broken leg and is owed $2.5 million in base salary. Perhaps McGahee sees the writing on the wall after the Broncos drafted Montee Ball in the second round.

“He’s a rookie, but coach (John) Fox isn’t going to bring him along slowly,” Manning assured. This has been our belief since the Broncos selected Ball at No. 58, and is why Willis McGahee’s roster spot is in grave danger. Ball should be drafted as a high-ceiling RB2, and it wouldn’t be surprising if he challenged for RB1 status in the Broncos’ lethal offense.

McGahee turns 32 in October, is coming off a broken leg and was owed $2.5 million. The Broncos have a younger, cheaper and quite possibly better feature back option in rookie Montee Ball. In short, the time to move on was now. Although McGahee averaged 4.63 yards per carry over the last two seasons, he’s going to join the likes of Cedric Benson, Brandon Jacobs and Michael Turner as veteran power backs looking for work. Ball is officially on the high-end RB2 radar and Ronnie Hillman will have value as the change-of-pace option.

Ronnie Hillman is a change-of-pace option and there’s no guarantee Knowshon Moreno (knee surgery) will even make the final roster. The Broncos used a second-round pick on Ball for a reason; they’re going to ride him as a feature back. A downhill runner with a one-cut style that fits the scheme, Ball is a surefire RB2 with RB1 upside in Denver’s high-powered offense. McGahee and Moreno combined for 305 carries, 1,256 yards and eight touchdowns last season.

Ball, the No. 58 overall pick, scored an NCAA record 83 all-purpose touchdowns at Wisconsin. He has a lot of miles on his tires, but coach John Fox insists that the team isn’t concerned about that one bit. Following the release of Willis McGahee on Thursday, Ball is in the driver’s seat for lead-back duties. He’s a perfect fit for the Broncos’ scheme and has RB1 upside.

The team did the same with ex-Colts OC Tom Moore last offseason, and he helped install the Peyton Manning offense with Mike McCoy and Adam Gase. Gibbs will be around longer, working with OL coach Dave Magazu to increase Denver’s use of zone-run concepts. Gibbs is considered the Godfather of Zone Blocking, as his old Broncos lines paved the way for Terrell Davis and two Super Bowl wins. New Broncos feature back Montee Ball is an adept one-cut runner.

The bulked up Hillman has been running as the Broncos’ starter during OTAs, but he’s not a feature back. We fully expect rookie Montee Ball to win that job once the pads go on, leaving Hillman in his natural change of pace role. Willis McGahee and Knowshon Moreno are not locks to stick on the final roster.

It’s a notable item, but keep in mind beat writer Paul Klee is just guessing. Klee also expects to “see plenty of (Knowshon) Moreno” in what ostensibly would be a three-man rotation, “because he’s their most reliable pass blocker.” Certainly, the Broncos’ lead back job will come down to pass protection, which is more important to Peyton Manning than any quarterback in the NFL. We still expect Ball to run away with the job if he demonstrates efficient blitz-pickup ability in August. Hillman is a change-of-pace scatback, and Moreno’s talent is pedestrian at best.