The Denver Broncos enter training camp with a major question mark at running back. This is mostly because their top rusher from last season, Javonte Williams, departed for the Dallas Cowboys in free agency. Coach Sean Payton is excited to see his running backs dueling on the field in the next few practices. He really just wants to know who can dribble a ball when the heat is turned up.
Perhaps the biggest winner of the team was RB J.K. Dobbins after signing a one-year, $3 million offer to join Denver. This great decision came during their June camp. Dobbins recently capped off a second consecutive productive season with the Los Angeles Chargers. He accumulated 905 rushing yards in 2024 despite sitting out four games due to an MCL sprain. His addition is expected to bolster the Broncos’ running game, which has the potential to thrive given the team’s impressive offensive line statistics.
The Broncos took UCF’s RJ Harvey with the second pick of April’s second round, adding even more intrigue to their backfield. What we’re talking about is Harvey’s immense college talent. First, he earned over ten yards on 23% of his carries, the best mark of any running back in his 2024 class. Payton clearly thinks Harvey will be a huge factor in the Broncos’ rushing attack. He lauds Harvey’s vision as key to maintaining reliable ball carrying.
As the team heads into training camp, Dobbins seems to be off to a quick lead in gaining the most number of snaps. His experience as a pass blocker and football IQ with him advanced to the three downs puts him in excellent contention among his peers. In the meantime, holdovers Jaleel McLaughlin, Audric Estime, and Blake Watson complete the talented group as they compete for chances.
Sean Payton reiterated that training camp would be crucial in deciding how the RB depth chart shakes out. He continued, promise or threat, I couldn’t tell which, “When that hour comes, you’ll hear it as clearly as I will. You’ll see it yourself.”
Payton has expressed confidence in Dobbins’s abilities, stating, “When you see [Dobbins’] consistency, it’s not an accident. It’s another good football player we’re adding to our team. Then we’ll see how training camp goes, see how all the carries go.”
For his part, Dobbins certainly sounds excited about his role and the possibility of working alongside his fellow running backs. He stated, “[Harvey is] going to be really good. He’s going to help me out, and I’m going to help him out. He’s going to be great.” Furthermore, he conveyed his desire to mentor younger players in the group, acknowledging the challenges of transitioning to the NFL: “I feel like I’m where I need to be. I know this room is young. I want to … help them grow as NFL players, because it can be tough.”
The Broncos are an offensive line driven team and that’s why they succeed. Guards Quinn Meinerz and Ben Powers crushed the NFL as well, finishing first in run block win rate for guards. This included running the table in the league with a historic 74.9% run block win rate. They combined for a ridiculous 5.25 run block wins per play. These numbers are a testament to the running game’s potential, if paired with competent ball carriers.
Until then, Payton isn’t taking all responsibilities and opportunities away from any of the running backs in training camp. “I’m looking forward to seeing how they play — they’re going to get opportunities. Audric too, that’s a guy with some experience and talent getting ready to get opportunities, we’ve seen Jaleel. Stop worrying about impressing the club on your first swing. It’s way too early,” he remarked.
As training camp quickly approaches, enthusiasm is reaching a fever pitch among Broncos fans and analysts alike. They can’t wait to see how Dobbins and Harvey fit into the new running game strategy. Both players have distinct advantages on the pitch. Needless to say, their performances will have a huge impact on the team’s offensive success this season.
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