The Monday Mommy: Knowshon or Yes-Shon – What Side Are You On?
“This season’s training camp is a very important one for Moreno. With the Broncos making the decision to release former starter Willis McGahee earlier this offseason, Moreno can potentially finally step up and prove all the naysayers wrong. “
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If it were up to Denver Bronco fans, the Josh McDaniels’ era and everything associated with it would be wiped clean from existence. Kind of like the NFL is attempting to do with Aaron Hernandez. Well, not exactly but the way people in the Mile High City react to McDaniels, one would think it was a similar situation.
One of the few players still in the fold is running back Knowshon Moreno. Drafted in 2009 in the first-round by McDaniels, Moreno has by definition been a bust and will probably never shake that label. He spent the first three seasons with the Broncos either dealing with an injury or underperforming. Moreno was young and didn’t exactly carry himself in a respectable manner around town or even on the field.
Last season he seemed to turn the attitude around and was highly praised by Bronco coaches and fellow teammates on his rehab effort and work ethic both in the gym and on the field. When starting running back Willis McGahee sustained an injury in Week 11, Moreno was able to showcase what he had accomplished while sidelined and provided a solid run game for the Broncos down the stretch.
During that time period Moreno averaged 121 yards from the line of scrimmage, placing him second overall in the NFL, behind Viking running back Adrian Peterson. He was also named AFC Offensive Player of the Week after a convincing performance in Week 15 against the eventual Super Bowl Champion Baltimore Ravens.
This season’s training camp is a very important one for Moreno. With the Broncos making the decision to release former starter Willis McGahee earlier this offseason, Moreno can potentially finally step up and prove all the naysayers wrong. Can he remain healthy and prove that he is worthy of a starting role for the Broncos this season?
There are some folks that feel that he should not even be a member of the Denver Broncos in 2013. Many fans are in the camp that Moreno has had his fair shot and not lived up to it. Others have been swayed by his solid performance last season and feel that he has changed both mentally and physically and is ready for that starting backfield role.
Maybe it is because I am a loyal Georgia Bulldog homer and am not afraid to admit it, but I have not given up on Moreno yet. I saw firsthand what he is capable of while hurdling over and running past tough SEC defenses prior to the NFL. Moreno has shown that he is in a different place mentally and not the immature cocky kid that was originally drafted in 2009.
While the Broncos do have two young extremely talented running backs in Ronnie Hillman and Montee Ball, they are not quite ready for the pace of the NFL and could use some more experience in the backfield.
Neither Hillman nor Ball can provide the versatility of the fifth-year back either. Moreno is an excellent blocker and also has the ability to make plays as a receiver as well. No other running back on the current roster can add that much to the backfield at this point in time.
While it is apparent that John Elway has a plan for the future of the Broncos in the running back department, it seems that the present is still a bit unclear. These next few weeks at Dove Valley is a time for Knowshon Moreno to stake his claim as a valuable member of the offense and prove to the coaching staff that he deserves a shot at the starting role. It would also behoove him to develop a solid relationship and trust with Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning as well. If Manning doesn’t have faith in a guy, they most likely won’t see the ball very much.
With all the negative attention this squad has received this off season it will nice to have training camp underway and get back to actual football. When all is said and done, the murky backfield will hopefully become much clearer.
The question remains: Where will Knowshon Moreno fit into the whole equation?
