Broncos' young running backs already impressing in a crucial aspect of the game

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — With only a week and change standing in the way of the Denver Broncos and their summer break, the team is far from naming their starting running back anytime soon.

It’s not that Denver’s stable of backs hasn’t impressed, it’s just that, well, the offseason program isn’t the place where running backs can fully be evaluated.

“Most backs are better in pads, so it’s hard to tell how good they are right now without pads,” head coach Vance Joseph said, putting the kibosh to a potential frontrunner.

Unfortunately, the pads — and thus the full evaluation of the running backs — won’t come on until the beginning of August during training camp.

However, fortunately, early feedback on areas of the game that can be evaluated now without pads have been glowing for the young running back group at Dove Valley.

“They’re really understanding the game a lot faster than I would have expected,” fullback Andy Janovich said on Tuesday. “When I came in, I feel like it took a while. They are really hands-on with it. They’re understanding the pass protection, the run game, different route concepts.”

This praise came just 24 hours after Joseph pointed to the mental side of the game as being a positive for the young backs. When speaking about the backs on Monday, the head coach said, “As far as assignment checks, it’s been excellent.”

“All three backs have been very good with their assignments, and that’s key when you’re playing halfback in the league because of the pass protection part,” Joseph elaborated. “They’ve been good with that part, and they’re all good workers.”

Traditionally, pass protection and assignment checks have been very difficult hurdles for young running backs to overcome, but early indications during the team’s spring workouts point to that not being a major concern as the team wraps up their offseason training.

Outside of three-year vet Devontae Booker, De’Angelo Henderson is the only other back on Denver’s roster with a single year of NFL experience. Other than Booker and Henderson, all of the Broncos’ other three backs are rookies: Third-round pick Royce Freeman, seventh-round pick David Williams and undrafted free agent Phillip Lindsay.

After releasing starting running back C.J. Anderson less than two weeks before the draft, Denver created a massive hole in the backfield for themselves. While a starter won’t be named until late in the summer, Joseph “absolutely” hopes one emerges once the pads come on.

“What you want from your room is obviously a lead back, but you need two or three backs to make it through an entire season,” he explained. “You want more than one guy to be a contributor there.”

The Broncos’ youth movement lining up seven yards behind Case Keenum appears to be off to an encouraging start.

“I mean, I’m really excited about it,” Janovich, a man that rarely shows emotion of any kind, concluded when talking about the potential of Denver’s young running back room.