Denver Broncos Training Camp Takeaways: How the Broncos' rushing attack is forming into a three-headed monster

Editor’s note: Welcome into one of many, many takeaway pieces to come during Broncos training camp. A staple of DNVR’s training camp coverage, these stories will be posted after each and every practice of camp. Who is standing out, who is lagging behind and who is looking like the favorite in each of the position battles? Those questions and many more will be answered right here.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — “Pads on tomorrow, baby,” Vic Fangio said at the conclusion of Monday’s training camp practice.

And oh baby, the pads were popping during Tuesday’s practice for the first time in camp. Fangio and the Broncos’ staff took full advantage of it, too. Here were the biggest takeaways from Denver’s sixth practice of training camp.

Three-headed monster on the ground

The Broncos have the fourth-highest-paid running back in the NFL, they traded up in the second round to draft another runner and they gave nearly $2 million a year to another back in free agency this year.

And make no mistake about it, they’re going to use them all.

That was very apparent on Tuesday when the team put pads on for the first time this year and truly got to evaluate the rushing attack.

“I thought we ran the ball pretty damn good on offense,” Fangio said proudly after practice. “I need to go look at the tape. I just think we had a good progression. I think tomorrow’s practice will even be better with the pads on.”

To start, Melvin Gordon has appeared to pick up where he left off last year. In the final seven games of the 2020 season, Gordon averaged over five yards per carry. After an offseason haircut—literally—Gordon appears in even better shape and has been reading the field well.

By the Broncos’ actions, he remains the top back as he’s receiving the first rep each day. An element of his game that was displayed widely in the first five practices without pads was his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. Regardless if it’s been Teddy Bridgewater or Drew Lock, Gordon has received plenty of targets. He’s shown to be a reliable receiver in those targets too.

One of Gordon’s best runs on Tuesday came on 3rd-and-5. With the defense expecting a pass, and the offense playing into that with Lock in shotgun, Pat Shurmur dialed up a draw play. As the defense dropped into coverage, Gordon got the handoff and exploded up field. He crossed the first-down marker before the defense could crash down on the play. First down.

While Gordon has been treated as the starter in the first week of camp, it’s very clear the Broncos’ rushing attack will be a group effort, thanks in large part to rookie Javonte Williams.

“He’s been terrific,” Pat Shurmur said after Tuesday’s practice. “His running ability is very obvious, but the things that we see are his instincts as a football player. Some people just get it, and then we’ve all been around people that just don’t quite get it. They wake up every morning and start over. He gets it, and it shows up in his pass protection, it shows up in being able to get lined up, his awareness. He’s got a really bright future.”

Williams’ bright future won’t have to wait. Although Gordon has received the first reps, Williams has received plenty of snaps with the first and second team offense. Not once has the rookie looked out of place.

On Tuesday, he displayed a mature aspect to his game. On 1st-and-10 during a move-the-ball period, Williams received a handoff from Lock out of the gun. Instead of taking off toward the left sideline, the rookie waited for the sweep to develop. Williams slowly drifted to the left as his offensive lineman pulled to the sideline, then made his move and shot up field. The play only gained five yards, but if the 21-year old hadn’t show patience, it would have been far less.

This running style was also on display when he took it into the end zone from a few yards out during a red-zone period. Williams displayed patience as he waited for the hole to develop near the goal line, then hit it hard as he picked up six points.

At 5-foot-10, 220 pounds, Williams isn’t afraid to seek out contact. But on Tuesday, he also displayed a shimmy to freeze a linebacker and pick up three on a play where nothing was open up the middle.

If Denver’s running attacked stopped there, they would feel very comfortable about their two-headed attack. But there will be one more back added to the rotation.

“I like Mike. Mike is a good running back,” Fangio said on Tuesday about Mike Boone. “He’s got juice, he’s explosive, he’s decisive and he runs hard for a guy that’s maybe on the small side, but he doesn’t play small. I like Mike. Mike is not a guy to fall asleep on.”

Wake up. No. 26 is going to see the field. He certainly has been the first week of camp. When Boone’s on the field, there isn’t a drop off in terms of the explosiveness at the running back position.

“He’s an explosive guy,” Shurmur said on Tuesday. “Very explosive [and] again very instinctive. He will earn some playing time in there. He’s done a really good job.”

It’s not a coincidence both Fangio and Shurmur used the word “explosive” when talking about the 5-foot-10, 206-pound back. On Tuesday, trailing the offensive line as they gradually pushed the defensive line to the left, Boone saw a hole on the right side of the line, planted his left foot and shot out of a cannon for a gain of 10 yards.

Although the Broncos have two massive commitments ahead of him on the depth chart, as the head coach said, don’t sleep on Mike.

Near the end of practice, Shurmur displayed just how fluid the running back rotation could be. In a four-play sequence during a move-the-ball period, all three backs were given the ball. In those three plays, Denver picked up 15 yards on the ground.

The potential three-headed rushing attack could not only help keep all three backs fresh, but it could also help them all stay healthy.

Play of the Day

Shurmur wasn’t shy dialing up reverses on Tuesday. The defense wasn’t shy about ruining them.

With Kendall Hinton sweeping across the right side of the field behind the line of scrimmage, and Lock turning up field to block for No. 9, rookie Jonathon Cooper diagnosed the play perfectly and stayed home.

With Cooper maintaining his assignment, Hinton had nowhere to go as he tried to get back to the line of scrimmage. The outside linebacker, however, greeted him for what would have been a seven-yard loss.

It wasn’t a sexy play, but it was a mature play for the outside linebacker.

DNVR Stock Report

Trending up

Justin Strnad — In Josey Jewell’s absence, the second-year backer has impressed. On Tuesday, with pads on, Strnad displayed impressive recognition against the run. During one-on-one pass rush drills, he more than held his own, making it past offensive lineman multiple times.

“He’s done well. I see him getting better and better every day. This is a great opportunity for him, and so far, he’s responded,” Fangio stated. “He’s a long way from being ready, but I do see him getting better every day. Without even watching today’s tape, I saw some good stuff out there.”

Bobby Massie — The veteran’s stock continues to rise in the right tackle competition. Not only did Massie get the first-team reps three days in a row, but he also got the nod the first day the team was in pads.

Trending down

Cameron Fleming — Despite continuously being mentioned by the coaching staff as being part of the right tackle competition, the veteran hasn’t had a full day with the first-team offense a week into camp. On top of that, Fleming hurt his ankle on Monday and missed Tuesday’s practice. Fangio was optimistic after practice as he didn’t think Fleming will be out “too long.”

Quote of the Day

“This is the best version of Drew that I’ve seen.” — Pat Shurmur, when discussing the improvement he’s seen from Lock early in camp.

Injury and Availability

K.J. Hamler missed Tuesday’s practice as he was placed in the COVID-19 protocol. Fangio didn’t know when he would return, but said it could be as early as Wednesday.

Kareem Jackson received his second vet day of camp. Donning a bucket hat, No. 22 was at practice, but not participating.

Jamar Johnson stepped on the practice field for the first time in camp as he makes his way back from the COVID/reserve list. Fangio said the rookie safety won’t be able to practice until he goes through three days of testing that happen in workouts.

Mac McCain “tweaked” his hamstring on Monday and was held out of Tuesday’s practice. Fangio wasn’t sure how long the undrafted cornerback will be out.

Deyon Sizer went down during one-on-ones early in practice and “tweaked his hamstring,” according to Fangio. The defensive lineman walked into the locker room later in practice. It’s unsure how long he’ll be out.

Cody Conway “tweaked his knee” during the early portion of practice during one-on-ones. He was brought off the field on a cart. The extent of his injury is unknown.

Name to Know

No. 53 Jonathon Cooper — If you’re still reading, well, you already know this rookie. Behind Von Miller, Bradley Chubb and Malik Reed, there is at least one outside linebacker spot up for grabs. Cooper is making a strong push to be the player to take it.

The seventh-round pick has received high praise from the coaching staff too.

“I’ve liked what I’ve seen from him,” Fangio stated on Tuesday. “He naturally plays hard. Some guys have to push themselves to play hard, but it comes natural to him which is nice. He’s got good strength, and I think he’s got good football instincts and IQ.”

Not only did Cooper have the play of the day on Tuesday, he also capped off his big day with what would have been a monster sack on Brett Rypien.