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Jeff Legwold, ESPN Senior Writer
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton has said one of the “greatest allies” and “friends” for a quarterback is a productive run game. And when the Broncos return for training camp later this month, the search for one will decidedly be on, as the offense tries to shake its scoring blahs of last season.
“I think we can be that,” Broncos running back Javonte Williams said. “I’ve said, in our room, that’s one of the biggest priorities we have, helping whoever the quarterback is. Do more, help more … I think everybody has that approach with it.”
It doesn’t necessarily mean the Broncos are set to return to the pound-it-out days of NFL yore. But it does mean that when Payton chooses to send the run plays through the headset, the Broncos will do more with them, especially inside the opponents’ 20-yard line and in goal-to-go situations. It’ll be especially important if rookie Bo Nix beats out Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson for the starting quarterback job after camp concludes.
After the 2023 season, general manager George Paton said the offense’s identity was “physicality and ball control.” The Broncos were near the middle of the pack in run-game workload last season (ranked 18th in rushing attempts with 451), but they were 21st in yards per carry (4.0) and tied for 28th in rushing touchdowns (eight). Overall, their offense was 30th in scoring touchdowns in goal-to-go situations inside their opponents’ 10-yard line, converting 53.3% of the time.
The Broncos also finished the 2023 regular season as one of seven teams without either a 1,000-yard rusher or at least one 1,000-yard receiver. Just two of those seven made the playoffs — Kansas City and Baltimore — but they also have two of the league’s best quarterbacks in Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson, respectively.
“You have to be efficient running the ball,” Payton said. “And there is a lot that goes into that … but you have to be efficient with it.”
Things got worse over Denver’s 2-4 finish to the season, too, during which Payton benched quarterback Russell Wilson with two games to go. The Broncos were 31st in the league in yards per carry over those last six games (3.3) and converted 38.5% of their third-down rushing attempts (25th). That inefficiency impacted other parts of the offense, as just five other teams surrendered more sacks over those final six games than the Broncos’ 19.
“Our tight red zone was awful,” Payton said at season’s end. “I have to look closely at my sequencing and what I’m doing and calling. What I mean by that is goal-to-go … Our opportunities, I think, were decent … [but] inside the 10, first-and-goal-to-go, that wasn’t good enough … That’s unusual, that bothered me a lot. Those are four-point swings, really, if you kick a field goal instead of scoring a touchdown.”
Payton’s task now is to amp up those numbers for whoever is under center with largely the same cast as last season. The Broncos’ top three running backs from last season — Williams, Jaleel McLaughlin and Samaje Perine — are all still on the roster. They also used a Day 3 pick on Notre Dame running back Audric Estime, and undrafted rookie Blake Watson flashed at times during the offseason program.
The key may be how the team mixes and matches in a tight competition for three or four roster spots at the RB position. And keep in mind that fullback Michael Burton is expected to be on the final 53-man roster with one of those spots because of his extensive special teams duties. Williams, McLaughlin, Perine, Estime and Watson will be in what Payton has already called “heavy competition.”
Williams, who led the team in carries (217) and rushing yards (774) last season, will be in his second season since his 2022 knee injury that included multiple ligament tears. He appeared to fatigue some down the stretch last season after grinding through injury rehab last offseason just to get back on the field; he didn’t average even 4.0 yards per carry in any game after Week 7.
“I think historically speaking, when you talk to the experts, they say that the complete heal finishes at two years,” Payton said. “Obviously you begin playing before then … I know that he’s looking forward to [this season]. The challenge last year was really when you think about it, even in training camp, it was still early enough in the process where it was hard for him to go full speed with confidence. And yet we were building and getting him where we all felt comfortable he could play.”
Estime, meanwhile, participated in the team’s rookie minicamp and early OTAs but then missed much of the offseason program after having an arthroscopic procedure on his knee. Payton has said Estime will be ready to participate during training camp. He also called Estime an early-down runner, which has been Williams’ role in recent years.
“[Estime] was one of the higher-graded backs after contact,” Payton said. “He’s a physical player … man, he is a first- and second-down runner who I think is strong.”
Watson — one of two backs in the FBS to have at least 50 receptions last season — and McLaughlin are similar in skill set, providing support on passing downs. Payton said McLaughlin has made improving his role in the pass game a priority this offseason.
“He’ll come up and wear me out asking for cut-ups and looking at certain routes,” Payton said. “… He’s here at 5:15 [in the morning], even in the offseason, first one here running in the weight room. By the time he’s at breakfast and most people are arriving, he’s put in a good hour and a half’s worth of work.”
The blocking remains similar in 2024, too. The Broncos’ offensive line had the same five starters in 16 of 17 games last season (right tackle Mike McGlinchey missed the season finale with a rib injury), and though center Lloyd Cushenberry III left in free agency, the other four starters will be back this season.
In the end, how efficient the run game can be will rely on how many times Payton actually sends those running plays through the headset, whether it’s rookie Nix or one of the veterans under center and how the RB depth chart shakes out.
“We have to be better … across the board,” Payton said.
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