Mike Bell, Tatum Bell and Cedric Cobbs have been lined up behind a shroud of secrecy.
Presumably the trio assembled in that order, but in no way were any Broncos, from coach Mike Shanahan to each running back, confirming their exact placement.
“For this game, I won’t give away which back will start for tactical reasons,” Shanahan said. “Now after this game, it’ll be different.”
For the season opener Sunday against the St. Louis Rams in the Edward Jones Dome, the best guess is Mike Bell will start, Tatum Bell will rotate in by the second or third series, and Cobbs will have to wait until the game develops.
This is based on how the depth chart was written throughout the preseason, and the respective performances during the Broncos’ running back showdown Thursday against the Arizona Cardinals.
Mike Bell had the most yards against Arizona’s first-string defense in the first half, and the most yards during second-half garbage time.
But Tatum Bell ran well, too, and so did Cobbs. On second thought, given the unpredictably of Shanahan’s game-plan patterns, perhaps the best guess is to count on a season-opening tailback order other than Mike Bell, Tatum Bell and Cobbs.
“I know I’m going to play some, but whether or not I start, I’m not sure,” Mike Bell said. “I’m not worried about it because I’m just happy to be here. Coaches have told us they’re not going to tell us anything until game day.”
If past experience and the speedy St. Louis turf are factors, then Tatum Bell would be in line for his second NFL start. He has 1,317 yards, Cobbs has 50 yards and Mike Bell has zero.
None of those numbers, though, were gained in 2006. For 2006, the rush totals are zero for Tatum Bell, zero for Mike Bell and zero for Cobbs.
“Whoever gets the job is going to deserve it,” Tatum Bell said. “We’re all out here competing. We’re all playing. We don’t know how the rotation is going to work, so whenever I get in, all I can do is worry about my job.”
