The Broncos awakened today 7-2 and tied atop the AFC West, but questions abound regarding their offense, which slipped backward Sunday at Oakland after a two-week improvement. Perhaps most perplexing is that the running game, unquestionably the best and most productive in the NFL since Denver coach Mike Shanahan took over as coach in 1995, is leading the way in the current query department.
A surprising shake-up heading into the Broncos’ 17-13 victory at Oakland – where timely production overrode another mistake-filled game by the offense – didn’t provide answers for Denver’s running game, which has suffered a two-game slump. The Broncos’ running backs gained 57 yards on 20 carries against the Raiders, with quarterback Jake Plummer getting 6 of those yards on six attempts. At Pittsburgh last week, running backs Mike Bell and Cedric Cobbs accounted for 37 yards on 20 carries in Denver’s 31-20 victory.
Such anemic running is far from the norm for the Broncos, who will battle San Diego for first in the division Sunday night at Invesco Field at Mile High.
The Broncos have four running backs in the mix: Tatum Bell, Mike Bell, Damien Nash and Cobbs. Former South Florida standout Andre Hall is taking Nash’s place on the practice squad. This week, there are no sure things.
Said Shanahan: “When you have competition at certain positions you do not know where it is going to occur, but chances are it will occur. Sure, you would love to have one guy, but that doesn’t mean that that is the best thing for your football team. If you do what the best thing for your football team is, then I think that we have got a number of running backs who are very capable and very talented, and that may change week by week.”
Tatum Bell still is the starter, but Shanahan said Bell still is in pain from two turf toe injuries that have bothered him the past three weeks and that he shouldn’t have played Bell as much in the Oakland game. After Sunday’s game, Bell simply said, “I’m still hurting,” after he gained 37 yards on 14 carries.
Mike Bell, an undrafted rookie and star in training camp, was healthy, but not activated for the Raiders game because of a poor performance at Pittsburgh.
“I have a lot of confidence in Mike Bell, but Mike Bell had a couple runs that he might have been able to get more yardage on in the Pittsburgh game,” Shanahan said. “He is a young player and he will play a lot for us before the season is over.”
Nash was promoted from the practice squad Saturday. He had four carries against Oakland and fumbled near the goal line on the Broncos’ go-ahead touchdown drive in the fourth quarter. Nash saved himself by falling on the ball. Cobbs, who intrigues the team because of his size (227 pounds), was active against Pittsburgh after missing six weeks with an ankle injury, but was not active at Oakland.
Shanahan said he is confident the Broncos will break out soon, because they always find a way to run. Despite the struggles in the past two games, Denver is ranked No. 4 in the NFL in rushing.
“We are one of the top five rushing football teams in the National Football League, so we are very good with our rushing offense,” Shanahan said. “Does that mean that we can’t get better? No. We have got some competition there and that may be one of the reasons that we are in the top five.”
Staff writer Bill Williamson can be reached at 303-954-1262 or bwilliamson@denverpost.com.
