Selvin Young and Andre Hall know the drill by now: five snaps each, then switch.
The result has been fewer individual carries and yards for the Broncos’ top two running backs through three games.
Here’s how it works:
Young, the starter, comes in first for his five allotted plays. Regardless of how many carries he gets in that time, or how many yards he gains, Young is replaced by Hall.
Young has 26 carries through three games, and Hall has 23. Compare that with 2007, when featured back Travis Henry had 23 carries in the season opener and 60 in the first three games.
“Hopefully in your five plays, you’ve got a run in there,” Hall said. “With the way we’re passing, maybe you get a run, maybe you won’t.”
The Broncos are scoring points at a torrid pace — 38 points per game, best in the league — and quarterback Jay Cutler is averaging just more than 300 yards passing a game.
With an average of 130.3 yards rushing per game, the Broncos rank 10th in the NFL, but the ground game is serving as a complement to the passing attack, and not the other way around.
“They all have a role,” coach Mike Shanahan said of his tailbacks. “We are trying to keep these guys fresh. I believe in all the running backs that we have.”
And Shanahan will keep believing as long as Young and Hall continue to average more than 5 yards per carry. Young is averaging 6.9 yards per carry, with a long run of 49 yards against San Diego. Hall is averaging 5.1 yards.
The third part of the tailback trifecta, Michael Pittman, is performing well in his role as a short-yardage specialist. Pittman, who will sub for Young or Hall when the Broncos need a more powerful runner, has four touchdowns. That total is tied for third in the NFL among running backs and just three touchdowns shy of his career best when he scored seven touchdowns for Tampa Bay in 2004.
“Michael is kind of our workhorse,” Shanahan said.
But how long can the Broncos’ rushers remain satisfied in what might possibly be the league’s purest multiback attack?
That’s easy, Hall said. As long as the offense keeps scoring and the Broncos keep winning, he won’t complain.
“It’s whatever works,” Hall said. “You want the ball, but why be selfish?”
Hall, who like Young is in his second season in Denver, said the current running back situation is unlike any he has ever seen. It is difficult to imagine another scenario in which he wouldn’t be frustrated with fewer than eight carries per game.
“We stick together. We go out together, we get in the hot tub together. We stretch together. We do everything together,” Hall said.
“When ‘Pitt’ scores, I score. When Selvin gets a big run, that’s my big run.”
Lindsay H. Jones: 303-954-1262 or ljones@denverpost.com
Power on ground, too
Without a featured back, the Broncos’ running game is taking a back seat to their high-powered passing attack, but the running backs still are averaging more yards per carry than they were at this point a year ago.
2007
Week 1 at Buffalo: 32 carries for 171 yards, average of 5.3 yards per carry. Leading rusher: Travis Henry, 23 carries for 139 yards.
Week 2 vs. Oakland: 38 carries for 181 yards, average of 4.8 yards per carry. Leading rusher: Henry, 26 carries for 128 yards.
Week 3 vs. Jacksonville: 18 carries for 47 yards, average of 2.6 yards per carry. Leading rusher: Henry, 11 carries for 35 yards.
Total: 88 carries for 399 yards. Average of 4.5 yards per carry.
2008
Week 1 at Oakland: 34 carries for 141 yards, average 4.1 yards per carry. Leading rusher: Andre Hall, 10 carries for 61 yards.
Week 2 vs. San Diego: 24 carries for 145 yards, average 6.0 yards per carry. Leading rusher: Selvin Young, eight carries for 78 yards.
Week 3 vs. New Orleans: 24 carries for 105 yards, average 4.4 yards per carry. Leading rusher: Young, 11 carries for 65 yards.
Total: 82 carries for 391 yards. Average of 4.8 yards per carry.
Lindsay H. Jones, The Denver Post
