CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Panthers are looking for nicknames for their running backs.
The Broncos are looking for any names to play running back.
After DeAngelo Williams rushed for 186 yards and Jonathan Stewart 115 against Tampa Bay on Monday night, The Charlotte Observer asked, in a poll, if the duo should be called Smash & Dash, Razzle & Dazzle, Boom & Zoom, Wheel & Steel and — getting real desperate — Astound & Bound.
The nickname for the Broncos’ running backs this season should be E.R. & I.R.
Emergency Room & Injured Reserved. Or Doom & Gloom.
The Broncos made another running back inactive this past week and now are one shy of Santa’s reindeer — not counting Rudolph — and recently signed Andrew Pinnock. He could become the ninth back, not reindeer, and might have a red nose, for all anyone in Denver knows.
Williams and Stewart have produced 1,840 yards rushing.
The Broncos’ seven-headed running back — Young (but not Old), Hall (but not Oates), Pittman, Torain, Hillis, Pope (but not Billy Graham) and Bell (but not Book and Candle) — has run for 1,279 yards. And now Cory Boyd is in the mix but likely will be inactive today.
B&B?
Where’s Sammy “Mississippi Mud” Winder when you need him?
It has been this bad before. In 1960 the Broncos ran out nine running backs, who ended up with 1,457 yards.
I’ll give you one point for each running back you can name from the first season (without searching), and you won’t have enough points for a field goal — or a safety. And I’ll spot you a Bell — Henry.
Mike Shanahan keeps a ready list of potential running backs. It’s longer than Santa’s Christmas list.
Selvin Young, who is expected to be available today, had a goal of 2,000 yards rushing in 2008. Maybe he should have said 200 yards. Remember Michael Pittman? Barely. Ryan Torain looked pretty good after coming back from a preseason injury — until he was hurt after playing part of one game. Oh, the happy- to-sad tale of Peyton Hillis. At least when Shanahan said, “Get Tatum Bell on the phone,” that was easy. Tatum was the second-most famous Bell in the history of the telephone business.
(If Bell, who will start today and be backed up by P.J. Pope and Young, scores a touchdown against Carolina, the commissioner should give him a pass if he pulls out a cellphone in the end zone. He’ll just be calling the folks back at the phone store in the Aurora Mall to check on holiday sales.)
Panthers coach John Fox understands Shanahan’s dilemma. In 2004 he lost Stephen Davis, then DeShaun Foster. Two replacements also got hurt.
“So,” Fox says, “I don’t know how to go about preparing for it. But I’ve prepared for it.”
Huh?
The Broncos better be prepared to stop the run, because they can’t run and hide.
This will be tricky for the Broncos. The Panthers cut a swath through the Bucs, who have a rather challenging defense.
And the Panthers could clinch a playoff spot today.
The Broncos do have some things going for them.
They can win the AFC West title today with a win and spend the last day of the season on the beach in San Diego.
They have never lost a game in Charlotte. Of course, they have never played a game in North Carolina. This is the only state in the NFL where the Broncos haven’t won or tied a regular-season game.
They have won three consecutive road games, all in the Eastern time zone. They have beaten all the other teams in Carolina’s division and can make it a sweep.
They are getting healthier. They are getting more experienced on defense. They might be catching Carolina at the right time, after its Monday night game when it could be overconfident.
They will want to close with three victories to finish 11-5, make my prediction come true and give Shanahan his 16th double-digit victory total as an assistant and a head coach with the Broncos.
They will have Brandon Marshall occasionally working against nickel back Richard Marshall.
They could surprise by effectively running the football, by committee, and turn the Panthers’ running backs into Drizzle & Fizzle.
If they do, the Broncos will have St. Nicknames.
Woody Paige: 303-954-1095 or wpaige@denverpost.com
