CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Carolina has Smash and Dash at its tailback position.
The Broncos are expected to counter with a three-player committee of scatbacks.
DeAngelo Williams (Dash) and Jonathan Stewart (Smash) combined for 301 yards rushing last week in the Panthers’ 38-23 victory over Tampa Bay. Tatum Bell and P.J. Pope, who figure to get the majority of carries for the Broncos today in their game against the 10-3 Carolina Panthers, have a combined 135 yards rushing for the season.
Bell, who has 100 yards rushing on 24 carries since he was lured away from an Aurora Mall cellphone store a month ago, is expected to start.
The Broncos also are expected to dress Selvin Young, who opened the season as the No. 1 tailback but has just one carry in the past eight games because of a nagging groin injury.
“He’s been getting better each day and feeling a little bit more comfortable,” Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said of Young.
Bell, Pope and Young are speed backs who are considered most productive when limited to eight to 12 carries a game. A fourth tailback, 218- pound rookie Cory Boyd, had been impressive while running for the Broncos’ scout team in recent weeks, but he has yet to be tested in an NFL game.
Warning.
Denver safety Marlon McCree spent only one season playing for Carolina, in 2005, but he continues to have plenty of respect for his former teammates, especially wide receiver Steve Smith.
“Those guys are tough, tough, tough,” McCree said.
McCree said the Broncos should be wary of playing at Bank of America Stadium, where the Panthers are 7-0 this season.
“You don’t really know what you’re up against till you’re in the room with this 400-pound gorilla,” McCree said. “They are tough, handle adversity well.”
McCree has been out since spraining his ankle Nov. 2 against Miami but said he is “close” to 100 percent healthy. He practiced all week, including work on special teams, and will test the ankle again before kickoff.
Playing?
Broncos players who will be game-time decisions are cornerback Champ Bailey (groin), fullback Spencer Larsen (groin), linebacker D.J. Williams (knee), cornerback Karl Paymah (groin) and wide receiver Brandon Stokley (heel bruise).
Mike Klis and Lindsay H. Jones, The Denver Post
