Denver backfield gets messier
I think Michael Pittman is more likely to make the Broncos than Travis Henry and I doubt both of them will make the team. Pittman's signing shows some long-simmering frustration between the Broncos organization and Henry. It gives Mike Shanahan options.
I agree with the local Denver papers' belief that Pittman is no threat to start. Although Pittman was oddly called a power back in multiple places yesterday, he's a role player that can help on passing downs and special teams. He's a sensible backup if Denver decided to go young with Ryan Torain and Selvin Young.
I wouldn't bury Henry just yet, but he's barely the odds-on favorite to start now. Selvin Young looks like a co-favorite, with Torain a darkhorse. Maybe Young's 2,000 yard goalisn't so crazy, after all. Okay, I take that back. But it doesn't hurt to dream big!
Comments
i just do see henry being released ever this year, really. hes cheap, err cheaper, and he is the only back on that team who can carry a ball 15-20 times a game for more than two weeks in a row. im really not sure about torain at all. plus shanny likes to ease in his rookies, they usually show up towards week 5 or so, even studs like portis. young and especially pittman are more 3rd down/change of pace backs, and i see them remaining that way. pittman at this point is probably just and insurance policy, and really will have no fantasy value this year. hes getting close to the end of his rope. so i think henry and young for first few games this year, and if torain is any good, him for the remainder of the year, maybe young or hall or whoever added in... depending on whos healthy
Posted by: scott c | May 29, 2008 11:32 AM
i just do not see henry....
Posted by: scott c | May 29, 2008 11:33 AM
I tend to agree with you Gregg. A lot of people forget that Henry has always been an overachiever and never a consistent one at that. He's not particularly fast or strong. He just used to always play his way onto the field through effort. I could seriously see the Broncos starting the year with a Young/Pittman platoon with Hall filling in. Then if Torain shows up, slowly transitioning to him starting and Young as a change of pace. I'm not sure any of them are draftable.
Posted by: DJOmaha | May 29, 2008 01:41 PM
reports of travis henry's death are greatly greatly exaggerated.
pittman - old 3rd down back. at this point, just a backup/insurance policy.
torain - another example of shanny thinking his system is so great that he can turn anyone into a 1000 yard rusher. maurice clarett anyone? this guy will have a role, but a small role.
young - shanny himself says he can't take the pounding.
bottom line, selvin's the lesser back in a committee, with henry getting the most carries. the additions of pittman and torain for occasional touches might actually help henry stay healthy. it's a committee regardless, but henry has a lot of makings of a quality buy low candidate. so please do continue to say bad things about him so that i can scoop him up cheaply.
Posted by: veggieb | May 29, 2008 02:16 PM
... o, he will be cheap
Posted by: scott c | May 29, 2008 05:03 PM
torain is the only guy i would draft. shanny likes drafting backs who played well early in college then get hurt. he looks at it like getting a n2d rounder in the 5th or 6th. hell it worked well with T.D. shannys ego will make sure torain has a chance to start.
Posted by: mark | June 1, 2008 04:28 AM
You called that one...do you have some sort of insider working for you at Denver?
Posted by: JR | June 3, 2008 06:17 AM