NFL Draft 2009 Review: RB Knowshon Moreno

by Skeller on May 4, 2009 8:00 AM EDT in Football

Georgia RB Knowshon Moreno was the first RB off the draft board this year, coming in at #12 overall. That's the lowest that the first RB has been drafted since 2004, when a RB wasn't taken until #24 overall. Of course, that guy was Steven Jackson and he turned out alright, so Moreno shouldn't feel bad about his draft position.

What he SHOULD feel bad about is the fact that he landed in Denver, a team with a ton of running backs, a new QB and a rookie Head Coach that may be a few sandwiches short of a picnic. But other than that, hey, welcome rookie!

Back on April 2nd, I wrote about the crazy RB situation in Denver and how it would affect new QB Kyle Orton.

Quick Quiz: Name the Bronco RBs with 15+ carries last season.

Answers: Peyton Hillis, Michael Pittman, Selvin Young, Tatum Bell, Andre Hall, P.J. Pope, Ryan Torain.

And don't forget that in the off-season they've already signed J.J. Arrington, Correll Buckhalter and LaMont Jordan. And the Broncos now have two first round draft picks (#12 and #18) coming up. They might draft a RB. Who's going to be starting at RB? Who knows? It might be unknowable, like the sound of one hand clapping.

Since then they cut Cory Boyd, Andrew Pinnock and Selvin Young (oh boy), but who will be starting at RB in the Mile High City is still unknowable.

What are the odds that Moreno gets to be their main running threat? Near zero. He's going to share carries this season and share them with more than one running back. HC Josh McDaniels is more than comfortable with that plan after his time with New England. McDaniels is all about quarterbacks anyway.

That brings up another key point -- the Broncos are going to focus on throwing the ball, not running. They're going to throw the ball a lot this year. Moreno may be the cornerstone of the Broncos offense someday, but it won't be this season. I'd be surprised if Moreno finished with more than 700 rushing yards.

This is truly a terrible place for Moreno to land and a place where his fantasy value will be depressed for a long time. He's probably worth a shot as an RB3, but right now, that's all.

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Comments

It's not that bad

Granted Josh McD is a rookie coach but Denver will have one of the most potent offenses in the league. He lands at team that has one of the best young offensive lines in the game. The Broncos seems to be switching from a pass early and often to a more balanced attack since the only coaches he kept were running backs and o-line. Knowshon’s position coach is Bobby Turner now in his 15th year with the Broncos, has produced 1000 yard back out of second day draft picks and undrafted free agents. Denver also picked up the best blocking TE in the draft . Finally Knowshon will also be catching a few balls and scoring receivingTD’s.

I agree there will be some sharing especially with Hillis, but Knowshon fits the Zone Blocking scheme and will break off plenty of yards, just not 30 carries a game.

by DBinKC on May 4, 2009 4:17 PM EDT reply actions

Good points

I just want to see some sign that he will be even the 2nd RB. There are a LOT of guys on the roster ahead of him. If he has a slow camp or holds out, he could be out of the running (ha!) for playing time early on.

by Skeller on May 4, 2009 8:27 PM EDT reply actions