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Year of the rookie Running back


Sgt Ryan
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Every year one or two rookie RBs seem to make an impact on a teams roster. This year there are 10 legitimate rookie RBs who have played a role in their teams running game.

 

 

 

Matt Forte - Chicago

Jonathon Stewart - Carolina

Chris Johnson - Tennesee

Darren McFadden - Oakland

Felix Jones - Dallas

Steve Slaton - Houston

Tim Hightower - Arizona

Kevin Smith - Detroit

Ray Rice - Baltimore

 

 

And Rashard Mendenhall gets the start tonight - Pittsburgh

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I was saying last year that I loved this year's RB class. You also left Torain off that list, and he's looking more & more like a shoe-in to start the second half of the season.

 

Wait a couple of years for some of the smoke & vets to clear. We'll be looking at this RB class like we looked at the '83 QB class.

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I was saying last year that I loved this year's RB class. You also left Torain off that list, and he's looking more & more like a shoe-in to start the second half of the season.

 

Wait a couple of years for some of the smoke & vets to clear. We'll be looking at this RB class like we looked at the '83 QB class.

 

 

Im fully aware of Torain, but he hasnt seen the field yet, thus I left him off the list so far.

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I was saying last year that I loved this year's RB class. You also left Torain off that list, and he's looking more & more like a shoe-in to start the second half of the season.

 

Wait a couple of years for some of the smoke & vets to clear. We'll be looking at this RB class like we looked at the '83 QB class.

Torain a shoe in to start the second half? What makes you make such a bold statement? I own Torain, but feel he is far from a shoe in.

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Torain a shoe in to start the second half? What makes you make such a bold statement? I own Torain, but feel he is far from a shoe in.

 

1) That no DEN RB has asserted themselves despite Shanahan giving each an ample opportunity to do so.

 

2) That Torain was rising quickly up the depth chart in preseason right before he got hurt.

 

3) That his running style fits the DEN running game to a tee.

 

4) That despite being 3-0 on Friday, that Shanahan & Cutler among others are speaking about his return 5 weeks from now:

 

Link

 

Broncos report: Shanahan, Cutler await Torain's expected return

 

By Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published September 26, 2008 at 4:38 p.m.

 

Broncos rookie running back Ryan Torain, who suffered a fractured left elbow and ligament damage in early August, is improving and could be in uniform for the Nov. 2 home game against the Dolphins.

 

What is this?

 

A secret weapon? Not exactly.

 

"Just maybe one people don't expect," Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler said.

 

Somewhat lost in all the numbers the Broncos offense has put up in three games is the fact the guy who just might have been their starting running back is close to returning to practice.

 

Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said Friday that rookie Ryan Torain is on track to return to practice in the days leading up to the Broncos' Oct. 20 game in New England. If all goes well, Torain could play after the Broncos' Oct. 26 bye. The Broncos will face the Miami Dolphins on Nov. 2 at Invesco Field at Mile High.

 

"From what we saw in camp, the kid is an explosive runner and in the second half of the season, guys get worn down and we're going to pop this fresh kid in there," Cutler said. "It's going to be exciting to watch."

 

Torain suffered a fractured left elbow and some ligament damage that required surgery in early August. At the time, he steadily was moving up the team's depth chart, with Shanahan saying, before any preseason games had been played, that Torain was headed toward being the team's starter.

 

At the time, Shanahan called him "one of the most gifted running backs I've been around, and I've been around for a long time, very similar to Terrell Davis when he came in."

 

Torain, who still is wearing a brace on his left arm for much of his day around the Broncos' Dove Valley complex, has been doing conditioning work and exercises to regain the range of motion in his arm.

 

"I'm excited, I'm just going to keep working hard and get back," Torain said. "I started running, and that's when it started to feel like it's getting closer, like I was taking some strides. It's going to be fun."

 

At 225 pounds, Torain is considered the team's best power/speed combination in the backfield. In two seasons at Arizona State, he averaged 5.4 yards per carry, and he rushed for 1,229 yards as a junior.

 

He played in only six games as a senior because of a foot injury that required surgery. Some teams didn't like his speed at the scouting combine - he ran in the 4.6s in his 40-yard dashes, 4.71 on the electronic clock - but others believed his speed would improve as he continued to recover from his foot surgery.

 

Shanahan consistently has pointed to Torain's ability to cut at nearly full speed during the Broncos workouts, which enable a runner to play faster than his timed speed. Torain showed enough in the first two weeks of camp that the Broncos kept him on the 53- man roster rather than place him on injured reserve for the season.

 

"The guys on defense were saying that all along," Cutler said. "He's going to have some impact for us."

 

For Torain, this week has been slightly disappointing. The back who went to high school in suburban Shawnee Mission, Kan., was hoping to play in Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday. Torain almost certainly will face the Chiefs on Dec. 7 in Denver, but he will have to wait until next season to play in front of family and friends.

 

"It would have been great to play Sunday," Torain said. "It would have been great for the family to come out and watch me. But the Chiefs still have got to come here, and my family is still coming out for that."

Edited by Bronco Billy
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Well I trade Chris Perry for Torain today. I now have Torain in all my leagues...Bronco Billy you better come through for me.

I love Torian's potential as well, but this was a risky move. Shanny may still split carries like crazy between any number of backs, and it is going to take Torian awhile to get his legs back under him. I expect big things out of Torian next year, but maybe not as much as I would like this year. I hope I'm wrong, but I'm just being realistic.

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I love Torian's potential as well, but this was a risky move. Shanny may still split carries like crazy between any number of backs, and it is going to take Torian awhile to get his legs back under him. I expect big things out of Torian next year, but maybe not as much as I would like this year. I hope I'm wrong, but I'm just being realistic.

 

Without a doubt it is risky. That is the only reason he agreed to make the trade, but Perry has a tough schedule and the Bengal's are awful.

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i drafted chris johnson in the 8th round....basically in case one of my first 3 guys got hurt or just tanked....i think i pulled the trigger at just the right time on him....and then i grabbed slaton in the 13th...i couldnt believe he was still there really...considering some of the guys that were being taken as 4th and 5th backs....there was so much potential and upside....i actually remember just having such a good feeling when my pick came up and he was still there

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Well I trade Chris Perry for Torain today. I now have Torain in all my leagues...Bronco Billy you better come through for me.

Wow, there's a leap of faith. With the return of Deuce, I'm looking to drop Pierre Thomas and may pick the kid up just in case, but I have the luxury of having two very, very solid RBs, a decent RB3 and enough good WRs that I can go 3 wide if I have to or suffer an injury. I'd be very hesitant to give up anyone who could be plugged in if needed for a guy who's not due to even suit up until week 9.

 

So, maybe BB's right, and I'm likely willing to tie up a roster spot on the chance that I catch lighting in a bottle, but I wouldn't get carried away.

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here's some thoughts on my experience with the rookie RB's along with some predictions/expectations....but keep in mind that I hold somewhat high expectations for all of them, but only expect 3 of them to really pan out by seasons end...

 

1. I have bet heavy on a bunch of these young backs this year across the board...

 

2. I am almost positive that Torain will be the starter by week 10...but Pittman will still get enough crucial touches (GL) to make people angry, but not affect Torain's number of touches...

 

3. I said I like Forte the most out of the rookie RBs before the season and drafted almost every rookie RB except him and he's done the best...so far...

 

4. I've owned or do own in several leagues... CJ, Stewart, Mendenhall, Felix, Hightower and Torain...I never liked Smith and thought the Bears would suck a lot worse prior to the season, so I soured on Forte...so I missed out on the best and worst back out of the bunch, except Torain when he comes back...

 

5. even as a backup and getting a bit over a handful of touches a game (depending on what the score is), Hightower can be a nice bye week fill-in if you need him to be....the Cardinals are constantly in the red zone and he gets the red zone touches....

 

6. Chris Johnson will get the majority of the touches by week 8 and Stewart will be relied on more than DeAngelo because Stewart seems to be more effective regardless of the opponent...

 

7. I don't think Barber can hold up the entire season...or another entire season of running the way he does and see Felix either taking over or getting enough carries to warrant a possible start if there is a situation with my lineup...with this OL blocking the way it has in Dallas, he seems to explode past the line with ease and is much quicker than Barber, just not as physical....

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