Monday, May 20, 2002

ProFootballWeekly.com asks editor-in-chief Ron Pollack for his thoughts on the hottest topics in football. 

Broncos’ backfield takes another twist

Denver RB Terrell Davis, who missed several Broncos games the last three seasons because of leg injuries, was scheduled to undergo arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Monday. The surgery would be the second on the same knee in six months. Davis’ agent Neil Schwartz said the surgery is precautionary and is being done for Davis’ own peace of mind. Davis, who began feeling discomfort after this month's minicamp, is expected to be at training camp, which starts July 25. He has played in 17 of 49 games in the three seasons since 1998, his MVP season in which he rushed for 2,008 yards. He tore a ligament in his right knee in the fourth game of the 1999 season. A foot and ankle injury in his left leg early in the 2000 season eventually was diagnosed as a stress reaction. He was sidelined for all but four games. In 2001, he had arthroscopic surgery on both knees, costing him eight more games.

Pollack: The most interesting issue of any team in all of football is the running back situation for the Denver Broncos during the rest of the offseason, training camp and preseason. They are just loaded in terms of interesting candidates, and yet there are question marks everywhere you look. Terrell Davis is a guy that I just can’t see being able to hold up over a 16-game regular season. When you see a guy start pile up the injuries and surgeries when they have taken somewhat of a pounding in the career at the RB position, guys typically tend to hit the wall and not hold up. I’m not saying there are not exceptions, but that is the rule for the most part. Davis, even in his heyday, never had great size, speed or moves, but he was a tremendous cutback runner, had really good balance, vision and strength in the hips and lower body. But word around the league is that he may have lost some of that lower-body explosiveness, and he didn’t look as quick last season as he has in the past.

Olandis Gary is another guy who fits the cutback, power-runner mold. But injuries have been a problem for Gary over the last couple of years. Again, with running backs, when the injuries start piling up, it’s very difficult to make them stop. Mike Anderson had a huge year as a rookie, but the word around the league was that he was just average last year. There are those who believe all of the running backs are just a creation of the system, where the offensive line is the true star. I don’t think I would agree with that about Davis during his heyday. He certainly benefited from the offensive line, but I think he brought a lot to the table too. But with Gary and Anderson, there is definitely a school of thought that they are just good, but not great backs, who fit the system and take full advantage of it.

Now Denver goes into the season where all of these guys have question marks, all of them have shown at one time or another that they could be big-to-spectacular producers and now added to the mix is rookie RB Clinton Portis. In the past, where the Broncos have always just taken late-round running backs and plugged them into the system and made them stars, in Clinton Portis you have a guy who was taken in the second round. He is a premium draft pick. He has feet, he has confidence, he is tough and what does he bring to the mix? He certainly brings a talent level that maybe you haven’t had before, but there is the inexperience factor. Anderson is moving to fullback so many different issues at running back make it an incredibly interesting situation.

The Archives
2001 - 2002 Season