Peyton Hillis: Just a Fullback?

I'll bet, not even in his wildest dreams, Peyton Hillis ever expected what happened in 2008 to happen.

Even though he was one of the better fullback prospects in the NFL Draft, he still couldn't have guessed his number would have actually been called in the seventh round. By the Broncos, no less.

The running-back womb, where offensive juggernauts who run for 1,000 yards every year are born and grow up into ageless wonders.

See Terrell Davis.

See Olandis Gary.

See Reuben Droughns.

I'll bet Hillis never would have dreamt that he would have the chance to even play at a big Division I school like Arkansas, and to be a teammate of Darren McFadden and Felix Jones, two home-run hitters.

And I can almost guarantee that if you told him back in August of 2008 that he would out-perform his two former back-field-mates, he'd shake his head and say you were crazy.

But it's not a dream. At least, not entirely.

After a slew of injuries dumbed down the once vibrant Denver rushing attack to holding onto the hopes of a pre-season star (Ryan Torain) and another back nursing an injury (Selvin Young), Mike Shanahan had no choice but to throw his fullback into the muddy waters and see if he could swim.

Boy, did he ever.

Despite comments about his speed, lack of agility, pedigree, or that he looks more like he's meant to bale hay than run with a pigskin, Hillis didn't shrug his shoulders. He wasn't overly confident, didn't run his mouth, and never said a word about being over-looked or passed up by other teams.

He just quietly counted his blessings, while loudly showing the world that his 65-yard touchdown run in college was not an accident, or just a benefit of good play-calling.

He was showing us that he was just that damn good.

Due to injuries, Hillis received his first major action in a game against the Dolphins in November, where he caught seven passes for 116 yards and a score. It's important to note that he was facing a decent Dolphins' defense, and wasn't just catching check-down passes.

He was in a damn circus.

Hillis made at least three acrobatic catches, while adding spectacular after-the-catch ability. Larry Fitzgerald would have been proud, that is, if he'd ever seen the footage.

Hillis was then granted a trial run the next game at tailback, where he ran for 24 yards on eight carries. Nothing spectacular. Just another Brian Leonard-wannabe. A shifty fullback who can catch a little, jump here, dive there. Just a tweener' with a competitive edge. A hard-nosed runner with an over-achiever's drive.

(Insert more athletic cliche's here.)

Of course, that was the main consensus until his next game against the Falcons, where he upped the ante with 44 yards and two scores on only 10 carries.

Then a light went on in Mike Shanahan's head. What if this guy can keep doing this, but with more carries?

Shanahan began molding his early season pass-heavy offense into a balanced attack, increasing Hillis's touches for the next two games, as we saw a star being born. Hillis added two more solid games of 74 and 129 yards, both accompanied by a touchdown.

Then catastrophe. The bug that ultimately was the straw that broke the camel's back bit Hillis, inevitably biting Shanahan; the injury bug.

Hillis was lost for the season with a torn hamstring after making a terrific catch. His final game of the season against the Chiefs had him bowing out with 58 yards and a touchdown on only eight carries.

Peyton Hillis scored at least one touchdown in every game he started at tailback, only averaged under 4.4 yards once, and ran for over 57 yards in three of his four starts.

At the very worst, even the most skeptical fan would say that this would be called progress. That, somewhere under that thick neck and broad shoulders, we might have ourselves a damn good running back. That, by God, this kid might have some potential.

But ask the new regime in Denver about Peyton Hillis and potential, and they'll say they're set at running back. What the need is a quality fullback. That's where Hillis comes in.

No, Josh McDaniels doesn't need Jay Cutler, and he doesn't need Hillis running the football in his offense, either. Josh McDaniels says no to running over would-be tacklers, acrobatic catches, touchdowns, and solid rush averages.

Josh McDaniels has already made it clear that Hillis will not compete for a starting job outside of fullback. He has made it perfectly clear that he is not concerned with his potential.

But to call him a fullback, to put him as a blocker, is an absolute waste.

To do that would be to willingly throw Larry Csonka under the bus. Look Jerome Bettis in the eyes and say he's too fat. Tell Christian Okoye you don't want his power. Shake your head to Rudi Johnson.

These are only a handful of players with some of the skills, attributes, and size that Hillis has, and we've easily forgotten about them, despite them actually making at least a marginal impact in the league.

The sad thing is, something tells me we've already forgotten about Hillis, just when he was getting started.

Hillis finished the season on injured reserve with 343 rushing yards, a 5.0 yards per carry average, and six total touchdowns.

Darren McFadden only rushed for 156 more yards, and two less touchdowns.

Peyton Hillis out-ran the guy he used to block for; the same guy that was drafted nearly exactly six rounds ahead of him. He out-performed him, yet he'll probably never get another chance to show it wasn't a fluke, that this wasn't an accident.

I remember a cousin once asking me what YouTube was, and what it was for. I remember answering quickly with some comment about video files, uploading, hosting, and different genres.

But what I should have said, what I meant to say, was that sites like that were meant for guys like Peyton Hillis. Those sites are all about revelations.

And my friends, my colleagues, whether you like it or not, your eyes have been opened. With one click of a mouse, with one view of a clip, we can all see just how good Peyton Hillis might have been.

Upon finishing reading this column, as well as viewing tape of Hillis, I ask of you to honestly answer this question: Is Peyton Hillis really just a fullback?