Explosive Ronnie Hillman Making Broncos Offense Even More Dangerous

The Denver Broncos moved to 6-1 with a win on Thursday night over the AFC West-rival San Diego Chargers. The win came, not so unexpectedly, due to the steady and efficient presence of the Broncos offense.

Denver has forged an identity as an offensive powerhouse ever since star quarterback Peyton Manning joined the organization back in 2012.

A year ago, Manning took the Broncos to the Super Bowl. A week ago, he put himself atop the record books by throwing his 509th and 510th career touchdown passes.

Against the Chargers on Thursday night, he passed for 286 yards and three touchdowns. However, Manning was far from the only offensive key to the divisional victory.

Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers tossed three scores of his own and pretty much matched Manning in the stat line (30-of-41 for 252 yards) for the night. The difference in this game hinged on Denver's ability to run the ball and control the tempo.

Denver was able to run the ball because of third-year running back Ronnie Hillman.

Hillman rushed for 109 yards and added 29 yards on three receptions. More importantly, his presence allowed Denver to impose its will on offense, give the defense a rest and and lend credibility to the play-action game.

He consistently punished the Chargers defensive front, wore down the opposition and allowed Denver to get first downs when Manning wasn't throwing the football.

Strangely enough, Hillman wasn't even supposed to be a major piece of the Broncos offense at this point in the 2014 season. 

This past offseason, the Broncos decided to part ways with former starter Knowshon Moreno (now on injured reserve with the Miami Dolphins) and go all in on 2013 second-round pick Montee Ball. To their credit, the Broncos were betting on a back who averaged 5.6 yards per carry collegiately and won the Doak Walker Award (given to the nation's top running back) in 2012.

Unfortunately for Denver, Ball hasn't been the every-down back that the team wanted (172 yards and a touchdown on 55 carries this season). A groin injury held him out of Thursday's contest.

Despite Ball being Denver's projected starter entering the season, head coach John Fox was very positive about Hillman's skills. During the NFL combine, Fox commented on Hillman and what he brings to the table, per Mike Wilkening of Pro Football Talk.

"I think he's a tremendous talent," Fox said. "He does give us great explosion as a runner, and particularly to the perimeter. I know he'll work very hard this offseason and try to develop and get better for next year."

That offseason work has been paying off.

Hillman, originally a 2012 third-round pick, has performed extremely well for the Broncos (4.4 yards per carry on the season before Thursday) as an alternative option.

With Ball sidelined, Hillman has started the past three games. All three contests have resulted in Denver victories.

	ATT	YDS	YPC	TD
Montee Ball	55	172	3.1	1
Ronnie Hillman	75	349	4.7	2
Juwan Thompson	24	107	4.5	3

Against the Chargers, Hillman made a strong case for being the feature back moving forward. At the very least, he proved that he can be the physical ground presence that the Broncos need to tough out critical games. 

Hillman can move the chains, take care of the football and break the big play when given the opportunity.

As long as he continues to run the ball as well as he has in recent weeks (283 yards and two touchdowns in Weeks 6-8), Hillman will force opponents to focus on the Denver running game just as much as they worry about Manning and the aerial attack.

Hillman's ability to grind out yards and keep the opposing quarterback off the field should play right into the game plan next Sunday against the New England Patriots. With key matchups against the Chargers, Cincinnati Bengals and Oakland Raiders in the final three weeks of the season, Hillman's presence could also play a major part in Denver's potential postseason push.