What's Next for Denver Broncos Rushing Attack After Injury to Ronnie Hillman?

The Denver Broncos have had two different starting running backs so far in 2014. In Week 11 against the St. Louis Rams, they may have a third player in that position.

Mike Klis, from The Denver Post, reported on Monday that starting running back Ronnie Hillman would miss at least two weeks with a midfoot sprain.

Hillman had started the last five games for the Broncos, and he racked up over 100 all-purpose yards in three of those contests. After 109 rushing yards against the San Diego Chargers in Week 8, Hillman had only 29 yards rushing over the last two games. He obviously ran out of steam, but Hillman also had to play with a minor shoulder injury he suffered in practice before the game against the New England Patriots in Week 9.

Now that Hillman is down with this latest injury, the Broncos have a quaternary of backs to turn to as possible starters.

Player	Att	Yds	TDs	Rec	Yds	TDs
C.J. Anderson	30	172	0	8	107	1
Montee Ball	55	172	1	9	62	0
Juwan Thompson	30	121	3	2	6	0
Kapri Bibbs	0	0	0	0	0	0

C.J. Anderson is arguably the best back on the roster. He’s a big back who runs with power, but Anderson might also have the fastest 10-yard split of any back the Broncos have—including Hillman. Anderson was a star for the Broncos in Week 10 against the Oakland Raiders, and he could have won the starting job with that performance.

Montee Ball is returning from the groin injury that has knocked him out of the last five games. Before the start of the offseason, Ball gained about 15 pounds of muscle in anticipation of a larger (starting) role. He looked sluggish with the added weight and had to come back from an appendectomy in the preseason in addition to the groin problem.

Now, Ball has lost the weight and is checking in around 212 pounds—his playing weight from college. This could help him look more explosive and faster than he looked earlier in the season.

Both Juwan Thompson and Kapri Bibbs were undrafted free agents in 2014. Thompson has seen the field, and Bibbs has not yet been active for a game. Both rookies are options for at least a piece of the workload now that Hillman is out.

What’s next for the Broncos rushing attack after this injury to Hillman? Let’s take a look.

C.J. Anderson

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

When Hillman went down against the Raiders, it was Anderson’s time to shine. He came through with 90 yards rushing on 13 carries.

Anderson made his biggest impact (and helped spark the offense) as a receiver out of the backfield. He caught a screen pass one-handed on a 3rd-and-8, then he powered, maneuvered and sped his way 51 yards to the end zone in the second quarter against the Raiders. Anderson finished the game in Week 10 with four catches for 73 yards and one touchdown.

There are many fans in Broncos Country who feel that Anderson has earned the starting role: 

"

@cecillammey Anderson earned it yesterday. Have him start with ball getting reps too - may the best man win.

— Rodi (@BluenorangeFTW) November 10, 2014"

"

@cecillammey CJ Anderson should be the starter hands down he has proven the most with the opportunities he has gotten.

— Tarrell Woods (@BroncoFanatic26) November 10, 2014 "

"

@cecillammey when Peyton said CJ knows the offense and he is comfortable with him, I think CJ is in and is he performs he's in rest of year

— Randy Colorado (@coloradokidRD) November 10, 2014 "

On Monday, I interviewed Anderson on my ESPN Radio show. Anderson expressed gratitude when asked about the support he’s received from the fanbase.

“Thanks for believing in me. I just come in grinding every day. Thank you to all the fans who believed in me and trust me. We have the best fans in the world.” Anderson continued, “It’s just amazing that they’ve always had my back. Just like you, you’ve always had my back. It’s just good that I can prove what everybody has been talking about.”

Anderson’s performance against the Raiders could just be the start of something special for the Broncos.

Montee Ball

Jeff Gross/Getty Images

The Broncos felt Ball would be their lead back in 2014. He received first-team reps throughout the offseason workouts, and when training camp began Ball was at the top of the depth chart.

His season was knocked off track when he needed his appendix removed in the preseason. Ball returned to the lineup, and when the regular season began he was the starter.

Over the first four games of the year, Ball was not that impressive as a runner. He struggled with timing, and Ball was often met at—or behind—the line of scrimmage.

Now that he’s coming back from this groin injury, Ball knows he needs to win the starting job back.

“I most definitely understand what it is. I most definitely have to work for what was taken from me.” Ball concluded, “And when I come back, I’m going to work extremely hard to get that back and that’s the fun thing about it. It’s competition when I come back.”

Ball could be considered a front-runner for the starting job if he’s near full strength.

Juwan Thompson

Justin Edmonds/Getty Images

The undrafted rookie has received plenty of playing time so far this season. Earlier this year, Thompson was getting reps ahead of Anderson.

There’s little nuance to Thompson’s game—he’s a power back in the truest sense. He is tough to bring down when he builds a head of steam, and Thompson dishes out plenty of punishment when running between the tackles.

Thompson is a power back, but he has natural hands and is a good receiver out of the backfield. In addition to catching the ball, Thompson is arguably the best back on the roster when it comes to pass-protection ability.

Even if Thompson is not the starter for the Broncos with Hillman out, he could still see the field plenty as a power back near the goal line.

Kapri Bibbs

Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

Another undrafted rookie, Bibbs was activated off the practice squad on Oct. 20th. The Broncos decided to call him up because he was drawing interest from the Buffalo Bills, according to the Denver Post, and they didn’t want to lose him.

Bibbs was a star for one year at Colorado State. In 2013, Bibbs rushed for over 1,700 yards and 31 touchdowns. He’s one of only three backs (Montee Ball, Barry Sanders) to have 30 or more rushing touchdowns in a single season.

Earlier this year in minicamp, Bibbs looked good as a receiver out of the backfield. His hands were a bit of a question mark because he didn’t catch the ball much in college for the Rams. Bibbs proved that he could be a reliable receiver, plus he showed good burst after the catch.

Bibbs looked good during the preseason as a runner. He’s not the biggest or the fastest back, but Bibbs has a nose for the end zone and he has outstanding balance. Bibbs is tough to bring down after he builds a head of steam, and he can bounce off would-be tacklers.

He has not been active for any of the games so far, but that could change now that Hillman is going to be out.

Summary

The Broncos have a good problem in the fact they have several different—and quality—options at the running back position.

If they are going to use a “hot hand” approach with their backs, then they need to leave Anderson in as the lead back for now. He’s got the hottest hand of any back on the roster based off what he did against the Raiders in Week 10.

Ball dropped weight to be lighter and quicker after looking sluggish earlier this year. He was supposed to be the lead back this season, but injuries and inconsistencies have kept him from playing up to his potential. The Broncos might be best suited easing Ball back into the lineup as he returns from another injury this season.

Thompson gives the team a battering ram between the tackles. He may be the best pass-protecting back on the roster, and that should get him some playing time in certain packages.

Bibbs is the unknown here, but he was impressive during training camp and has good upside.

Broncos head coach John Fox revealed zero clues when talking about the running back rotation going forward for the Broncos.

“It’s who’s healthy No. 1, first and foremost, evaluating that week to week. Last week, [RB] Montee [Ball] was out there practicing but you just didn’t feel he was quite ready to be up for the game so he was inactive. We went with the other three and we’ll evaluate it again come Wednesday. It was really a matter of each week. These things take on different personality and different guys are available and they’re on the roster for that reason.”

In the end, there may not be one lead back that emerges for the team. Things might get further complicated when Hillman does return from this injury. Anderson gives the team the best option in all skill sets, and it will be up to him to see if he can stay hot after his breakout performance in Week 10.

All quotes and injury/practice observations obtained firsthand. Record/statistical information provided via email from the Denver Broncos unless otherwise noted. Contract and salary-cap information provided by Spotrac.com. Transaction history provided by ProSportsTransactions.com.