Why The Denver Broncos Should Resign Free-Agent Running Back Knowshon Moreno

Dec 2 2012; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos running back Knowshon Moreno (27) warms up before the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Sports Authority Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Knowshon Moreno is set to be a free-agent this offseason while the Denver Broncos are already planning ahead and thinking about giving now second-year pro Montee Ball the starting spot. This would be a bad move on the part of Broncos management who saw Moreno burst onto the NFL scene after spending countless years battling injury.

Moreno seemingly got the upper-hand as the starting running back when Montee Ball missed a blitz pickup dating back to the preseason when the Denver Broncos played the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field. I still have my doubts about Ball is some situations when it comes to pass-blocking, flat-routes, or even taking care of the football.

Moreno ran away with the starting job last season, proving to be a player worth keeping around for years to come. He is just 26-years-old, coming off of a career-year with Peyton Manning under the helm. He would play in all sixteen regular season games, carrying the ball 241 times for 1,038 yards on the ground, 4.3 yards per carry. He struggled with fumbling problems early on in his career, fumbling seven times in four seasons up until the 2013 campaign where he fumbled just once.

You can’t forget how important Moreno was in the check-down game for Manning when all the other options were covered. Moreno would catch a career-high 60 passes for 548 yards and three touchdowns last season. At times, he even looked like he was a more comfortable receiver than he was a running back. Knowshon is the complete package at the running back position for the Denver Broncos. He can catch, run, pass-protect while picking up blitzes to protect their hall-of-fame quarterback.

Denver is leading towards giving Montee Ball the starting reigns as noted above, while sliding either Ronnie Hillman or C.J. Anderson into the number two role. 2013 was a season to forget for Hillman who showed some flashes at times. The running back would carry the ball 55 times for 218 yards, while fumbling the ball twice. C.J. Anderson would be recalled from the practice squad the week prior to the game against the Washington Redskins where he made his NFL Debut. He would carry the ball seven times on the season, accumulating 38 yards in his limited action.

Denver must consider bringing back Knowshon Moreno as he proved he could be a stable part of the offense, given his experience and knowledge in the backfield. Going into the season with a couple of inexperienced running backs could spell doom for a team that is trying to make a Super Bowl run in back-to-back years.