I see the Broncos trying to run much more in 2010 than they did in 2009.  The success of the running game will fall on 22-year old Knowshon Moreno’s shoulders.  Moreno played in 16 games (9 starts) for the Broncos last season and he carried the ball 247 times for 947 yards (3.8 ypc) with 7 TD runs.  He also caught 28 passes for 213 yards (7.6 avg) with 2 TD grabs as a rookie.  Moreno has the potential to be a bellcow type of running back if the Broncos keep feeding him the rock.  But Coach McDaniels comes from the Patriots’ school of doing things which often calls for use of RB by committee.

31-year old Correll Buckhalter was outstanding for the Broncos last season.  He played in 14 games (7 starts) for the Broncos last year and he carried the ball 120 times for 642 yards (5.4 ypc) with 1 TD run.  Buckhalter also caught 31 passes for 240 yards (7.7 avg) last season.  The Broncos need to be very careful to limit Buckhalter’s workload because he has a history of getting hurt.  Buckhalter has now played in 88 games (23 starts) in his NFL career and he has carried the ball 596 times for 2,797 yards (4.7 ypc) with 19 TD runs.  He also has caught 116 passes for 1,170 yards (10.1 avg) with 4 TD grabs in his career. 

27-year old J.J. Arrington is penciled in as the #3 RB going into training camp for the Broncos.  He last played in 2008 with the Cardinals.  Arrington has played in 58 games (8 starts) in his four years in the NFL in which he has carried the ball 183 times for 654 yards (3.6 ypc) with 3 TD carries.  He has also caught 91 passes for 693 yards (7.6 avg) with 2 TD grabs and he has returned 114 kickoffs for 2,694 yards (23.6 avg) with 2 TD returns.  Arrington is a jitter bug type of back who would be a perfect change of pace from Moreno and Buckhalter.

The Broncos have recently claimed 25-year old Kolby Smith off waivers from the Chiefs.  He played in 4 games (0 starts) for the Chiefs last season in which he carried the ball 15 times for 33 yards (2.2 ypc) and he also caught 2 passes for 9 yards (4.5 avg).  Smith has now played in 27 games (9 starts) in his NFL career in which he has carried the ball 162 times for 540 yards (3.3 ypc) with 3 TD carries and he also caught 34 passes for 209 yards (6.1 avg). 

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE BRONCOS RBs in 2010:  B-

UPDATE:  (8/2/2010) – The Broncos have traded J.J. Arrington to the Eagles.

The Broncos have claimed 25-year old RB Kolby Smith off waivers from the Chiefs.  Smith played in 4 games for the Chiefs last season in which he carried the ball 15 times for 33 yards (2.2 ypc) and he also caught 2 passes for 9 yards (4.5 avg).  He has now played in 27 games (9 starts) in his three years in the NFL and he has carried the ball 162 times for 540 yards (3.3 ypc) with 3 TD runs.  He has also caught 34 passes for 209 yards (6.1 avg) in his NFL career.  Smith will battle J.J. Arrington for the right to be the Broncos’ #3 RB in training camp.

At least this season the Broncos know that they won’t have to play Kyle Orton hurt as Chris Simms isn’t around anymore.  The 27-year old Orton had the best year of his career last season and the Broncos hope he can repeat it in 2010.  Orton played in all 16 games for the Broncos last season in which he completed 336 of 541 passes (62.1%) for 3,802 yards with 21 TD passes and 12 INTs (86.8 QB Rating).  He also carried the ball 24 times for 71 yards (3.0 ypc) last season.  Orton might not have the strongest arm in the league but it’s good enough to get the job done.  He has now played in 49 games in his NFL career and he has completed 841 of 1,454 passes (57.8%) for 9,121 yards with 51 TD passes and 39 INTs (76.9 QB Rating).  Orton has also carried the ball 77 times for 163 yards (2.1 ypc) with 3 TD runs in his career.  Orton has led his team to a 29-19 career record (60.4%) when he starts a game as he is a winner.

25-year old Brady Quinn was acquired in the off-season in a trade with the Browns and he will likely be the #2 QB in 2010.  He played in 10 games for the Browns last season and he completed 136 of 256 passes (53.1%) for 1,339 yards with 8 TD passes and 7 INTs (67.2 QB Rating).  He also carried the ball 20 times for 98 yards (4.9 ypc) with 1 TD run last season for the Browns.  Quinn is a lot like Orton as he isn’t the best athlete around and he doesn’t have a strong arm.  The Broncos hope that putting better players around Quinn will bring out the best in him.  Quinn has now played in 14 games in his NFL career and he has completed 184 of 353 passes (52.1%) for 1,902 yards with 10 TD passes and 9 INTs (66.8 QB Rating).  Quinn has also carried the ball 25 times for 119 yards (4.8 ypc) with 1 TD run in his NFL career.  Quinn is 3-9 (25%) as a starting QB in the NFL.

Rookie QB Tim Tebow has already passed 25-year old Tom Brandstater on the depth chart.  The Broncos gave up a lot for Tebow and they likely expect him to start in the near future (2011 or 2012).  Brandstater will likely only make the Broncos’ roster if Orton, Quinn or Tebow get hurt.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE BRONCOS QBs in 2010:  B-

UPDATE:  (6/4/2010) – The Broncos have released Tom Brandstater.  He was passed up quickly on the depth chart by Tim Tebow and the Broncos weren’t going to carry 4 QBs in 2010.