Don’t fix what’s not broken, right?
Last year, the Denver Broncos had a near-even split between running backs Melvin Gordon and then-rookie Javonte Williams.
Gordon received 231 touches in 16 games and Williams got 246 touches in 17 games. Williams ended up with a slight edge due to a big workload of 29 touches against the Chiefs in December when Gordon was sidelined with injury.
Some Broncos fans (and many fantasy football managers) would like to see Williams get that kind of workload every game, but Denver has no plans to abandon its two-back rotation even after changing coaches.
The rotation helps keeps both backs fresh and, ideally, helps them stay healthy.
“The way that we were last year, I think that we’ll be the same way this year,” Williams said after an OTA practice session last week. “Everything will be good, and we’re just trying to win games.”
New Broncos coach Nathaniel Hackett brought his offense and outside zone blocking scheme with him from the Green Bay Packers to Denver. It’s a running scheme that Williams said isn’t a big change from what the team ran last year.
“We ran a lot of outside zone last year, too,” Williams said. “It’s just get the ball and run to the open hole. People try to complicate it and try to make it more than what it really is, but it’s really the same.”
Gordon and Williams combined to total 2,350 yards from scrimmage and 17 touchdowns in 2021. Fans in Denver should probably expect a similar rotation with similar production in 2022.
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