Running back Ezekiel Elliott #15 of the Ohio State Buckeyes (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) In the first John Elway-Gary Kubiak draft of 2015, the biggest surprise was they didn’t take a running back. Kubiak — in particular — was raised as a future head coach by Mike Shanahan, who along with the help of his offensive coordinator (Kubiak) and running backs coach Bobby Turner, found such 1,000-yard, one-cut, downhill rushing gems as Terrell Davis in the sixth round, Olandis Gary in the fourth, Mike Anderson in the sixth, Clinton Portis and Tatum Bell in the second and Maurice Clarett in the third. OK, so nobody bats 1.000 in the NFL draft, not even the Broncos at the running back position. Truth is, the Broncos have fallen into running back drought with their drafts. They’ve only taken two in the last six years. Three if you count Tim Tebow. The other two were Montee Ball in the second round of the 2013 draft and Ronnie Hillman in the third round of 2012. Ball can now be officially classified as a bust. Hillman has been decent as a part-time starter/change-of-pace back. Luckily, running backs coach Eric Studesville developed a keeper in undrafted free agent C.J. Anderson, who will be a $6 million lead back this year. Hillman returns on a one-year contract and former Colorado State star Kapri Bibbs is ready to graduate from the practice squad, but the Broncos need to add a pair of fresh, young legs to their running back stable. …
Continue Reading: Denver Broncos draft preview: Running backs
