Monte Ball expected to see 7-8 carries/game

[Freyaka]

Per Roto World

http://www.rotoworld.com/headlines/nfl/313063/montee-ball-expected-to-see-7-8-carriesgame

The Denver Post's Troy Renck anticipates Montee Ball mixing in for "seven to eight" carries per game behind C.J. Anderson.
Renck has Anderson ticketed for 18 carries a game. Before flopping last year following a preseason appendectomy, Ball averaged 4.66 yards per carry as a change-of-pace back behind Knowshon Moreno as a rookie in 2013. Ball's career YPC average currently stands at 4.18. Ball has been a fantasy disappointment through two NFL seasons, but he can be effective in a complementary role. He'll also offer handcuff appeal behind Anderson.

[Dennis.1960]

This sounds good and if Montee can excel in this role, he could begin to work himself back up to fulfilling his promise as a feature back

[HUMCALC]

This sounds good and if Montee can excel in this role, he could begin to work himself back up to fulfilling his promise as a feature back

How would he be a feature back unless he's traded? CJ Anderson is going to get the bulk of the carries, and he's both younger & cheaper. Barring injury of course

[samparnell]

Denver will probably average about 30 rushing attempts per game. I doubt if more than three RBs will be active on game day. If C.J. averages twenty rushing attempts per game, that would be well over 60% of the total. It makes sense for Ball to spell C.J. The Broncos have good RB depth.

[brianmcfarlane]

Only 7-8 carries? I think that is little low. I bet there will be games he gets only 7-8 carries but on average I bet he sees over 10 carries a game by the end of the season. Later in the season CJ will need some relief too, it is hard to stay 100% healthy and fresh the whole season. Ball will be a solid "relief" back.

[Freyaka]

Only 7-8 carries? I think that is little low. I bet there will be games he gets only 7-8 carries but on average I bet he sees over 10 carries a game by the end of the season. Later in the season CJ will need some relief too, it is hard to stay 100% healthy and fresh the whole season. Ball will be a solid "relief" back.

Not really, CJ gets 18-20, ball gets 7-8 some other back gets 1-2. We'll probably rush about 30 times a game. This sounds about right.

[broncos SB2010]

Only 7-8 carries? I think that is little low. I bet there will be games he gets only 7-8 carries but on average I bet he sees over 10 carries a game by the end of the season. Later in the season CJ will need some relief too, it is hard to stay 100% healthy and fresh the whole season. Ball will be a solid "relief" back.

Kubiak is known for having a workhorse RB that carries the majority of the load. It will all depend on how CJ does though.

[dizzolve]

A lot of media doesn't seem to know the struggles our offensive line was going through when Ball was starting. I think Ball could do MUCH better with an OL who is settled into jobs - as opposed to being tinkered with and experimented with because things weren't coming together.

Having said this, CJ made plays despite the OL's issues.

I think we still haven't seen what Ball can do. I also think CJ will continue to show that he can make the 1st guy miss 90% of the time and the 2nd guy miss 50% of the time

CJ is one of my favorite Broncos after last season. But I think Ball can still make a splash

[broncos SB2010]

A lot of media doesn't seem to know the struggles our offensive line was going through when Ball was starting. I think Ball could do MUCH better with an OL who is settled into jobs - as opposed to being tinkered with and experimented with because things weren't coming together.

Having said this, CJ made plays despite the OL's issues.

I think we still haven't seen what Ball can do. I also think CJ will continue to show that he can make the 1st guy miss 90% of the time and the 2nd guy miss 50% of the time

CJ is one of my favorite Broncos after last season. But I think Ball can still make a splash

I think both RB can be good. I am worried about the Oline and their ability to play at the NFL level. They could have up to 4 new starters, several of them rookies and others not having much experience at all. It's very possible to see an Oline of:

Sambrailo--Garcia--Gradkowski--Vasquez--Schofield

Now people keep saying Kubiak can turn anyone into a good Oline....having 3 or 4 new guys in their 1st and 2nd year in the league??? That's a tough order to fill.

[dizzolve]

One day Big Al was talking about how - in the ZBS, simple 'effort' can actually go a long way. If these rooks can absorb what their jobs are (and attack the snap with confidence) and don't take any plays off, they actually could be better than what you might expect from power scheme with rooks. Dunno if that's the case, but there a ton of variables between this season and last.

If the OL doesn't turn out to be even adequate, Monte Ball might struggle again - of course he should at least be healthy now though. I'm just not worried about CJ - dude is a greased cannon ball with legs

[beastlyskronk]

Only 7-8 carries? I think that is little low. I bet there will be games he gets only 7-8 carries but on average I bet he sees over 10 carries a game by the end of the season. Later in the season CJ will need some relief too, it is hard to stay 100% healthy and fresh the whole season. Ball will be a solid "relief" back.

I think it may actually be a little high. Kubiak runs his primary rb into the ground. Barring injury ball probably won't get more than 130 carries all season.

[HUMCALC]

I think it may actually be a little high. Kubiak runs his primary rb into the ground. Barring injury ball probably won't get more than 130 carries all season.

That would be 8 carries a game, right on par with the writer's expectations

[Den615]

Kubiak is known for having a workhorse RB that carries the majority of the load. It will all depend on how CJ does though.

I think it may actually be a little high. Kubiak runs his primary rb into the ground. Barring injury ball probably won't get more than 130 carries all season.

This is a misconception that is very popular on these boards, but it isn't entirely true.

A few examples off the top of my head.

2005 Denver Broncos
Mike Anderson -- 239 carries -- 1014 yards -- 13 TD's
Tatum Bell -- 173 carries -- 921 yards -- 8 TD's

2011 Houston Texans
Arian Foster -- 278 carries -- 1224 yards -- 12 TD's
Ben Tate -- 175 carries -- 942 yards -- 4 TD's

Obviously there have been seasons with Davis, Portis, and Foster where Kubiak did ride his workhorse, but he also knows the value of splitting carries.

[beastlyskronk]

This is a misconception that is very popular on these boards, but it isn't entirely true.

A few examples off the top of my head.

2005 Denver Broncos
Mike Anderson -- 239 carries -- 1014 yards -- 13 TD's
Tatum Bell -- 173 carries -- 921 yards -- 8 TD's

2011 Houston Texans
Arian Foster -- 278 carries -- 1224 yards -- 12 TD's
Ben Tate -- 175 carries -- 942 yards -- 4 TD's

Obviously there have been seasons with Davis, Portis, and Foster where Kubiak did ride his workhorse, but he also knows the value of splitting carries.

How much of the splitting was due to shannahan? Tate had a 175 carries but 84 came in 4 games. Foster missed 3 and the last game they had the division wrapped up so Tate got the majority of the carries. If kubiak feels he has a true workhorse he's going to grind him

[SammyWinder]

Just do not see what people see in Ball, he is slow and plodding and does not run big.

I will necro this thread in December to prove that point. I really think someone not named Hillman or Ball will be our number 2.