Quinn-Hillis Trade: Hillis pushes for starting spot with Browns

[BRONCOS_OWN_U16]

no but you did trade a productive player for one that is not.

so what. the trade was worth it at the time. we needed a back up qb.

and the rb/fb position is one of the easier positions to find productive players. players like hillis can be replaced.

[BroncoFanDK]

BINGO! You hit the nail on the head --- he fumbled a couple of times and ended up in the doghouse (well, at fullback, which is pretty much the same thing in a primarily one-back offense).

Fact is, Hillis is EXACTLY the type of player McD is always saying he likes --- tough, smart, versatile. Unfortunately, it appears that he's not always the most objective when it comes to evaluating talent.

Let see ---

Big-name first-round BUST of a QB who couldn't even beat out Derek Anderson (who?) in Cleveland vs. an over-achieving 7th-round steal who plays hard every play and who will do anything just to get on the field....

Sorry, I just can't see how that trade made sense, other than the fact that it was before the draft and he had no idea who'd back up Orton (though I think Brandstater would have been fine, really) and he was tired of hearing the fans and the media talking about a player he had no intention of giving an actual shot.

In any case, I'd take him over any of the FA scrap-pile refugees that are in our backfield for now while we wait on Buck and Knowshon to get healthy --- but you know the saying, "If wishes were horses..."

Lets try another angle on Hillis.

He ended up in the "dog house" because he drew way to many penalties, he had some fumbles and he was in in short yard situations where he didn't perform. Not at any time last year did he show that he should be a starter.

Maybe Hillis had a harder than average comprehension of what the offense should do, and hence drew penalties. Josh runs a very complex system and maybe Hillis is tough (no argument there) but not as good at staying on assignment as some others.

The coaches see the players every day, and it is clear that Josh did not see Hillis as a special RB.

[pblack18707]

so what. the trade was worth it at the time. we needed a back up qb.

and the rb/fb position is one of the easier positions to find productive players. players like hillis can be replaced.

yea and backup qb with quinns talent are a easy to find too. but i realy dont see too many rb/fb with a set of hand like hillis.

[PhillyBronco24]

Hmm hes still not taken in my ff league I might have to pick him up...

[-Rod-]

Lets try another angle on Hillis.

He ended up in the "dog house" because he drew way to many penalties, he had some fumbles and he was in in short yard situations where he didn't perform.

That's an intereting angle, especially considering that Hillis only has 1 fumble in his career. But nice try. Creative angle :thumb:

And it's funny how a short yard failure for Hillis is his just fault, yet when it happens to Moreno the OL is to blame...

[Alastor]

That's an intereting angle, especially considering that Hillis only has 1 fumble in his career. But nice try. Creative angle :thumb:

And it's funny how a short yard failure for Hillis is his just fault, yet when it happens to Moreno the OL is to blame...

I believe that reflects fumbles lost, not fumbles.

he fumbled one kick-off last season at a minimum, but I'm fairly certain there were more.

I don't discount the issues with the O-line that you raise. I do think that when he's missing blocks and blowing assignments in run blocking or pass blocking that this means something, and then I see him miss a hole on a run play and I have to think he actually missed the hole rather than it not being where it was supposed to be.

Further, good backs can find the open hole. There were times when Hillis ran that holes were present and he simply didn't find them.

[-Rod-]

I believe that reflects fumbles lost, not fumbles.

he fumbled one kick-off last season at a minimum, but I'm fairly certain there were more.

Nope. He only fumbled the ball once while returning a kick against the Browns. But people create such a bad image of him that it looks like he fumbled the ball 10 times.

[Alastor]

Nope. He only fumbled the ball once while returning a kick against the Browns. But people create such a bad image for him that it looks like he fumbled the ball 10 times.

Fair enough. I believe ya'.

[Bernie24]

I believe that reflects fumbles lost, not fumbles.

he fumbled one kick-off last season at a minimum, but I'm fairly certain there were more.
I don't discount the issues with the O-line that you raise. I do think that when he's missing blocks and blowing assignments in run blocking or pass blocking that this means something, and then I see him miss a hole on a run play and I have to think he actually missed the hole rather than it not being where it was supposed to be.

Further, good backs can find the open hole. There were times when Hillis ran that holes were present and he simply didn't find them.

1. There was not.

2. Also not true, Hillis got stuffed 2-3 times last year, because that's about all the chance he was given.

And funny how a good back like Moreno never misses a hole that was present. Nope when Moreno runs and gets stuffed(probably around 50 times last year) there is no hole. When it happens to Hillis, he didn't see it.

When he was given legit time as a complimentary back in garbage time he destroyed the Chiefs.(I know it the Chiefs but still) He carried about 3 of them on his back from behind the LOS for a first down.

I just loved how Hillis would give it everything he had every down and I honestly wish we had more players like him...

[BRONCOS_OWN_U16]

yea and backup qb with quinns talent are a easy to find too. but i realy dont see too many rb/fb with a set of hand like hillis.

the broncos were banking on quinns potential. they were hoping he could develop more in denver. he's still young and its only been 2 preseason games. Orton looked just as bad last preseason. he still has time to turn things around.


and yes you can find a fb with hands like hillis. our old fb kyle johnson had great hands. maybe even better then hillis.

[Alastor]

1. There was not.

2. Also not true, Hillis got stuffed 2-3 times last year, because that's about all the chance he was given.

Wouldn't that indicate that there might be a problem with the runner? I mean even with a bad line Moreno got a lot of yards...

And funny how a good back like Moreno never misses a hole that was present.

I never said anything like that in this thread and neither did anyone else. Don't put words in my mouth, Bernard. It's dishonest as well as irritating.

I try hard to be fair and reasonable in the conversations I have on the boards here. I'd appreciate it if you started doing the same, at least when having a conversation with me.

[BRONCOS_OWN_U16]

1. There was not.

2. Also not true, Hillis got stuffed 2-3 times last year, because that's about all the chance he was given.

And funny how a good back like Moreno never misses a hole that was present. Nope when Moreno runs and gets stuffed(probably around 50 times last year) there is no hole. When it happens to Hillis, he didn't see it.

When he was given legit time as a complimentary back in garbage time he destroyed the Chiefs.(I know it the Chiefs but still) He carried about 3 of them on his back from behind the LOS for a first down.

I just loved how Hillis would give it everything he had every down and I honestly wish we had more players like him...

everyone destroyed the chiefs that day.
including moreno and buckhalter.

[Bernie24]

Wouldn't that indicate that there might be a problem with the runner? I mean even with a bad line Moreno got a lot of yards...

Moreno was given multiple oppurtunities.

I never said anything like that in this thread and neither did anyone else. Don't put words in my mouth, Bernard. It's dishonest as well as irritating.

I try hard to be fair and reasonable in the conversations I have on the boards here. I'd appreciate it if you started doing the same, at least when having a conversation with me.

?

You said a good back would find the hole. I inferred by good back you meant Moreno and Buck. And it wasn't really directed at you specifically, I just noticed A LOT of people scape goat the Oline for Moreno's failures, and when Hillis comes into the conversation "omg he sucked all his fault".

[Alastor]

You said a good back would find the hole. I inferred by good back you meant Moreno and Buck.

No, Moreno certainly had his share of miscues last season as well. At times however, he showed the potential he has. He was also a rookie. I remember at least three plays where he was one shoe-string tackle away from breaking off big gains for TDs for example. He did much better in pass-blocking than Hillis as well.

Pass-blocking is a big part of this too. The trade may have had more to do with the fact that in our system a back must be able to pass block as well as run the ball, and Hillis was a horrible pass-blocker last season. He left some things to be desired in run blocking as a lead blocker as well.

On two back to back plays against the Browns specifically I recall him missing his goal-line block when he led for Moreno, which resulted in us getting stuffed.

It's not just about his ability to run. In our system the backs must also be able to block, and they certainly can't be getting false start penalties that push us out of short and goal.

It's not just about the running.

And it wasn't really directed at you specifically, I just noticed A LOT of people scape goat the Oline for Moreno's failures, and when Hillis comes into the conversation "omg he sucked all his fault".

A little clarity goes a long way.

[japfaff]

Personally I always liked Hillis. I think that he is a beter fit for our O than Moreno is.... But that being said... He was never going to see the field here. i still think that it was a very smart trade