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?Filed under:Denver Broncos Roster2019 Broncos roster review: Running back Royce
FreemanNew
Brendan Langley Jersey ,51commentsSecond-year Denver Broncos running back Royce Freeman should have a bigger role in 2019. 2019 Broncos roster review:
Running back Royce FreemanPhoto by Justin Edmonds/Getty ImagesThe Denver Broncos
selected running back Royce Freeman in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft out
of Oregon. After having a prolific career for the Ducks, many expected Freeman
to be the Broncos starter and have a Pro Bowl caliber rookie season for them.
However, he was outshined by teammate and fellow rookie Phillip Lindsay and was
slowed down by injuries throughout the year as well. Now with a complete
overhaul on the offensive side of the ball, I think we will see Freeman have a
bigger impact on the offense in 2019.Royce Freeman ProfileHeight: 6-0Weight: 229
poundsAge: 23 Experience: 2nd seasonAll things considered, it was a
disappointing overall season for Freeman who had high expectations placed on him
entering his rookie year. He dealt with injuries, a poor coaching staff, and the
emergence of fellow rookie Phillip Lindsay. Now he will look for a bounce-back
season in 2019.This past season for the Broncos, Freeman totaled 130 attempts in
14 total games(8 starts) for 521 yards(4.0 yards per carry) and 5 rushing
touchdowns. He also added 14 receptions for 72 yards to his stat line. So again,
not what many(myself included) expected from Freeman during his rookie year.
Freeman told reporters earlier this year that he has high expectations for
himself and that he battled through injuries in 2018 but still has “so much to
offer still”.If you remember, Freeman suffered a naggy high ankle sprain last
season that kept him out of two games and likely limited him throughout the
remainder of the season. Freeman told reporters it was something he dealt with
throughout the year but that the downtime during the offseason will certainly
help him return to 100%.Freeman didn’t look like the same back after suffering
that injury. Before, he looked explosive and powerful and was having a
productive rookie year. After the injury, however, it appeared that he lost that
burst and that it was clearly hampering him some. So having a healthy Freeman
back in the fold in 2019 should be beneficial for the Broncos offense. Photo by
Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesAs for his expectations for the 2019 season,
Freeman told reporters that he is going to continue to put in the work day in
and day out and that everything will take care of itself because of that. A
mindset I can get behind. Personally, I feel like we will see Freeman be used
more and more effectively in 2019. This isn’t a knock on Phillip Lindsay, but I
think we will see their talents used more effectively in Rich Scangarello’s
offense. Freeman fits perfectly as your one-cut, downhill runner in his
zone-running scheme. He is built to be your bell cow and someone who can
flourish in short-yardage and in goal-line situations. This is how I think he
will be used, and will potentially earn more rushing attempts than Lindsay in
some games. Meanwhile, I think we will see Lindsay’s rushing attempts limited
because of his size and play style while getting him more involved in the
passing game and/or getting him into space more. This is something the prior
coaching staff struggled with last season and something I expect to be managed
much better this upcoming season. Also, keep in mind how important the run game
will be to this team this season. They do not want the entire offense to be on
Joe Flacco’s shoulders. The run game will be leaned on and a focal point of this
offense in my opinion and there will be plenty of touches for both players. I
just think they will manage it much better and this likely means more touches
for Freeman. The goodWith Phillip Lindsay sidelined due to an injury, Royce
Freeman has been handling the number one duties at running back during the
spring practices. This is a plus because it gives him a bit of an advantage on
learning the offense as well as being used in other roles that he really wasn’t
used in last year. Reports coming out of Broncos practices are saying that
Freeman looks “swift as a receiver” and is catching passes in stride. This is a
plus and a bit eyebrow-raising after Freeman was not really used in that role
last season. This is a plus for him because many assume that Phillip Lindsay and
even Devontae Booker are better receivers and have been used in that role more
during their career. So if Freeman can eat into their touches in the passing
game, it could earn him more touches and maybe even a larger role in the
offense. Freeman is also the only real power back they have on offense. Lindsay
plays bigger than he is
Bradley Chubb Jersey , but he’s still 190(or less) and Booker while being a bigger back, isn’t a powerful back so that leaves Freeman. He proved he can do
well in this scenario’s as well and add in the offensive line should improve
under Mike Munchak so he should do even better in these roles this upcoming
season. Finally, I think Rich Scangarello and the zone-blocking system will
benefit Freeman a bunch. He has good vision and is your prototypical one-cut
runner. Many backs with similar traits and build have flourished in this same
exact system for years. So again, I think we see a bit of a bounce-back year for
Freeman. The badWhile this entire article has been pumping up the Royce Freeman
stock, we should pump the brakes just a bit. Phillip Lindsay is still on this
roster and still greatly outperformed Freeman last season. Yes, he is dealing
with a wrist injury, but that should have zero impact on his burst and
explosiveness that made him a bit of a phenom last season. Add in Lindsay being
used in the passing game more and he could easily pass Freeman on the pecking
order once again. I think they will start out as an even compliment, but if
Lindsay continues doing what he does, it will be hard not to get him the ball.
This means that Freeman needs to impress early and often as well as staying
healthy. He can’t afford to have another nagging injury that could derail is
ascending stock once again. I still think Freeman has a bounce back year, but
Lindsay could easily once again limit his touch count this upcoming season.
Don’t overlook Booker and his receiving skills cutting into his workload as
well. QuotablesRoyce Freeman on he and running back Phillip Lindsay entering
their second seasons together.“Last year was definitely a great 1-2 punch. I
think that we complement each other really well. He goes out there and does his
thing. I feel like I can go out and do the same. I think we both have the
mindset that no matter who is in the game, we’re both able to accomplish what
the offense needs and trade off.”Royce Freeman on balancing being happy for
Lindsay with personally not having as much success as a rookie.“I think that’s
the type of person that I am. I always want to see my brothers succeed, and he
earned it. He went out there and he played so fierce and competitively. But also
the competitive nature in both of us and pushing each other, I think that’s what
is actually important. Because when I was down, I was helping him out and
telling him what I saw on the field or in these areas. He did the same for me. I
think that’s the competitive nature as well as the helpful mindset we have in
the running backs room.”Royce Freeman HighlightsRoyce Freeman’s roster status
with the BroncosFreeman is obviously a lock to make the team, but his usage is
the big question here. Will he be the main ball carrier while Lindsay spells in
as a runner and receiver? Or will he play second fiddle to Lindsay once again in
2019? That’s the big question here that will remain unanswered until the start
of the regular season. I personally believe the change in offense likely
benefits him the most of the three backs and the focus on the run game should
play into his hands as well. He’s a one-cut downhill runner who can handle a
heavy workload. This would allow you to use Lindsay in multiple different roles
and even put him on the field at the same time as Freeman. It also lets you
limit Lindsay’s touches which is something I believe will be a priority this
year. Now, I could be off and Lindsay’s talent makes your scrap the “limit the
touches” narrative and Freeman is used as the short-yardage/goal line/compliment
back instead. Either way, the Broncos have two talented young backs to lean on
this upcoming season and will need both to produce to have a successful 2019
season. Tight end Jake Butt‘s long recovery from his third torn ACL is set to
take a step forward on Wednesday.Tom Pelissero of NFL Media reports that Butt is
expected to be a full participant in team drills at Broncos practice. It’s a
non-padded session, but still a sign of progress for Butt.Butt tore his ACL
three games into the 2018 season and head coach Vic Fangio said early in camp
that he’d hit a “little pothole” in his recovery. Butt missed a lot of time at
the start of camp while navigating around that setback before finally resuming
on-field work.Butt also tore his ACL while at Michigan and in his final college
game, but called this rehab “the hardest thing” he’s done in his life earlier
this month. If he’s well enough to make the 53-man roster at the start of the
season, Butt will vie for snaps with Jeff Heuerman and first-round pick Noah
Fant.
