The Penny/Walker/Homer/Dallas RB room is the strongest one we have had since Lynch left (and that was mainly because of Lynch, let's face it). Penny/Walker/Dallas are all effective threats for screens/flares/wheel routes so it isn't just their running capabilities where they contribute. Penny to his credit showed more of a willingness to pass-protect last year, and that is a strength of Homer's. A great RB room does take pressure off the QB, and the P/A passing game should be money in the bank this year.
The running backs look great on paper. Of course we can't predict injuries and we know Penny's history. So we'll see how that holds up. I've done my best to watch Cross on film, to the extent I can find it, and it looks like his pass blocking is what you'd expect for a rookie with a lot of talent. A work in progress but he'll be fine. I'm not sure of his run blocking, which could be an issue given how dependent we'll likely be on the run game this year.
I have no evidence for this, but it stands to reason that a strong QB makes the run game work better and a solid run game makes the QB's job a lot easier. We've clearly seen how much better Wilson has looked in recent years, since he's lost his ability to essentially be his own running back, when we have someone running effectively. Penny's strong play last year is probably what allowed us to get such a huge haul for Wilson. Otherwise, the Broncos and other teams would have seen an aging QB in decline. Denver has a decent run game so I imagine they'll make the playoffs, though it's not a guarantee given the challenges of their division. I see them picking up with Wilson where Seattle left off. Hoping for a strong season and a shot to make a playoff run, but the risk and likelihood of an early exit. Their overall cast of supporting talent is probably higher than ours has been in recent years but not by a ton. Had Wilson gone to San Francisco, with all their offensive talent, and their solid defense, I'd see a truly a dominant team.
The Penny/Walker/Homer/Dallas RB room is the strongest one we have had since Lynch left (and that was mainly because of Lynch, let's face it). Penny/Walker/Dallas are all effective threats for screens/flares/wheel routes so it isn't just their running capabilities where they contribute. Penny to his credit showed more of a willingness to pass-protect last year, and that is a strength of Homer's. A great RB room does take pressure off the QB, and the P/A passing game should be money in the bank this year.
The running backs look great on paper. Of course we can't predict injuries and we know Penny's history. So we'll see how that holds up. I've done my best to watch Cross on film, to the extent I can find it, and it looks like his pass blocking is what you'd expect for a rookie with a lot of talent. A work in progress but he'll be fine. I'm not sure of his run blocking, which could be an issue given how dependent we'll likely be on the run game this year.
I have no evidence for this, but it stands to reason that a strong QB makes the run game work better and a solid run game makes the QB's job a lot easier. We've clearly seen how much better Wilson has looked in recent years, since he's lost his ability to essentially be his own running back, when we have someone running effectively. Penny's strong play last year is probably what allowed us to get such a huge haul for Wilson. Otherwise, the Broncos and other teams would have seen an aging QB in decline. Denver has a decent run game so I imagine they'll make the playoffs, though it's not a guarantee given the challenges of their division. I see them picking up with Wilson where Seattle left off. Hoping for a strong season and a shot to make a playoff run, but the risk and likelihood of an early exit. Their overall cast of supporting talent is probably higher than ours has been in recent years but not by a ton. Had Wilson gone to San Francisco, with all their offensive talent, and their solid defense, I'd see a truly a dominant team.