Mike Shanahan Messed Up This Time

I think we all watched the Broncos play last year, at least a little anyway.

Let me say, as a Longhorns fan, I would love to see Selvin Young bust out and outproduce Cedric Benson (the guy he played behind), much like we seen fairly recently with Ricky Williams and Priest Holmes. That said, I don't think Selvin Young is that guy, or anywhere close to it.

Where Shanahan messed up:
Last season, Shanahan ran his running backs like he normally does, where none of us has a clue who is going to play from one minute to the next. This resulted in a situation where Mike Bell came in and was basically the best running back on the roster in his undrafted rookie season.

Not sure what everyone else thought, but from what I seen, Mike Bell looked like a running back that could very well secure the starting spot in Denver for a while. The guy did everything asked of him, and was a threat anywhere on the field.

Not good enough for Mike Shanahan though. Instead, he goes out in the off-season and picks up over-rated free agent Travis Henry, who has spent a career nursing injuries, smoking weed, and throwing in the occasional good game, and even a good season. I did not like this move, and it is well documented here at Sports Outlaw.

To make matters worse, Mike Bell steps up his game during the off-season and makes a great showing, only to be buried in the depth chart once the pre-season started. It was as if Shanahan did not want any sort of real competition for Travis Henry. For the first time, Shanahan was committing to a running back, come hell or high water. Mike Bell finds himself not only out of the running for the #2 running back position, but battling for a spot at fullback.

This was a new system for Travis Henry, but one people thought he would fit into well. Fact is, this is a tough system to learn. Henry started out the season with a couple very nice games, but they have been mixed in with both of of his shortcomings. Injuries, and drugs.

Now, the Broncos are looking at a record of 2-3, and the likely 1 year suspension of Travis Henry. Shanahan is also staring at the fact he buried his best running back in a battle for playing time at fullback, and must now try to commit to Selvin Young being his guy if Henry is indeed suspended.

Now, the very important note regarding Mike Bell. None of the running backs on this roster, including Travis Henry, come close to being able to pass block as well as Bell in this offensive system. It is one of the things that set him apart last season, yet it seemed to go ignored this year, meanwhile Cutler has been sacked 6 times in 5 games, and has thrown more interceptions than touchdowns as he is constantly being hurried in the backfield.

Other coaches in this league screw up like this and the press would be all over it. Not Shanny though, he is getting a pass.