Well here we are in 2009, and I’m in Kansas with family. It’s good to be here with everyone to start off a new year.
Hope all of you had a good night and started off the year on the right foot.
That’s what I’m hoping to do. This is going to be my last blog — my rookie season is officially over, and since it’s my rookie blog, this is the end of the road. I’ll pass the torch on to another first-year guy next season.
This season for me, as most of you know, was kind of up and down. Shaky, if you will. It started off well in camp, then I go down with my arm, so I go through a bunch of rehab and get back, then my second game back I tear my ACL. So it’s been all about highs and lows.
But in all honesty, just being able to play in the NFL, being able to just be who I am today, I’m very happy with myself. I’m happy with where I am right now, but I’ve also got to keep working hard to get back to the field — I’ve got to get healthy and stay healthy and be able to contribute to the team. I guess you could say that’s one of my New Year’s Resolutions.
If I had to describe the season in one word, it would be rollercoaster. With a lot of big wins and a lot of big losses, your emotions get thrown up and down, so you’ve got to learn how to handle adversity when it comes you way, and you’ve got to come out on top.
Obviously the big development right now is that Coach Shanahan got let go. I appreciate everything he did for me, giving me a chance to show what I can do in the NFL. So coming into next year, we’ll have a new coach. I’ll just say that in terms of having a new coach and a new playbook and all that, it doesn’t affect my mindset in terms of coming into next season too much. I look at it like this — I jumped around with the playbooks and the offense all this season, but I have confidence in myself as a player. I’ve just got to go out and ball out and do what I know I can do. I’ve got to be comfortable with myself, and I feel I am.
To all the fans that stuck with me through everything this season, and especially those of you that have been reading my blog and comment and everything — I appreciate all of you. It’s a new year, 2009, and I appreciate your support — I’ll be back next year and ready to go.
Thanks again and thanks for reading.
-Ryan
Tags: New Year, Ryan Torain, Thanks
Keep your head up my man. Become that back that we haven’t had since Portis. I got my faith in you.
Oh and if you ever want to hear my thoughts on the team…
http://www.youtube.com/user/playa3247
…you know where to find me.
Take care. Have a good offseason. Stay true to yourself, and work your tail off. Good luck.
Hey Ryan… its been so much fun having you on here with your blog, keeping us up to date. You’ll be missed on here but I’d much rather have you out on that field runnin’ up a storm!! I’m so excited to see you get out there next season and play more than 2 games… I’m ready for it!! Bring it all baby!
Get healthy, stay strong & positive and we’ll see you next season.
I’ve got all my faith in you as well.
And 2 years ago we lost someone special – R.I.P. D-Will! All Ready!
Happy 2009 to all of Broncos Country!
With faith…
GO BRONCOS in ’09!!!!
Have a good recovery in the offseason. I cant wait to see you next yr. I hope you can be that back we havent had since Portis. Hopefully you can be that all around back we have been missing. I have tons of faith in you Ryan. You looked like the real deal in Cleveland. Cant wait to see you next yr in Training Camp/Preseason. See ya in 09
Thanks Ryan, Have a good offseason dude and enjoy some family time. I hope you work hard this offseason and show up to camp in great shape. “You reap what you sow”. peace out bro!
i agree with the two year anniversary of one of the worst days in our teams history with darrent williams and this year its the death of the shanahan era. decembers are becoming the saddest month in the year for me. with d will alive champ and him wouldnt of lost to any team
Hey Ryan, I don’t think you have to worry about Shanahan leaving. If you can stay healthy, work hard, and keep having games like the one against Clevland the new coach will find a place for you, I think you’ve got potential.
Hope you’re having fun with your family.
GO BRONCOS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey Train,
Like I said in Elvis’s blog, I really enjoyed everyone’s blogs this year. So I want to thank you for giving us your insights to your experience as a first-year player in the NFL.
It was really cool to see you get your first touchdown, so I hope there’s more of those to come next year! It was a real testament towards your character, to come back the way you did after those freak injuries. Not too many people can overcome those obstacles, so I have faith you can overcome this latest one.
I hope everything works out for you this offseason, and that whatever coach you guys do end up getting, that he’s able to put you guys in position to win the AFC West in ’09! Enjoy your offseason, relax, and heal up well, Ryan!
Happy New Year and GO BRONCOS in ‘09!!
-CB123
Ryan Torain how i wish i could see all that potential on the field sooner than next season. keep in shape man cuz we need you to build into another TD/Clinton Portis. The offense is only gonna get better and man are yall gonna be good next year. Do me a favor and go Checkup on the defensive players this offseason and through minicamps and make sure they’re at least halfway training for next year cuz theres no way they trained OR practiced last year.
My commets really get kicked off becuz of curse words. I cant believe it..FREEDOM OF SPEECH!!!!!!!
Change is good…………..
First i want to start by sayin im from wheeling west virginia, im 45mins away from Pittsburgh PA, I live around die hard Steeler fans, and I bleed blue and orange so no bronxfan not everyone is from denver, you if you were a BRONCOS fan you wouldn’t jump ship with the coach, your just a Mike Shanahan fan, not a BRONCOS fan, and that’s fine, but don’t run your mouth about OUR running back, our running backs gave us everything they had it was a freak year for all them,
2nd Ryan keep your head up, us true denver fans have your back we believe you can get us back to a 1,500 yard back, keep strong stay in shape and lets run some DB’s over,
3rd I was a little hurt by lettin Shanahan go, i wish if anything he’s GM would of been striped i’d been fine with that, but i guess Bowlden see’s it different, that’s fine, just don’t bring in some slapnut in to coach, there’s really only a few people i’d want to coach, i really wouldn’t mind seein Bill Cowher lead the way, he’s a defense coach look what he did to the steelers, he knows how to find defense players like shanahan can find ruuning backs, Cowher likes to run 1st pass 2nd he’s not worried about running 15+ run plays in a row, sounds kinda like Shanahan when we had the back (witch i think Torain can do) both Shanahan and Cowher are just about the same kinda plays, and if not Cowher then Steve Spagnuolo would be a nice pick up, im not sold on speed on the defense when they can’t tackle, so i’d like to see Denver’s D get bigger, but i am a big Elvis Dumervil i think if he can get a DT the needs doubled he’ll be a pro bowler next year, 3rd would be Jason Garrett
BOWLEN sorry about that wasn’t thinkin
Torrain,
seems like u could be the next big thing MAn,, take it run with it you got one heck of an O-line so no excuses once you get healthy,, i don’t believe in luck so just do what yo u do,, Shanny will always be my favorite head coach, he brought home the gold,, he will be missed as much as Elway and TD,, and eddieMac Rod Smith, and Sharpe,, etc…… i hope our new coach can be half the coach as Shanny is ,, Broncos i bleed 4 u ,, i watch till the end, and never say die, let’s turn this ship around and Kick Some ASSSS!!
(x)bronxfan…. I too am from Califronia and everytime someone talks crap about MY team (Denver of course) I’ll shut ‘em up because if you are a “true football fan”, you’ll know more about football than someone that puts down a team that has had one of the best franchises in history of the NFL (and that’s a fact, we do… Like no joke, we really really do… just look at stats). … Now… I love Shanny and wish him the best of luck… but I’ll not be rooting for that team at the end of the day when it matters most… the second the team becomes a threat… I want that team to go down…
Ryan,
This is it Bud! Its do or Die time come camp for you. Make the best of 2009
#42! You were a monster when you managed to get back onto the field, although it was limited! I’m sure you don’t need any help with the mindset but I really hope that you’re doing everything you can to turn yourself into a steel injury-proof RB! You’ve got all the potential in the world man run away with it!
).
I was also sad to see Mr. Shanahan get let go, but I suppose that’s the bitter reality in professional sports, eh? Some of Denver’s best years were a direct result of his coaching and wit, but we will have to turn over a new leaf – I wish the best of luck to him with his new team (as long as they don’t play our team
Bronxfan.. I am semi-disappointed in myself for stooping to the level required to bash your (ridiculously childish) antics, but in all honesty you’ve got some real work to do my friend. I believe people with your type of “fire” for people are not more than a couple steps away from having a restraining order filed against you. Heh. Stop wasting your time coming to forums if you’ve got nothing but filth to type. Everyone is welcome, but maybe there should be a cut-off for people lacking the required brainpower.
ha… Well put Bruce. Does anyone happen to know why Torain went with 42?… If I recall there were still some different number choices when he had the chance to choose… I’m just curious… It’s been rattlin’ in my brain all seasn… But Ryan… You should try and getta new number.
Yeah… Ryan, Don’t listen to the chumbs that put you down. I know what tallent you have… you know being and Oregon fan and watching you throughout the pac 10. But really in the few runs you were able to get in the Cleveland game you look promising. You have nice cuts and great awarness. I’m looking forward to you BIG TIME next season
Mr. Torain, a happy New Year to you, too.
I just watched your work-out video. I see what they saw in you. Good reflexes, but smooth. And I saw the Cleveland game. They have you looking like a Marion Barber, Kevin Faulk, Domenik Rhodes “man-type” running back, you know a rumbler. An impressive performance, and I see how that would keep you on the roster.
But I must say, in my humble opinion, I think they´re using you wrong.
You have really long legs, that´s not evident in the from above perspective of NFL TV. You need to be more explosive with your knees, bring them up strong on every step, but lean. Remember like Roger Craig. You could make people miss big time with big powerfull steps.
But it seems like gravity is still getting the best of you. You haven´t learned how to sprint. Sprinting means, your heels don´t touch the ground, only the front part of your foot plants. If you become strong in that way, you will realize you are gliding more than just running. You will be a loose destructive force, like dynamite to whoever wants to tackle you.
Then I saw a picture of your physique on Google Images. You look muscle bound. What a waste, with long legs like that. Train your joints, shoulders, elbows, hips, knees, ankles. Slow twisting motions with weight you can handle. Loins are important and so is some muscle on your ribs.
Tell the quarterback to slam the ball into your gut, and lean in that moment even when the line is close. You have the potential to run in bounds with those long legs. My secret to blazing speed is doing Aerobics with the women, the constant squating is miraculous. Step Aerobics mainly.
Good luck to you. Truthfully, I would trade you, because I´m impressed with the little scat backs. I see your potential, though.
Happy New Years Ryan I’ll see you next season.
GO!!BRONCOS!!GO!!
I just watched the press conference for the first time and man that was tuff. But i will say this both mike and pat are some classy guys and i hope that pat made the right decision. I just wished mike could of had another few years to get the defense build up and get us to another superbowl. I hope mike gets what ever job he wants and that organization will be very lucky to have him. good luck pat i hope you hire the right coach and staff and get us to the superbowl.
Ryan,
High fives all the way, man!!! I love your style and I think the other backs are watching what you do. I think they are gaining from being around you.
Here’s to a fine ’09.
Take care and GO BRONCOS!!!!!!
let cower come in and give us a defense and sum toughness then in a few years find the guy to mold the O shannahan gave us and the D cower laid down!!
man, i know your going to come in next year and be that running back that we have not seen since Davis. who is portis????? lol…. all i’m saying is i think your going to be that super bowl type of back like mr. t.d. was maybe even better. i can’t wait to see you at that number one running back spot. i think you need to put on some more muscle mass.
Bowlen is very interested in talking to Bob Stops of Oklahoma!!!????
Listed below is the complete list of college coachs who went on to be a successful pro coach:
That’s right. NOBODY!!!!!! GGGAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!
Hey Ryan, thanx for the effort this year! If you’re back next year, train hard and do your best to become an explosive,versitile,padlowering,stiff arming everydown type of back. I got faith in you! Cutler needs that in the backfield. The O’line was classic. 12 sacks is a frachise record! Put that beutiful helmet on and run straight through all defenders.
oldsouthstander shanny was from eastern illinois, most coaches are assintants or coordinaters or even head coaches in college before they come into the nfl. you know absolutly nothing, your blogging is a waste of your time and us people who actually know something about football. and cowher is not coming here its a known fact. i hope stoops gets the job he is from a football family and football town. the pelini’s and the stoops are the best coaches out there hands down.
Butch Davis. Nick Saban. Bobby Petrino. Mike Riley. Rich Brooks. Steve Mariucci. Dennis Erickson. Darryl Rogers. Dick MacPherson. Tommy Prothro. Frank Kush. Lou Holtz. Ron Meyer. Spurrier. MIKE SHANAHAN!
ramz too bad you will never amount to anything in your life and even selling phones is better then working at burger king with you get a life
15themarshall15
Not one of those mentioned successfully went straight from college coach to pro head coach. GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT!!! Shanahan spent his time in the trenches many years before becoming a head caoch! If you consider NicK Saban, Lou Holz, Steve Spurrier, Bobby Petrino, and Frank Kush examples of college coaches who’ve been successful as pro coaches your smoking some bad stuff. Name one of these you’ve mentioned who lasted over 4 years as a pro head coach. What was their record? How many won a Super Bowl?
I think it’s important for the offensive players to talk to Bowlen about keeping the offense intact.
Keeping Dennison in charge of the offense is paramount.
I think we need a defensive minded head coach, I have a huge dislike for the glamour picks,
Let the other teams do that, I’m more interested in winning.
My head coach; Jim Johnson
My GM: Tom Heckert
They work together very well, their track record of pro-bowlers is astounding, AND, they play their best in December.
AND……theres no competition to get them.
Pat did something dumb.
This would be smart.
The only way id beable to look down at that sideline and be content is If we hire steve spagnola or rex ryan as head coach. Im always behind the broncos but if i look on the sideline and its someone then those two ill just be shaking my head.
GO BRONCOS!!!!!!!
09′
Well ramz your right but i think i would give Torain another chance but if he gets hurt again- gotta boot him. cant be havin someone collecting a check who cant stay on the field. Get your body right Ryan cuz u do have potential. and by the way thanx for what u do there ramz glad to have people like you. shrug the BS off man its a waste of your time.
thanx louisianabroncofan I’m defiantly giving Ryan another chance and i think he has a lot of potential and I wish him a speedy recovery. I just hope that these were freak accidents and he will be 100% all next season. but some people get offensive when you bring up facts and histories of players and they are in denial because they want the next terrell davis and it just may not be that way.
either way I hope Ryan comes back next year 100% and proves everyone wrong (including myself) and shows why he had high praises from our coaches
all i know is i hope our next head coach focuses on the D more than the O, i think jays mature enough to control the O i mean tell me what possition on O needs help B Marsh with another 100 catch season and a rookie with almost that. a beastly O line a couple peastly TEs i mean if we conver peyton to HB then i guess we need a FB but we dont have to have him at HB we have several backs we can use. i think Pittman will be back up FB or retired, hall will be gone young will be traded tatum torain and aldridge will fight for a spots on the 53 man roster boyd and pope will fight for practice squad spots. id love to see pittman come back and hillis het the the start at RB im just not sure it will happen. now on our D we can use a tackle an End and LB’s mainly a captain like ray lewis is for the ravens or urlacher for the bears. i think if we pick up 1 big name Free agent it better be a MLB
When the Broncos announced that they were interviewing the guy from Tampa Bay I figured they were just getting the “Rooney rule” interview out of the way. But, now that I’ve read his bio and how much Tampa Bays defense changed with and without him, I’m very, very impressed. Sleeper candidate? Also glad to see Dennison get a shot at it, but I’d prefer he stay in his current position.
I’m w/ most of ya… I too want a Defense focus Coach… Because If a Defensive type Coach comes in, he’ll wanna just let this already good offense stay good and keep the same offensive coaches… So yeah…
I gotta tell ya, I want shanahan back but the person i am most excited about is Raheem Morris of the Tampa Bay bucks….after reading up about him, I can see he definitely impacted their D. He has made their pass D awesome, imagne what he can do with out db stars not to mention the new young ones he will probably be drafting….I am sad and excited at the same time.
I like Rich dennison but he is so awesome at his position as offensive cord and line coach that I want him to stay there…If bowlen doesnt mind opening his check book i dunno why we couldnt have lured raheem this year for our defense cord and kept shanny…either way, whats done is done…shanny has set things in motion for out offense and they will just continue to prosper a defensive minded head coach wouldn’t be bad right about now.
anyone who makes it that far is ten times more successful then you losers will ever be
Why even metion the ROONEY RULE.(out of the way)! Very cheesey, Chester Cheeta. With that type of talk has to come a dying breed. Just when I decide to blog with the ORANGE & BLUE. I hope that wasn’t comment wasn’t ment to be hurtful……
I think whoever we get for offensive coordinator will be just as important as the head coaching job. Seeing how Mike controlled every thing on offense, we need to make sure that some one can come in and build on whats already here, and not just be satisfied with the way things are. Cause lets face it, Cut needs a running game, i hope this new coach will see that this lack of continuity on the ground comes from having the position full of rookie free agents and late round picks.
And why are yall kickin a man when he’s down, as if he doesnt already know this, as if his agent doesnt keep reminding him about his injury past, and coaches havnt said the same. Show some civility. Any serious athlete who has ever gone through knee reconstruction surgery, knows that its hell, and i wish torian the best of luck with that.
My mention of the Rooney Rule was not intended to be any sort of derogatory remark. I beleive it has great merit. It’s something that the NCAA needs to adopt. The number of minority head coaches in the 1A college ranks is an absolute embarrasment. With the number of years that the Ronney rule has been in effect in the NFL it’s necessity has cetrtainly diminished compared to when it first was adopted. Reading the bios of all those Bowlen is interviewing, Raheem Morris stands head and shoulders above the rest as far as I’m concerned.
To whom it may concern,
I always read these blogs and find something to laugh at. You guys read whatever’s in the paper or on the T.V. and then come on here and REPEAT the SAME thing the reporters commented, like it’s YOUR opinion. From the things you write, one can tell that you have no further information outside of what you just read from someone else’s newspaper article.
To read, “once I read his bio…”, and then see you fight about which person should get the job is pure COMEDY. If all you know of these men is from someone else’s PARAGRAPH, then you obviously are not a qualified SOURCE on the subject. If Bowlen needed help with the personnel decisions, I assure you all, none of you would be on his call list. Sorry, but that’s an honest fact and you know it. I don’t discourage you from writing an entry, but as soon as someone is critical about your “opinion”, you attack them about personal non-football stuff. It’s easy to see that you can’t back your “opinion”, because you don’t have any ideas of your own.
Did anyone else notice this blog is Ryan Torain’s? The first couple entries were good, then all you guys get on here and vent about what you read about the caoching prospects. Get over it, you’re not doing the hiring. When they do pick the coach, everyone’s going to be arguing again anyway, like their choice was better. You all just keep adding blogs focused on attacking each other, and it’s not even about football most of the time.
Note to all: When someone makes fun of you in a blog, it doesn’t really matter anyway, life goes on. Some of you folks REALLY get worked up for nothing.
ramz2129: My family comes from a long line of military history and I have the UTMOST RESPECT for the sacrifices you all give. I truely hope that your injury is not a long term burden, but don’t play that card (in a football blog for crying out loud!) just to act tough. Unfortunately, some have had to give more than you. THANK YOU for your selfless contribution to OUR freedom, I wish you a long and healthy life.
Ryan, that was MISFORTUNATE the way you got your leg twisted, nothing else. Shake it off, ’09′s your year.
Go Broncos
it is unfurntunate that people have to blog about the head coaching situation on Torains blog but it is what it is as for Ryan I will say that the game and half he did play in was impresive and I hope to see alot more of him in the future with his size and speed he will be able to do great things with the oline we have in Denver we also have a few other Running backs i cant wait to see what they develope into some i personally like to see go Hillis should be a Fullback with a offinsive coach who desides to let the Fback take a few carries every game and get him the ball in passing plays as well Ryan get well condition this offseason come back stronger then you were before and heres hoping the best for you in the near future
truth is that this whole shanahan thing will rip this team to shreads and were gonna be at the bottom of the division where as with shanny we were gonna be atop the afc and possibly have one of the best offenses put together. we were a healthy running back and a middle linebacker away for being a contender. we need a defense makeover. start with free agency and the draft.
Cmon bucknbronco this is a BLOG. The purpose of a blog is to blog. No paid writers here man. cut em some slack man! I actually learn alot from these blogs cuz alot of stuff is from different newspapers and stories in different parts of the country i dont catch. I like all the opinions from the dumb ones to the impressive ones to the insulting ones. its interesting to read to say the least. and is it the rule i have to talk about torain on torains blog? well i already did twice so I’m covered. Its not like theres alot to talk about with him. He cant get on the field. and as far as the Rooney rule i dont understand. do you really think if Nick Saban or Bell Bellichick were black they would not have a job just because theyre black? The most qualified person or more importantly the person the ownership wants will always get the job. black brown or purple. All these race based rules in society need to stop in my opinion. and yes Raheem Morris would be a great hire in my opinion. cuz he’s a good coach.
unfortunatly this is my first ever comment on one of these blogs but i sensed this was the most important one to comment on. first of all i was very excited in april when i found out the broncos drafted you. I am a junior at Shawnee Mission West and have had siblings go through there as well so i had the opportunity to see you play against us while you were at northwest. its weird.. my woods teacher (Mr. Diebold) was your head coach.. we have had a few conversations about what an exciting player you are. when i read this and saw you were back in kansas it sparked and idea diebold had had of getting you to come in one day to catch up with him, you should contact him
I am very excited to see you play next year! you will be one of the next greats i can tell.
Forgott to add: Keep your knees in, and your heels out.
Mr. Torain, a happy New Year to you, too.
I just watched your work-out video. I see what they saw in you. Good reflexes, but smooth. And I saw the Cleveland game. They have you looking like a Marion Barber, Kevin Faulk, Domenik Rhodes “man-type” running back, you know a rumbler. An impressive performance, and I see how that would keep you on the roster.
But I must say, in my humble opinion, I think they´re using you wrong.
You have really long legs, that´s not evident in the from above perspective of NFL TV. You need to be more explosive with your knees, bring them up strong on every step, but lean. Remember like Roger Craig. You could make people miss big time with big powerfull steps.
But it seems like gravity is still getting the best of you. You haven´t learned how to sprint. Sprinting means, your heels don´t touch the ground, only the front part of your foot plants. If you become strong in that way, you will realize you are gliding more than just running. You will be a loose destructive force, like dynamite to whoever wants to tackle you.
Then I saw a picture of your physique on Google Images. You look muscle bound. What a waste, with long legs like that. Train your joints, shoulders, elbows, hips, knees, ankles. Slow twisting motions with weight you can handle. Loins are important and so is some muscle on your ribs.
Tell the quarterback to slam the ball into your gut, and lean in that moment even when the line is close. You have the potential to run in bounds with those long legs. My secret to blazing speed is doing Aerobics with the women, the constant squating is miraculous. Step Aerobics mainly.
Good luck to you. Truthfully, I would trade you, because I´m impressed with the little scat backs. I see your potential, though.
Hey Ryan,
Well I was bummed out to read that you arent going to continue your blogs next season but its only fair that you give it to someone else. I enjoyed reading all your blogs and learning about all of your progress through this season!! It has been a blast. Thanks for keeping all of us informed!! Cant wait until we get to see you next year. I keep telling everybody just wait until the next season when Ryan comes back!!!
It was so weird sittin around the house this weekend watching football and not being able to watch my team on tv or better live at the stadium. Oh well I will get over it eventuall but I really cant wait until next year. Im already ready to go haha.
Well Ryan I wish you the best of luck with the rest of the rehab and gettin ready for next season!!!
Jen
This is so sad that your blog is over. I hope the next guy is as good as you were. I think one of the main reasons I like you so much is because of this blog. Good luck finishing up your rehab!! Happy New Year!! Can’t wait til next season!!
Nicole
Hi Ryan,
Happy New Year
Ignore all the negative comments and keep positive.
The fact that Coach Shanahan signed you in the first place shows that you have the basic requirements to be a quality running back. It is now up to you and I hope that you can show all the Bronco fans that you will be a GREAT player here in Denver.
Good luck to you and all the other players who need to impress the new coach.
Thanks for helping all the fans with your blogs.
Get healthy, Stay healthy, and have great career
Kind regards
Rex