New Broncos running back Travis Henry doesn’t look all that imposing. He’s 5’ 9” tall and weighs 230 pounds. But he rules the roost of Denver rushers.
Henry has had a great start to training camp and the initial reports are more than positive. Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler loves having Henry in his backfield.
“I’m probably more excited about him than anybody else,” Cutler said after Monday morning’s practice.
“The way he’s hitting holes and how he’s reading blocks and getting downhill…we’re throwing some new protections at him and he’s able to pick up all that stuff and get out and catch the ball.”
Cutler makes it sound like Superman just changed the color of his tights to orange and blue.
“I’m looking forward to what he does out there,” Cutler added.
So am I. The Broncos have had running backs that have been effective. Mike Anderson, Olandis Gary and Ruben Droughns are a few. But the list of recent Broncos running backs who have dominated is much shorter.
Yes, Terrell Davis and Clinton Portis (when he wanted to) come to mind. Beyond that, the pickings are slim.
That’s where Henry comes in. Travis Henry can dominate in the Broncos offense. He might not have Davis’ all-around ability or Portis’ flash, but Travis Henry is tough.
The Broncos need a tough running back.
They need someone who converts a third-and-three while protecting a two-point lead with four-and-a-half minutes left.
They need a back to stick his nose where there isn’t any room and find a way to grind out the critical yards at the critical moments.
Henry is the guy to do those things.
“I gotta do what I do, pounding, pounding,” Henry admitted. “After a while, guys will be trying to miss me. That’s the whole plan, just keep punching it in there and then they won’t want any more come the fourth quarter.”
Henry’s blue-collar approach fits perfectly in Denver. That will become apparent when the regular season begins.
“Each day I’m feeling better and better with the system. It’s just a matter of time before I have it down pat. I really think I can do some big things in this offense,” Henry said.
Kings have a way of doing things big. Let the reign of King Henry begin.
* * *
Of the Broncos’ new players, who will have the greatest impact? Feel free to post your thoughts using the link below.
Thanks for reading!
Sincerely,
Mike
Tags: Clinton Portis, Jay Cutler, Running backs, Terrell Davis, Training Camp, Travis Henry
Henry is the fashionable choice, but I am going to go another direction. Daniel Graham. Shanny loves to utilize his Tight Ends, but since Shannon Sharpe retired the team has struggled to find a replacement, and the offense has struggled.
While Tony Scheffler might be the answer at some point, Graham is a proven blocker, and based on his college career and his early time in New England he can catch the rock as well….
TSG
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king Henry period!! A Pro bowl year for him…
It is the two of them together that is going to make the significant impact on the running game. Daniel Graham is a Linebacker kiLLer, Travis Henry is a speeding bulldozer. That is one heck of a potent combination.
Dre Bly. I went to college with him. He was a three time All-America in three seasons and played when Mack Brown led a basketball school to a top-5 national ranking in football. He gives up big plays occassionally, but he makes more than enough big plays to make up for it. If it comes his way, he acts more like a receiver than a DB. Since teams can’t throw against Champ and we’ll be playing with a lot of leads with Henry pounding down the clock, he’ll have ridiculous opportunities this season to shine.
Good thoughts from all of you. Thanks for sharing.
SportsGuru…I love Graham as well and he’ll definitely give Cutler another target. He’s big, strong, athletic and can run. As much as I love him, I give the edge to Henry to be the new Bronco who has the greatest impact. To me, it starts in the tranches and it starts with the running game offensively so Henry gets the nod.
bailey&bly…I’m sure the Broncos would take a Pro Bowl year for Henry. That’s why you sign guys to contracts that big.
BroncoFan_In_AZ…I think you’re on to something about the double threat of Henry and Graham. But here’s what I ask myself: If I had to choose between the two, who would I take? Again, edge to Henry. Thankfully the Broncos can have both!
stormflagflying…you also bring up a good point. The Broncos needed to replace Darrent Williams at cornerback and I absolutely love the way Dre Bly makes plays. As you can probably attest, he’s done that for a long time. I still think that Henry wins the race by a nose, simply because he can help control the clock by running the ball effectively. Of course, having Bly solidifies a key position and gives defensive coordinator Jim Bates a lot of options with the front seven (or more).
Mike
I have to agree. King Henry.
Last season we had a lot missed opportunities because we didn’t have a back like Mike Anderson anymore that would pick up those tough yards, 3rd and 2′s. Mike Anderson was almost guaranteed 3 yards per carry. Tatum Bell, while able to show flashes and make big plays from time to time, wasn’t able to provide that level of hard-nosed, up-the-gut running.
I think Travis Henry will give the Broncos back that capability. I’m excited to see them play!~
BRONCOS ROCK
Well, I am excited!! Dre’, Champ, Henry, Superman changed to Orange and Blue!! What more is there? Go Bronco’s!!!
Henry is great, he will take a lot of pressure of Cutler but I think the most important additions where Sam Adams and our Draft picks. We got it done last year with plummer when or D was tops in the league. We need to stop the run and have a pass rush so paycheck manning and Brady (or big ben)dont pick us apart again in the postseason. We got the best secondary in the league and if we don’t need to blitz to get to them, then our offense won’t need to score 21+ a game
Slimwigg is on the right track. Losing a player like Al Wilson is a huge loss. Although i have more than enough confidence in DJ, he will have to adjust to a bigger role in the teams defense. This is the main reason that the Jarvis Moss needs to step up and be the Broncos. Al Wilson was prime when it came to run stopping now the D-Line needs to get to work to make up for losing Al. True it wont be easy to pass on this team but you put up more points with the ground game than in the air. Unless your name is Payton or Tom. But i still have to go with TH as the teams biggest offseason pick up!
mistake to let jake go he is the man give him a chance
it took elway 15 years
Mistake to let Jake go..seriously?..you must not be a true Bronco fan..he had ampale time to prove himself….with a supporting cast that Elway didn’t have for the first 12-13 years of his career…please!
Last night Travis Henry proved what he could give the Broncos…and that only took one series….obviously didn’t get to see to much of Graham as they didn’t need to utilize him..but can’t wait until they do….Go Broncos!
From Colorado, I’m a Denver Broncos fan, and have been sense a child (26yrs now). This last offseason, I havn’t had the time to keep updated on the Broncos, and I missed Monday’s game. But I periodically looked at stats and postdraft info on the team, and I’m 100% confident we are CAPABLE of making post season, and the championship, soon; if not this year, then next. It’s up to the guys to get it done. Humbly accepting the fact we dont need much change in offense or defensive weapons, Shanahan working on the line for draft, surprisingly the best descision I’ve seen of him in a long time. The weapons we do have on offense are going to make for some stunning attacks, and defense is looking lethal themselves. To answer the original question, I am looking at it differently then everyone else. Jay Cutler will have the biggest impact on the team this year. May not be his rookie year now, but it’s his first solid year playing. The coming reign for Jay Cutler could turn out to be greater than what Elway had in XXXII & XXXIII. And to all the guys to put it on the turf, IF YOU GUYS HAVE NO ONE ELSE TO TAKE IT ALL FOR, THAN TAKE IT ALL FOR BROTHER DARRENT WILLIAMS. EVERY GAME, DO NOT go out on that field without looking in his eyes (picture) and telling him that it’s FOR HIM!!
DARRENT WILLIAMS- RIP- 1982-2007!! May your spirit guide this team.
Is eveyone forgeting about the big plays we gave up on defense last year? The addition of henry and grahm are great! I think it is even better to have two shut down corners in the secondary dre bly will make a huge difference on the defense this year along with the other players we added up front this offseason!
REBIRTH OF THE ORANGE CRUSH BABY!!!!
TRAVIS WILL LEAD THE LEAGUE IN RUSHING NO DOUBT! HE’LL BE MY FIRST PICK IN FANTASY FOOTBALL THIS YEAR.
slimwigg and Miggs,
Your point about Sam Adams and the young defensive lineman is well-taken, especially in light of Ebenezer Ekuban’s injury and the trade of Gerard Warren to the Raiders.
I do believe that the two most important elements of football are running the ball and stopping the run.
Assuming he gets and stays healthy, Henry will give the Broncos an effective running game. That will help control the ball and allow the defense to stay on the sideline.
There is no doubt that the Broncos’ rush defense through the first two pre-season games has not been where they want it to be. Ekuban’s injury certainly doesn’t help in that regard.
But I’m not ready to write this defense off yet. The guys are learning a new scheme, there are some players learning new positions and they still have three weeks before the games count.
No doubt they have work to do…but I think the defense will be better by the time week one rolls around.
Thanks for your thoughts!
Mike
bronocobrew,
Head coach Mike Shanahan said in training camp that, to to bottom, this is the best secondary he has ever been around. That alone tells me it’s pretty darn good.
Having Champ Bailey and Dre Bly at cornerback will give Jim Bates all kinds of options with not only the front seven, but the “front” nine, if you count the safties. He can put Champ and Dre on the proverbial island on virtually any play and be confident that most times, they will at least hold their own, if not make the play.
With the injuries and adjustment process this defense is going through, Coach Bates could very well need every bit of flexibilty that Bailey and Bly give him.
I’m not ready to call this the rebirth of the Orange Crush yet. I do think it can be a solid defense at least, and perhaps better, depending on how quickly the guys pick up Coach Bates’ system. Time will tell.
Mike
AZ_Dman_4_bronx,
I assume by your handle that you’re in Arizona now? Regardless, we hope you can keep up with the team.
You make a good point about Cutler. I think he will be a fabulous quarterback and I have no doubt that he has all the skills–physically and mentally–to be a great, great quarterback.
At the same time, I have to keep in mind that on September 9 against Buffalo, he will be making only his sixth NFL start. Whenever we measure a Broncos’ quarterback against Elway, we do so with the way Elway played towards the END of his career. J
ohn went through his growing pains (do I have to mention the time he lined up behind the guard early in his career?) and as great as he was, he still couldn’t do it all by himself. The Broncos had a dominating rushing attack, for example, in their Super Bowl years.
I agree with you that Cutler’s tenure should be long, productive and exciting. I just want to give him a little room to grow, too.
Mike
mmmmm
Sure Henry was a good pick-up, but we need d-linemen(i.e. pass rush) and good ones. Too much offense not enough defense.
Sports Illustrated
I couldn’t understand some parts of this article, but it sounds interesting
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