Surprisingly, Denver calls on undrafted rookie RB to start

By Connor Byrne  |   Tuesday, August 08, 2006  |  Comments( 4 )

Denver Broncos
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Denver Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan made an announcement regarding the team's scrutinized No. 1 running back position on Monday. Rather than naming Tatum Bell or Ron Dayne as the starter, Shanahan took a road never traveled and selected Mike Bell, which was truly a shocker to many.

During April's NFL draft, Bell sat back and waited for his name to be called, but it never happened. As a result, the former Arizona Wildcats standout went undrafted and was signed by the Broncos, who are notorious for turning unheralded runners into big-time producers.

In previous mini-camps and into training camp, the rumblings out of Denver were that Bell looked terrific. Obviously, he must appear as the next big thing in order to already be named the Broncos' top back. Considering he was thought by most to be the third back, Bell's meteoric rise up the depth chart is both inspirational and awe-inspiring.

With the Wildcats, Bell was always known as someone who moved with great quickness. Although his speed is nowhere near above average, he has the rare ability to make defenders miss by using that high-level quickness and equally impressive shiftiness.

Bell's former position coach, Kasey Dunn, said: "Mike can make someone miss in a phone booth."

In 2005, the explosive Bell rushed for 952 yards, besting his total of 950 from the season prior. As a sophomore in 2003, he gained 920.

Last season, his current combatant, Tatum Bell, rushed for 921 yards in limited duty and racked up an astounding 5.3 yards per carry average. Although the speedster's numbers look great on paper, he disappointed Shanahan by not wrestling the job away from Mike Anderson, a bruiser who was released for cap reasons in March.

Dayne, meanwhile, is the type of bulky runner the Broncos have been known for lately, following Reuben Droughns and Mike Anderson. The former Heisman winner out of Wisconsin hasn't at all proved himself in six pro seasons. He did, however, finish with a 5.1 per-carry average last year on just 53 attempts. Thanks to the promotion of Mike Bell, the 245-pound Dayne now sits third on the Denver depth chart. Assuming he makes the final roster, he'll be the Broncos' goal-line answer.

At 6-foot-1, 218 pounds, Mike Bell seems like the type of runner ideal for the Denver system. Much like good-sized runners Anderson, Droughns and his childhood idol, Terrell Davis, who came before him, Bell has a legitimate chance to be the next in a lengthy line of 1,000-yard backs in the Mile High City.

Davis, who is the best running back in Broncos history, entered the league in 1995 as a sixth-round pick out of Georgia. So, much like Bell, he was written off by many to become a success in the pros. Not only did Davis triumph on the grandest of football's stages, but he may end up in the Canton, OH Pro Football Hall of Fame someday.

The 23-year-old Mike Bell, who was a Broncos fan as a kid, might become their latest Cinderella story from the tailback spot. With a top-flight offensive line, greatness shouldn't be far off for this Phoenix native.

At the same time, however, there's a chance Shanahan named Bell the No. 1 to motivate his other runners. With the remainder of training camp and all of preseason still on the plate, plenty can change in the Denver Broncos' backfield.

--Connor J. Byrne can be reached at cbyrne@realfootball365.com.

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CommentsComments: 4  |  Sign Up  View all comments
No.1
Renegade		11:18 AM
08/08/2006
While there is a small chance that Shanahan truly wants Mike Bell to be his starter, this move is simply a wake-up call to Tatum...
No.2
Michael		06:01 AM
08/11/2006
Don't be surprised if Mike Bell starts the season as the starter and comes out in situational plays. Also, don't be surprised if...
No.3
Dan		04:06 PM
08/11/2006
Lets take a look at this first preseason game and see what he does and what the other guys do and then we will know what is going...
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