Unser Chat » Royce Freeman first Broncos’ rookie running

back to start Week 1 since Terrell Davis Royce Freeman was named the Denver Broncos starting running back heading into their Week 1 matchup with the Seattle Seahawks making him the first Broncos’ rookie running back to Start Week 1 since Terrell Davis did it in 1995.Freeman has looked every bit the part of a starting-caliber running back through training camp and the preseason Jake Butt Jersey , which has given coaches the confidence to put him at the front with Devontae Booker being their third down option.“Royce Freeman is the starting running back for our football team,” Head Coach Vance Joseph said on Monday. “That being said, it’s going to be by packages, also. Royce is our leading runner, but on third downs you’ll probably see [Devontae] Booker, and obviously having a package for Phillip [Lindsay] is going to be important to each gameplan we have each week.”It appears the only reason it took so long for Freeman to ascend to the top of the depth chart at running back was the coaching staff waiting to see how well he did in pass protection. Through the preseason, Freeman showed that his rookie awareness was good enough to alleviate those concerns.“First of all, his maturity,” Joseph added. “He can carry the load from a physical standpoint and a mental standpoint. He was really good in pass pro, so that’s your biggest worry about having a young halfback playing with a veteran quarterback—it’s the pass-pro issues. He’s shown the IQ and the maturity to be a great pass-pro guy, on third downs especially.”Joining a Pro Football Hall of Famer like Terrell Davis as the last rookie running back in Denver to earn a start in Week 1 is quite the honor. Davis went on to rush for 1,117 yards in 14 games, averaging 4.7 yards per attempt and scoring 8 total touchdowns in his rookie year. Of course, we all know he then went on the greatest three-year run a running back has ever had with 5,296 yards and 53 total touchdowns in the regular season from 1996-98. Freeman may not have that kind of career arch, but the fact that he has made it this far shows how ready his is for the NFL. “You can’t get too ahead of yourself thinking about things like that,” Freeman said of being named the starter. “Everybody is here at the NFL—the highest level—and you have to tell yourself that you belong. You have to go out there and you have to prove every day.”That opening quote was backed up again and again as Freeman asserted his desire to work hard and get better each and every week.“It’s an honor Andy Janovich Jersey ,” Freeman added. “To be named a starter for a football team is definitely something that means a lot to me. Now, I just have to go out there and work hard.” This is a must-win game. That cliche gets thrown out so much, it’s lost its significance. This is not one of of those times. The time to save the season is here. In other words: This is a must-win game. That’s what faces the Denver Broncos (6-7) on Saturday at home versus the Cleveland Browns (5-7-1). Win and the Broncos keep their miniscule playoff hopes alive. Lose and their season ends. It’s that simple.As Adam Malnati and I said on the MHR Radio Podcast, we’ll either see a Denver team do whatever it takes to keep its playoff dream alive or the one that we saw in the crushing loss to the San Francisco 49ers that embarrassed itself.To bring in another cliche: It all comes down to this. Offensive RankingsCleveland: Fifteenth in overall offense (359.4 yards), 14th in rushing (120.2), 17th in passing (239.2) and 18th in points (22.5).Denver: Sixteenth in overall offense (358.6 yards), seventh in rushing (130.2), 21st in passing (228.4) and 19th in points (22.3).Defense RankingsCleveland: Thirty-first in overall defense (411.2 yards), 28th in rushing (133.3), 31st in passing (277.9) and tied for 24th in points (25.5).Denver: Twenty-fourth in overall defense (383.4 yards), 19th in rushing (119.2), 26th in passing (264.2) and ninth in points (21.7).Here are our keys to the game.Case Keenum, let ‘er rip The Broncos quarterback needs to stop playing like he’s trying not to lose. Similar to the prevent defense, it prevents your team from winning. It’s obvious Keenum doesn’t want to turn the ball over but that doesn’t mean you stop taking shots down the field. Let it rip when the opportunity presents itself. Test the Cleveland defense. Allow Courtland Sutton to make plays given he’s shown in similar situations he’ll come down with the ball or get a pass interference call. Don’t limit what the offense can do because you’re scurred you might turn the ball over. Open it up and let ‘er rip. — Ian St. Clair Better secondary play Denver’s secondary needs to play out of its minds. Baker Mayfield has thrown for 281 yards a game, 11 TDs, and just four interceptions in the five games since Hue Jackson was fired, with a 73.2 percent completion rate. Over that span Colby Wadman Jersey , he’s basically been a top five QB in the NFL. This Browns team is a different animal than it was in September or October, and Mayfield’s behind the renaissance. That means if you want to beat Cleveland, you have to beat its plucky, highly accurate young quarterback. The only way that can happen is if the Broncos secondary steps up to do its part by playing well above its recent level. But if they let David Njoku do what George Kittle did, Denver will have no chance. And it won’t be made any easier by the news that rookie corner Isaac Yiadom probably won’t play vs the Browns this weekend. That means your top three Broncos corners for this contest are Bradley Roby, Tramaine Brock, and either Brendan Langley or Jamar Taylor. — Taylor Kothe Orange Rush This game is being billed by the NFL as a battle between rookie studs. Well, Bradley Chubb needs to show why the Broncos were so excited to grab him, and why the Browns made a mistake by not grabbing Chubb. If the defense can force Mayfield into some quick decisions, and make him uncomfortable, it should generate turnovers that will turn into scoring opportunities for the offense. — Adam Malnati Rookie time The key to this game will be very similar for the next three weeks: Let’s see what Denver has in the young and unproven guys. Look, if the Broncos lose to the 49ers, they can and will lose to the Browns, Oakland Raiders, and Los Angeles Chargers. And as these are “keys to the game” and not “keys to victory,” my key to the game is to start playing the young guys and see how they handle the pressure of real NFL football. It’s time to shift our eyes to the future, and there’s no better time than now. — Pete Baron Dominate the trenches The Broncos offensive line was absolutely dominated in the trenches by the San Francisco defensive front. After three weeks of solid play Devontae Booker Jersey , they finally had a down week. In order for Denver’s offense to have any luck against the Browns defense that has a handful of impact players, the offensive line has to do a better job of protecting Keenum. The Broncos cannot afford to let Myles Garrett (who has 12.5 sacks on the season) rattle Keenum or the Broncos passing attack will suffer just like it did last Sunday. They also need to do a better job at blocking for Phillip Lindsay and Royce Freeman. If Denver’s running attack fails to get going early, it could be in for a long day against an ascending Browns team. — Christopher Hart How about the defense watch film The 49ers came in with the exact same plays and scheme they’ve been using all year and the Broncos linebackers and safeties seemed utterly surprised by it. Safeties and linebackers need to study so they don’t embarrass themselves this week. Linebackers were biting on every run action last Sunday, and the safeties played with zero discipline or basic understanding of what the offense was trying to do. Get together and play disciplined football, and hopefully they get some help from their defensive coordinator. I’m not holding my breath, though. I’m starting David Njoku in both my fantasy playoffs, if that tells you how confident I am that Denver will correct last week’s errors. — Jeff Essary The MHR Radio Podcast is now on iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, Acast, Stitcher, TuneIn and a few other podcast hosts. Please subscribe to the one that fits your fancy, and also rate and review what you hear.What are your keys to victory for the Broncos?