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Moreno looking like real dealRookie RB making steady progress and looking like he was worth the pickDaniel Williams, DDN Staff WriterFriday, October 16, 2009 |  | | MORENO |
We have heard all about the Terrell Davis-Knowshon Moreno similarities. They were both Georgia Bulldogs. Like Davis was, Moreno is thought of as a tough runner who can carry a team. And also like Davis was, Moreno is thought of as a runner with a nose for finding the end zone.
But last week against the New England Patriots was the first time Broncos Country got a chance to actually see what Moreno can do when he finally made his first NFL start.
And he didn’t disappoint.
With Correll Buckhalter out with an ankle injury, Moreno got nearly all of Denver’s carries, turning 21 rushes into 88 yards (a 4.2 average) while showing his good hands, adding four receptions for 36 yards.
When asked if Moreno was ready to have the majority of the Broncos’ carries, quarterback Kyle Orton responded, “No question.”
Looking and playing the part
Moreno certainly looked and played the part of a full time running back, constantly keeping the Patriots defense off balance — especially while running the Wild Horses offense by breaking off repeated chunks of yardage.
“I was definitely into the game. At times if I needed a blow, LaMont [Jordan] did a good job of helping us out. But at the same time, if felt great all day today,” said the modest Moreno, who carried 21 of 24 of Denver’s rushing attempts.
But besides being a modest and “good guy” as called by head coach Josh McDaniel, Moreno is also super-confident, a trait that most superstar athletes share.
“I’m a high-motor guy. Tough, hard-nosed, hard runner who can make you miss at times. And just competitive. I love to play the game, and I bring that energy to my team,” Moreno said.
Moreno was injured in the preseason and probably not 100 percent in Week 1 vs. Cincinnati, but Moreno still wanted to play, which he did. He looked a bit timid in his first game, but by the end of Week 2 Moreno started to show why he was drafted so high.
Actually, Moreno has gotten better and better in all five games he had played, having a big impact in not only last Sunday’s game, but in the Dallas Cowboys win the week before.
But it hasn’t been all smooth sailing for Moreno. He did have a first-half fumble last week against the Patriots.
But McDaniels didn’t hold that against Moreno.
“He popped right up from the fumble and ran off the sideline and ran back in there when we got the ball the next time and ran hard and did a lot of good things to help us win the game,” McDaniels said. “He is going to handle whatever adversity he goes through. He’s talented and durable, tough, smart, competitive player, good person.”
Moreno’s quarterback, who has one less turnover than he does this season, has repeatedly said winning the turnover battle is one of the most important factors in winning NFL games.
“Nobody wants to fumble. Obviously, he doesn’t want to fumble. Our offense doesn’t want to fumble. We would like to play turnover free. It happens. We have to move on. He is certainly a competitor. He is going to try to make up for that fumble with some special runs,” Orton said.
Moreno leads rookies
Still, Moreno leads the club as well as all NFL rookies with 81 carries and 337 rushing yards in 2009 — good for 11th in the entire NFL in rushing yards.
Moreno looks to be a star in the making, and there has never been a question about his talent and abilities. But there was many questions whether McDaniels should have drafted Moreno.
Now that Denver is 5-0 and their defense is playing at such a high level, the move now looks brilliant. Plus, by drafting Moreno, the Broncos may have kept him from joining their opponent on Monday, the San Diego Chargers, which was rumored to be considering the talented tailback four picks after the Broncos took him.
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