Lammey: Where RB Booker fits in Broncos offense upon his return

The Denver Broncos have committed to running the ball in 2017.

After two weeks of regular season action, the team leads the NFL with an average of 159.9 rushing yards per game. Running back C.J. Anderson has the most carries of any running back so far this year (45) while ranking second in rushing yards (199 yards).

Anderson is the bell cow for the Broncos, but he’s going to have some more help with Devontae Booker set to return soon from a wrist injury that kept him out all of training camp and the preseason.

Head coach Vance Joseph was not sure on Wednesday if Booker would play against the Buffalo Bills in Week 3, saying, “It’s his second week back. He has to get into football shape so we can put him out there and feel good about him, so I’m not sure.”

But Booker will hit the field for the Broncos in the near future, perhaps this weekend, so what will his role be in this offense?

Not a change of pace

Booker may be a backup running back, but he’s not really a “change of pace” back. He led the team in rushing as a rookie with 612 yards and finished third on the team with 31 receptions in 2016.

His skill set trends more toward a feature-style back than a part-time player. Even though Booker will split time upon his return, he can do more if called upon.

Booker is a powerful back who builds a head of steam quickly. The second-year pro is not afraid of contract, and he can blast through defenders that try to tackle him high.

He’s also a fantastic receiver out of the backfield and a mismatch against linebackers tasked with covering him in the open field.

Anderson is the starter, but Booker provides the team with a similar skill set to use in a number of different ways.

McCoy’s scheme a better fit

Last season, Booker did not look comfortable in the zone-blocking system. Too often, he ran into the back of his offensive linemen instead of looking for cutback lanes or bouncing to the outside.

When a back gets the handoff in a zone-blocking scheme, he has three choices: bend, bang, or bounce. Booker didn’t make those decisions consistently, which contributed to his struggles during his rookie year.

This year, under new offensive coordinator Mike McCoy, Denver has implemented a power back system. Booker is simply a better fit in this scheme because it limits the choices a running back has with the ball.

Basically, the Broncos establish a rushing lane, and it’s up to the running back to get to and through the hole at the right time.

This system can help a running back get into a rhythm with the ball in his hands, and it really works when a back gets the timing down with his linemen up front.

We can see a difference in the way that Anderson is producing this season, and this system change could have a similar impact for Booker.

He will have a role as a backup running back for the Broncos to keep Anderson fresh, but he could provide more if the opportunity arises.

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