Is it a mistake for the Broncos to play Lindsay on special teams?
Sep 11, 2018, 12:31 PM | Updated: Sep 12, 2018, 2:44 pm
Denver Broncos rookie running back Phillip Lindsay made a lot of plays on Sunday, including scoring on a 29-yard reception in the first quarter.
Lindsay, an undrafted college free agent out of Colorado, also ran the ball 15 times for 71 yards in addition to his two touchdown catches for 31 yards.
What may have slipped past most people was Lindsay’s two tackles on special teams.
So, after Lindsay put up 102 yards of offense on 17 touches, “Pritchard and Cecil” co-host Cecil Lammey asked Broncos head coach Vance Joseph if he’d consider a reduced role for Lindsay on special teams moving forward.
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Said Joseph: “Right now, we’re going to keep playing him. I think he about in the mid-20s as far as the offense. You add six more plays on special teams, that’s only 35 plays — 33 plays.
“No, his role won’t change, he’s going to be a gunner, he’s going to be an L-5 on kickoffs. With three backs, it’s going to be tough to get him a lot of work. His role shouldn’t change on special teams.”
On Tuesday, Lammey said he believes it’s a mistake to continue to play Lindsay on special teams because he wants to see more of him on offense.
“(Joseph) said getting three backs in is going to be difficult in to get them those touches. No, it’s not. You’ve got two backs. You don’t have three. You’ve got two: Phillip Lindsay and Royce Freeman,” Lammey said.
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Lammey’s co-host Mike Pritchard echoed Lammey’s comments, though adding that he’s not worried about Lindsay’s special teams role at the moment.
“It’s going to change. It’s just not going to change right now,” Pritchard said. “If Phillip Lindsay can handle more, they’ll give him more. And certainly, if the game plan is playing out that way, where he’s got the hot hand or he’s the matchup … then you’ll see a reduced role in other areas for Phillip Lindsay.”
Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @JohnnyHart7.
