Sean Payton is anxious to see how the Broncos RB’s perform once the pads come on

Broncos Head Coach is anxious to see how the Broncos running backs perform once the pads come on.

The first four Broncos training camp practices have all been non-padded and in shorts. While these practices help the team get ready for the long and physical season, they make it tough to accurately evaluate certain positions on the practice field. The one main position impacted by this is the running backs, a position the Broncos are eager to evaluate.

Head Coach Sean Payton told reporters on Saturday that he is anxious to see how the Broncos’ running backs perform once the pads come on during practice, the joint practices, and during the games.

Payton told reporters that the running back position is easy to evaluate, and once the pads come on, it’s easy to see who stands out and who doesn’t. He continues by saying that all the Broncos’ backs have different strengths and that he is anxious to see how they do. He mentions how, outside of J.K. Dobbins, the rest have limited or no film or resumes in the NFL, so he’s anxious to see how they perform.

“It’s an easy position to evaluate. Some aren’t so easy. Once the pads come on and you get into the games and practice with other teams, I think it’s a position you guys will see as quickly as I will. They all have different strengths, and I’m anxious to see. We’ve kind of seen [RB J.K.] Dobbins on film in the pro game but a lot of these guys are limited to small resumes, and I’m anxious to see how they perform.”

Through the first four days of Broncos camp, we haven’t heard much about the Broncos’ backs. This is due to the lack of pads, but the pads come on Monday for the first time, and I anticipate we’ll see the team have a run-heavy practice just to see who stands out.

Veteran J.K. Dobbins has been receiving the first snap in team drills early in camp, but rookie R.J. Harvey is right behind them. These two are going to be the two main backs in the Broncos’ offense, and while Payton is anxious to see them, he wants to see the other backs, too.

“I’m anxious to see the whole group. In other words, you’re looking out and seeing them run with the ones, but I want to see these other guys, too the same way. We’ll see how it goes once we get into the preseason.”

The battle for the final running back spot or two will be a key roster battle to watch throughout camp and the preseason. Jaleel McLaughlin, Audric Estime, Tyler Badie, and Blake Watson are all competing for a spot or two on the active roster and likely for a spot or two on the practice squad. They’re not only competing against each other, but against all the other backs who may become available after cuts or via trade. They’ll be a focus of Payton, and if they want to stick around, they need to perform.

Last season, the Broncos’ running game was mostly non-existent, and the team made it a priority to improve that room in the offseason. They went out and drafted Harvey in the second round and then signed the veteran Dobbins. With those two added, it left the Broncos’ remaining backs on the roster on the bubble, and now these next few weeks will be very important for them. Payton is anxious to see how they perform, and if you want to make the team, you’d better not disappoint.