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Published on 04/06/2009 at Mon Apr 06 11:05.
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Peyton Hillis Meet the Spread Offense

Posted Mon Apr 6th by

Peyton Hillis

Peyton Hillis

Peyton Hillis was 6 feet 2 inches tall, 240 pounds heavy, running a 4.57 forty entering draft day in 2008. Many draftniks had Hillis as their top fullback, and they projected he would be taken somewhere around round 4. Just like many great players do, Hillis fell to the 7th round where Denver gladly decided to take him. Due to the erratic injuries all several of the running backs took this season, Hillis landed himself a starting job. This southern gentlemen was the first back to rush over 100 yards against the Jets monstrous defensive line, and averaged 5 yards a carry before his fantastic catch against Kansas City, which lead to an injury. Many believe, including myself, that if Hillis never suffered that injury Denver would have found themselves in the playoffs. This would most likely have kept Mike Shanahan and Jay Cutler in the Mile High city. However this is not the case. Now Denver fans are left to wonder what will happen in the wake of a completely new team. Lucky for Peyton Hillis, Josh McDaniels’ spread offense is a perfect fit. Need more proof? Match Peyton Hillis up against New England back Kevin Faulk.

Hillis vs Faulk

Comparison Peyton Hillis Kevin Faulk
Drafted 7th round 2008 2nd round 1999
Speed 4.57 in 2008 4.57 in 1999
Strength 225×26 reps in 2008 225×34 reps in 1999
Games Played 12 15
Total Yards 522 993
2008 yards p/carry 5.0 6.1
Highlights Click here Click here

Statistically, Faulk was the better player in 2008. However, due to factors such as experience, injury, and a better suited system it is hard to truly rate the better. After watching the two highlight reels you see the similarities between the two backs. Hillis and Faulk both posses great catching skills for their position which makes them very dangerous in the spread offense. When players such as Brandon Marshall, Eddie Royal, and Brandon Stokley are covered Hillis in the screen is almost an instant first down. You will not find Peyton carrying the rock every down next season, but he will be used often enough to generate a lot dynamic plays. As you saw in the Faulk reel he has the capability to break one up the middle for a huge gain. You’ll see a huge hole on one of the plays, which Matt Prater could have ran through, but this is the style of the system. Denver’s offensive line is superior to New England’s, so look for this play to be more successful. Faulk was also put against defensive backs, something Hillis has shown skill at. This style of a back is the wildcard of this offense, when Hillis is in the backfield the defense will always have to be on edge because of his versatility. I believe Hillis to be the better player and he will flourish in this system.

What do you think Denver fans? Will Hillis have an amazing year next season? Will he be the Kevin Faulk of Denver?

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  • wildbronco21

    I agree with everything that you said, but does anyone think picking up a RB in the draft such as Wells or Marino is a good idea?

  • wildbronco21

    I agree that Hillis is a very special kind of back, and i know we have picked up quite a few RB in free agency, but does any one think it would be a good idea to spend the 18th pick in the draft on a stud RB such as Wells or Marino?

  • milehighs

    dont matter the broncos suck ether way you look at it payton hillis wants out he want to go to a wining team.waist of a good player needs to go somewere else.broncos bowlen dont want to win.broncos will loose the next 15 years you watch and see how many ssuperbowls cutler wins.brandon marshal will go to the bears next year you watch.hes not going to stick around with the broncos.eddie will to they want to go play for the best qb that ever played the gam.stats will proove my piont.second year starting brakes all of elways records stupid broncos.fire mcd.andd bowlen give franchise to mike shannahan.GO CUTLER GO BEARS.AS LONG AS MC D IS COACHING THE BRONCOS IM NOT A FAN.I THREW AWAY ALL MY BRONCOS STUFF.AND BOUGHT A BEARS SHIRT TODAY.I FELT GOODTO BE A WINNER AGAIN.BRONCOS LOOSE NEXT 15 YEARS.UNTIL BOWLEN DIES.

  • scottey

    I think we need to quit comparing. Lets just wait and see what is going to shape up with OUR team and quit looking at the pats. They were a good team, but they are not US. I was encouraged to finally hear our coach talk about us, and he was actually talking about the Broncos. I do look forward to the new guys in our laundry.
    Peyton will do well in any system.

  • Boisebroncoguy

    Hillis was a pleasant surprise and a standout in our stellar rookie class last year. I am jacked to see what he and Torain can do this year. That is unless we trade him to Detroit for their holder or something like that.

  • Boisebroncoguy

    I hope we draft defense and more defense. I think I heard that we may also need a QB as well.

  • kerry

    we arent drafting a RB this year. all the signings we made says we wont draft a RB. Hillis isnt even gonna be the starting RB anyway. he will be the FB used for out of the backfield receiving. and anyone who thinks Ryan Torin is gonna do anything special is dillusional. first off the running game isnt used much and Torain is way too injury prone. im betting Torain wont even make it through camp. the guy is made of glass.

  • flbronc

    stop thinking of hillis as a rb… he’s a versitle pass catching fb. dont get me wrong, i like him a lot and his flexibility is a big plus in any offense.

  • milehighs

    hillis cant block hes not a full back broncos will trade him bet my house on it.trade him to the bears.

  • Stav

    Exactly Kerry – this system doesn’t focus on running the ball. You need a pass catching back (hillis) and two main RBs for those delayed draw plays we’re guaranteed to see in this new offensive set. Its not like they need a 20 carry rb now, those days might be gone. Picking an Rb with any of the first five picks is such a waste and moronic. You don;t sign all these rb’s, keep hillis, and Torrain, and then draft someone high. No, you take the first five picks and go D-D-D-D-O. Time to hit the QB free up our lb’s.

  • milehighs

    hillis traded to the bears!!!!!!!!!!!

  • milehighs

    ooops i did again.

  • Stav

    Please move onto the Bears as you’ve advised, go post on their sites. Stop wasting our time. Also, we didn’t lose our Manning because that would have meant that we had a QB who put the Denver Broncos first and his immature EMOTIONS second.

    Back to Hillis, screenplays to him will be scary, five yds to build some steam with his head down, yeah, if I’m db I’m pulling the old ‘OLE like Deion used and trying to tackle his shoelaces. Should be interesting to see how he’s used.

  • DOCBronc

    To those of you who actually burned your gear/turned your backs on the broncos, it makes me happy to know I’m not a fair weather fan. Yeah, things look scary right now, Jay was great, but we weren’t winning a super bowl anytime soon anyway with that Defense. Now we can improve it and though we have an above average QB now with Orton instead of a great one, we’ll have as good a fighting chance as before. But go be a Bears fan, have fun watching Jay get slammed into the cold tundra they call Soldier Field behind that quilt of an offensive line. The only reason we might not have a winning record next year is that we have the hardest schedule we’ve seen in a decade. But go be Bears fans, your pessimism isn’t needed.

  • milehighs

    nope you rong and making exscusses youll see dont get mad cas im right.just stating my opionon.hillis will get traded.so will torrian their up for grabbs. i seen it on nfl .com.dont read my stat ment and i wont wast your time stav.but let me tell you this truth hurts.every thing i look fower to mc d is destroyes becuas he want to be the face of the franchis so he wont be fired.

    hillis gets traded torrain to. dont get made mc knows his s h i t

  • Stav

    I need a key-code just to decipher what the hell this guy is saying.

  • http://ttmt.com T-Money

    Milehighs~

    How old are you again? You sound like you’re 7 years old. If you’re going to write something then make it relevant and thought provoking. And please. PLEASE proofread you’re writing. Not only is it annoying, and obnoxious, but it’s impossible to read. Lastly, I’m glad you can turn your back on a franchise for something so small. We don’t need you to waste our time with your non-sense.

  • http://BroncoTalk.net Mr.East

    Milehigh please stop right now. You are being very offensive and showing no respect to others around you. Please stop repeating your statements over and over again. We get it, you think Marshall will be a Bear, as well as Hillis, and the Broncos will not win for 15 years straight. Lets move on.

    I’m very excited for Hillis, I think Denver will see him have a lot of 100+ yard receiving games or 50 yard receiving and 50 rushing. Something along that mix. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if his numbers look like Faulk’s at the end of the season.

  • http://broncotalk.net (dee)

    I dont think there are any positions that the Broncos won’t draft, McD stated he was going to be drafting the best player available at the spot they draft so I dont think he is ruling out any position.

  • http://broncotalk.net (dee)

    Mr East

    What do you think of Torain? Where does he fall in the new offensive system? I think it is too early to give up on him, but with all the new running backs I fear he may get lost in the mix.

  • milehighs

    sorry dont mean to be offensive.i was just saying it wasnt a small thing im was a fan.so you guys got mad at the truth i just told you that i herd that hillis was up for grabs.thats all if you guys want to get your feelings hurt thats not my falt.sorry for the miss spell words was in a hurry.

    but dont get yoyr hopes up on hillis.dont like it talk to the broncos brass.i hard on espn and nfl.co that hillis and torrain is up for grabs.marshall thing was alittle to far.but if you dont like my opinion dont read my letter.then you wont get mad.

  • ssc

    hillis screams the “patriot” (hopefully soon to be “broncos”) way: not glamorous, but just gets the job done. not just lunchpail, but also clutch. i don’t know that comparing stats to falk is all that useful yet, but it’s fair to make the role comparison. didn’t mcd already say he’s got lots of uses for hillis? i love watching him run. i thought last year that, aside from the sweet truckin’ style, his vision, decisiveness, and ability to squeeze through holes were impressive.

    on the other hand, i didn’t like what i saw of torain. awkward. and fragile.

  • Joe H.

    Milehighs for a guy that says he is going to be Bears fan you sure keep posting a Bronco blog. If you are going to leave then leave,we won’t lose no sleep over it. In fact good riddance!!!! I’m getting real tired of you bandwagon fans on here that keep bitching about what went down with Cutler. Cutler is gone,THANK GOD!!!! FREAKIN’ CRYBABY!!!!!! DID JASON CAMBELL THROW A FIT WHEN HE FOUND OUT THE REDSKINS TRIED TO TRADE HIM FOR CUTLER???? So just go away and when the Broncos get back on top again(and it will happen!!) don’t comeback!!!!

  • milehighs

    hillis traded to the bears

    had to get it of my chest lol.

  • Joe H.

    And if you were going to throw all that money away you could have given it to charity so maybe a true Bronco fan who can’t afford them could use them. Just sayin’!!!

  • milehighs

    no becuas cambell is no good.he has no chioce.im having a hard time leting go i admit it.i all so admit that you guys are getting worked up for nothig.hillis and torrain up for grabbs.just warning yous all.whats up with the anger you gy act like you 7 years old .call you guys bronco fans wares the class hu.relax its not my falt the broncos are falling a part.this is how i deal with it okay.pissing you gys off with the truth.i dont like it.i dont like seeing broncos crash and burn.im on stike thats why im hear.im on strike.

  • milehighs

    i know im mad that cutler the best qb ever is not a bronco i admit it.im not bear fan just talkin smack.i mad we got rid of elway pritty much.brokeall hiss records in two years.dont get your hopes up with mc daniels.wants to give away tony schefler payton hillis ryan torrain it all tell you guys in espn.com nfl.com the truth.broncos crash and burn at the hands of 32 year old bellechek.

  • milehighs

    i love that kind of responce

  • http://BroncoTalk.net Mr.East

    Everyone relax,

    This article is about Peyton Hillis and the spread offense, not about Jay Cutler or the Chicago Bears. Milehighs unless you have something to say that is relevant, please refrain from provoking others. Everyone else, please do not let milehighs provoke you.

  • http://broncotalk.net Kyle

    Per the BroncoTalk comments policy, insulting or being rude to others is not allowed. Comments that violate this policy will be banned, and continued violations will result in a user/IP ban.

    I’ve only had to do that once in the three-year history of this site; no matter how angry you are, please don’t let it come to that. That goes to everyone. Thanks.

  • milehighs

    sorry wasnt tring to be a jerck.i just get a fired up some time the broncos jst got me sad when they wanted to trade hillis to.i think he would realy do well in the broncos with kyle orton.i hope broncos dont loose him.

  • http://BroncoTalk.net Mr.East

    (dee),

    I agree that it’s too early to give up on him, but he has a lot to go up against. Thankfully for him, he’s in a system that uses a whole slew of running backs. Last year New England used so many backs just like Denver did, but they actually did it by choice. New England ended up with the 6th best run offense, not too shabby.

  • Hansen

    I know I felt relieved after hearing McD voice his support for Hillis on The Fan last Friday. Hillis’ strengths fit nicely with this new offense, namely balance. Hillis has soft hands catching out of the backfield and can run.

    On paper, Torain looks good but unfortunately one can’t ignore his fragility throughout his college career continuing into last season. I am a real fan of the bruising backs and a firm believer in having two, but my gut tells me Torain may not make it.

  • jvill

    I’m not sure which of these is more dim:

    milehighs: hillis cant block hes not a full back broncos will trade him bet my house on it.trade him to the bears.

    milehighs: i know im mad that cutler the best qb ever is not a bronco i admit it.

    so cutler is better than elway, eh?

    but that’s not important. what IS importane is… how much is your house worth? because that’s a bet i will take.

    so what’s the current market value of your house, and where do you live? I’ll set up the escrow account…

  • http://merlinofchaos.livejournal.com E. Halsey Miles

    I still think Hillis is The Truck and as a FB he provides a lot for the offense because he can do a lot more from the position than many fullbacks. A smart coach will find creative uses for him, and that is the kind of coaching McJosh is known for. I predict that some games Hillis will seem to disappear and may not even see a lot of time on the field, and other games he’ll rock the house, simply because McJosh will be gameplanning him and trying to do things with him that the opposing teams will not have seen.

  • milehighs

    you miss interpid what i said.once again cutler did better in his two years starting better then elway way better.what do you have to offer for the bet then we can talk.payton hillis gets traded.

  • http://mrherculesrockefeller.blogspot.com hercules rockefeller

    He’s Earl Campbell, Jr.!

  • MileHigh55

    MILEHIGHS ) has been trade to the , We don’t care what you think because you never were a Bronco fan , bandwagon jumping , has no clue what he or she is talking about team. I think you would be better of cheering the Faders or the Bears but you don’t have enough class to cheer for the Broncos.
    Oh and by the way all Bronco RB’s as well as any other player on the team can be traded .

  • stav

    I got no problem with pAyton hillis getting traded as long as we keep pEyton hillis. I don’t think anyone cares about Elway v. Cutler years 1 & 2, just the two bck to back SB’s. milehighs keeps forgetting that I’m reading his garbage and that anyone who knows football, especially Bronco fans, would realize that FEW qb’s are lucky enough to be throwing to Marshall/Royal/Stokely/Scheffler/Graham. If Cutler puts up the same stats in Chicago, I’ll be the first to say I’m impressed, but I doubt it.

  • Jon K

    Hillis is way better than Faulk, I also think we would have made the playoffs if we had had him, he’s a BEAST
    go Broncos!!

  • http://ttmt.com T-Money

    Don’t forget the Offensive line. 11 sack all year. I could put up stats if i had all day to throw too. Nevertheless it’s Cutler’s LEGS that I’m going to miss. He was so accurate on the run and was strong enough to throw it across his body right on the numbers. And he was quick.

    I like Peyton. I think he’s going to be a big factor in the system. I just wish football was here already.

  • Jon K

    the Giants R so dumb!
    they let Plex go, think he’s headed to Chicago? everybody is saying the bears have the ‘D’ the line a back and now a QB and VET WR is what they need

    what u think? possibility

  • robtink242

    alright if Mcdaniels couldn’t see that Hillis is a special back he’s a fool. this is the AFC west and if he thinks he can beat the NFC east or the AFC north with Kyle Orton or Chris Simms throwing the ball he has something coming. I’m sure after he see how affective his OL is at run blocking he’ll balance the “system”. Plus Hillis can rush and catch the football.

  • DB

    Jon K…Never really thought about that but man, that could be dangerous. It’s deffinatly a possibility for sure.

    Anyway, Hillis is beastly. The Broncos are gonna have fresh legs all year long, and i like that. Mcdaniels deffinatly has someting good going.

  • Dan Myers

    DO NOT FEED THE TROLLS!!
    If you GHF posters keep communication with them then the keep posting junk.
    DO NOT FEED THE TROLLS !!

    Yes Coach McD thinks Hillis is a “good” fit for the offense. BTW, his offense has ONLY one back, no FB.

    Media write-up from the Owners meeting, picked up a quote that Denver may trade RB’s for picks because they have many. AGAIN, McDaniels made this clear, “that if a trade improves the team then yes”. IMO (and McD’s I think) trading Hillis would not improve the team. I do think that Torain will have to establish himself in camp because there is only one film on him and he has had three serious injuries. I also think that he is the type big back for the spread.

    No I would not take an RB at #18. This offense does not rely on a superstar RB. And the league is more two RB’s anyway.

  • Mike

    Hello
    Just wanted to say, I’m impressed with Orton showing up early and READY TO PLAY! I think he realizes the opportunity this system presents a quarterback. The Broncos have a very good offensive line, especially the left tackle spot and a ton of draft picks with which to fix the defense. I will miss Cutler, but I’m starting to look at the big picture. Denver has never had this kind of draft day prospects. Hopefully, McD and company will not let the distractions of the past few weeks prevent them from having a memorable draft. This can be turned around, folks.

  • walton

    I’m a fan of Hillis but I don’t think he is anything special. He’s a hard worker, fan favorite but with McDaniels offense he’s just going to be the fullback if that. Why bring in Buckhalter, Arrington, and Jordan. Comparing to last years New England offense depth chart it will probably be RB#1 Buckhalter, RB#2 Jordan, RB#3 Arrington or Torain. Hillis right now looks like #1 FB. However, the FB’s in New England rarely caught passes or ran the ball. I hate to say it but I can see McDaniels cutting Hillis if he can find a better blocking FB. Hopefully not, hopefully he uses him as a FB and on special teams.

    The question I have is I really want to get one of the throwback jerseys when they go on sale. But who? No stars on this team are safe except maybe Clady and who wants a lineman jersey? Maybe the draft someone exciting in the 1st or 2nd round but who?

  • roshon2411

    The Broncos offense used to not rely on a superstar for RB but with the zone blocking gone I wouldn’t mind picking up a RB in the first few rounds. We needed to concentrate on defense but now things have changed. With the pro bowl QB gone things have completely changed. The Pats could get away with not having a stud at RB but they had Brady.

    Jon K,

    I agree with you, if Peyton didn’t get hurt, Denver would have made the playoffs and we’d be talking about finding a defense to match our offense. Now, were talking about building for 2011.

  • milehighs

    broncos hired a lot of running backes and espn said that the broncos were shopping hillis and torrain.so dont get your hopes up once again.

  • milehighs

    the truth hurts some pepole. i cant speak my opinon.your mad at the truth and it hurts you bad. i know what your feeling confuse angry.tring to take it out on me.i speak the truth.broncos will regret the trade.i bet your house on it.so calm down quit the name calling show some class.bronco fans like you are imberrising pick you self up and watch the broncos sink. i dont have faith no more and soon youll all see the fire mc d first year.crach and burn.im am a better fan then you. im just honest about the.

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