Denver Broncos blog, news and rumors


FB

[hype it up!]
[Share with Yardbarker]

Published on 01/07/2010 at Thu Jan 07 16:00.
Tagged: ,,,,,,.



Peyton Hillis wants change in 2010

Posted Thu Jan 7th by

Peyton Hillis breaks for a touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs in 2008. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Peyton Hillis breaks for a touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs in 2008. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

It was a tough year for Peyton Hillis. After leading the team in rushing yards in 2008, Hillis saw his role reduced in 2009, seeing most of his playing time in special teams while getting the occasional carry as the team’s third-string tailback.

Things were so tough, in fact, that Hillis told KDVR’s Josina Anderson that he isn’t sure if the Denver Broncos are the best team for him anymore.

“I guess it would all depend on if things would change,” Hillis said. “I don’t really know what will happen at this point.”

Hillis is under contract with the Broncos in 2010, unlike other big-name Broncos whose futures are uncertain, so for him to even question his future in Denver speaks volumes. Hillis’ main issue isn’t the city or even the team — “I love being a Bronco, and I love this city,” he said — it’s his playing time. So why didn’t he see more of it?

Hillis mentioned the oft-speculated distinction between “Mike Shanahan guys” and “Josh McDaniels guys,” saying that a player like running back Knowshon Moreno got more opportunities because of his draft status and relationship with the head coach.

“Well when you get a new head coach, a new philosophy, a new scheme, and he brings all of his new guys, you’re probably going to have to accept that you might have to take a backseat,” said Hillis. “I’m just the type of guy that continues to work hard and the guy that continues to hope that eventually my coaches will see my potential and talent. When it comes to Knowshon, obviously (McDaniels) drafted him so he is going to get more opportunities.”

After rushing for a team-best 343 yards on 68 carries in 2008 (5.0 avg.), Hillis received a mere 13 carries in 2009, rushing for 54 yards (4.2 avg.). In his rookie year, Moreno had 247 carries for 947 yards and a disappointing 3.7 ypc.

“I went from doing really good things for this team to not doing anything,” said Hillis, “and I would like to be a good teammate and contribute.

“Clearly, the overall success of this team is very important to me, but also within that I would like things to change because right now it’s all speculation what coach thinks about me. But to say once again, most definitely I would like things to change.”

The under-utilization of Hillis as both a runner and receiving threat out of the backfield was one of the more frustrating parts of this season. We hope to see Hillis’ role, and not his team, change in 2010 as well.

← 
Newer Comments  →
  • mangeletti

    Oh things will change… for the better, probably not…

  • jonkrause

    Hello Hillis, Hello Washington DC, hey look Shanny and Hillis are back together! So nice to see old friends get back together.

    :( lol How much you wanna bet he'll be a BEAST in DC this next season

  • DantePakistan

    I think the majority of us would agree that this season Hillis was the best opition to carry the ball but McDaniels has way too much pride to not be giving his 12th overall, who will never be better then an average running back, the majority of the work load.

  • DantePakistan

    The combination of Hillis and a healthy Cooley would give his offense a ton of versatility, I miss the boot legs.

  • Andy

    I dont blame him for being frustrated. It was very clear that he wasn't a “McDaniels guy”. Hillis is great but I wouldnt blame him if he wanted to move on, he does deserve better.

  • broncoinva9986

    when you have a guy of his physical skills sitting on the bench he could have been the next john riggins…oh wait he will in Washington

  • denverfanindallas

    i just knew, as soon as i sat this post, that there would be a bunch of Hillis Huggers commenting about how great he is. Hillis is good, but he's wasting a roster spot of someone who has break away speed… he has some cut-back moves, yeah… is he a Portis? No. Is he a TD? No. Is he even Olandis Gary or Mike Anderson? No. He's a full-back that surprised everyone one year.

    He's slow. He's hands aren't great. He's a full-back in a league that has exterminated that position from its offenses. It's a good thing he wants to leave, cause I would hate to hear all you people wine when McD cuts him and states the obvious…

    He would probably do well in Washington, blocking for Portis.

    It's going to be a pretty miserable off-season for a lot of Broncos fans if they don't realize that McD is the coach and he doesn't really think what you care, or who your favorite is… i for one was pissed when he traded cutler… the humble pie tasted good though.

    one last thought… we all want to crucify marshall for being “me” centered. how is Hillis any different? “Coach doesn't like ME” “I want change” “They just aren't using ME” And playing the draft card… shesh! Might as well say “Coach never even played in the NFL” maybe that will work for you.

  • antonio

    hillis is white.

    i'll happily rescind that hypothesis though if they can come up with a better explanation of why brandon's situation is different… but i'm not holding my breath or anything.

  • herc_rock

    Sorry, fullback.

  • TheTroglodyte

    Hillis has very good hands for a RB. He could be playing TE for a lot of teams. The problem fans have isn't that Moreno was used so much. It was that the running game struggled, the short yardage game struggled and blocking in the backfield struggled and Hillis was never once given the chance he deserved to show what he could do. Maybe last year was a fluke, maybe it wasn't. Maybe teams were happy to give up yards on the ground and just play the pass waiting for their chance to pick Cutler off. Maybe they really tried to stop Hillis and he simply reads the holes to well and runs with so much power they couldn't contain him. Unfortunately we may never know.

    What I do know is I like this kid, I like his attitude and I agree with him 100%. He deserves a chance. If McD doesn't want to give it to him then I hope he gets to go somewhere they will.

    Shanahan didn't want to give him a chance either until he was forced to due to injuries and Marshall actually made a pitch to give him a shot. I don't think we will be seeing him in D.C. anytime soon.

  • kerry

    dude Moreno is slow!! Moreno has no breakaway speed and Moreno's hands are no better then Hillis. you gonna tell me that Hillis couldnt have had the same year Moreno had with the same amount of carries?? know what Hillis had last year that Moreno has yet to do? have a 100 yard rushing game and 100 yard receiving game.

    and question, you said “the bumble pie tasted good” what humble pie are you referring to? the 8-8 record we had? which was the exact same record we had last year.

  • kerry

    yeah Hillis could have done exactly what Moreno did this year. which really wasnt much anyway but it at least wouldnt have cost us the 12th pick. i remember alot of people saying “oh Moreno is gonna be a power back” yeah well im waiting to see that.

  • jonkrause

    I miss the boot leg a ton. I actually miss Plummer

  • jonkrause

    You have good points

  • DantePakistan

    I'm with you on this one kerry, I'm so tired of hearing everyone make excuses for Moreno, he is not a special player and will never be anything better then maybe above average. He has no break away speed and at the same time has no power, what he is good for then? 3.7 YPC and 2 20+ yard runs? Oh wait, I'm sorry, he didn't have anyone blocking for him huh? No other back could have done any better right? So maybe if we improve our line he can average 4.1 YPC and have 3 20+ yard runs. There are probably 20-30 players in the NFL that can do that and we wouldn't have had to WASTE a 1st round pick.

    As far as Hillis not having good hands? He may not have the greatest hands but I remember some pretty spectacular catches last season, the Miami game and the play against KC where he was injured for the season.

    Maybe I'm wrong though, maybe Moreno is a rookie with a bad run blocking line and will someday be an elite back. I hope so, I would love to be wrong on this issue but I doubt it.

  • DantePakistan

    I never really had a problem with Plummer, he was a good fit to the Shanahan Offense, the INTs were kind of frustrating but he won. I would take Plummer over Orton any day, not sure why everyone hated him so much.

  • DantePakistan

    I use Hillis as a TE in Madden, obviously there is a difference between Madden and reality but it works good there, thought I'd share.

  • WhidbeyBronco

    hear hear. I think Moreno might still be starter quality one day but he'll never be a power back …or one worthy of #12.

    But hey, the defense was so good a run stopping this year! Clearly we didn't need any defensive help with that pick!

  • WhidbeyBronco

    he's slow? Moreno's barely faster and much weaker. Hands? You're wrong there, his hands are pretty good and he blocks…. Moreno ducks for cover. That said, no we can't start Hillis as half-back, he's a fullback. The fact that we used him so successfully last year though, is a pretty good indication that he has potential if used right. Given our SAD SAD running attack this year, I'm thinking coach might have at least tried to tap a smidgen of that potential!!??

  • denverfanindallas

    i never said anything about Moreno… although he was a rookie? what did you expect him to lead the league in rushing? he's McD's guy.

    thanks for the comments guys!

  • DantePakistan

    Exactly! I'm not saying Hillis would have had a 1,500 yard season or would have made our ground game that much better but I would be willing to bet a lot that he would have had a better season then Moreno or Buck with either of the amount of carries they got.

  • jonkrause

    Same here man

  • WhidbeyBronco

    …more discontent

  • denverfanindallas

    if you will read my first post (the original one) you will not find Moreno's name. Moreno may still be a question mark, but Hillis is not the answer.

  • coskibum

    Sorry I don't agree with you that Hillis is not the answer. I'd bet my last dollar on him over Moreno on short yardage downs. He's proven it…

  • JayInSD

    It was very disappointing when Peyton H. was on the sidelines and Lamont Jordan came in to run the ball or when Spencer Larsen came in as fullback. I like Larsen for his attitude, but last week against the chiefs he whiffed on blocks or didn't go to the right hole to block. I just thought that Josh McD didn't put the Broncos in position to win. If you don't have the best players on the field it's tough to win. It seems like McD was more interested in playing his favorites and not the best players. He's young, immature, and not yet a leader. Hopefully he can turn it around in two years or he's gone.

  • http://broncotalk.net Kyle

    Disagree wholeheartedly on the hands part. Hillis' talents as a receiver were what I missed most, personally. He has great hands.

  • kerry

    oh yeah clearly. i mean why would we want Brian Cushing or Brian Orakpo? in fact, i cant believe those bums even got picked in the first round at all!! they are such losers!!

  • kerry

    well here is the all time show stopping claim ive seen about Moreno:

    “MORENO IS GONNA KILL THIS YEAR, HE IS GONNA HAVE 2,000 TOTAL YARDS!”

    now i dont rememeber who said that exactly, but i remember it was stated with absolute certainty.

    by the way, anyone wanna setp up and claim that one?

  • kerry

    not the answer? says who? you? how do you know when he wasnt even given a chance this year. he may not be the next 2,000 yard rusher, but he sure as hell is a better all around back then Moreno.

  • ocbronco

    You guys make me laugh! Selvin Young averaged 5.0 yds a carry last year, same as Hillis. Tatum Bell averaged 5.7 yds a carry! Yes, Tatum Bell straight from selling cell phones.
    Whose calling for them back?
    And did Hillis have 1 single rush for 20 yds or more? NO. Not 1.
    Now read that again.

    I like Hillis as well but this argument is silly. He almost went undrafted. No question Moreno was a 1st rounder to us or someone else.
    Let's see what happens with Knowshon when we have an offensive line again. Hopefully McD finds a way to use Hillis but everyone is crazy if they think there is a team in the NFL that he starts on (at RB and barring injuries).

  • CB123

    One thing I want to respond to you with is this: Peyton Hillis scored more times than those two combined! Tatum got a lot of yards in the SD game with junk time. Selvin couldn't score, no matter how many ypc he has.

    Reason why so many wanted him back, is they knew he could pound in the ball unlike anything else (besides Pittman) we had last year. He ran like he had nothing to lose… which is basically what we needed this season. Maybe not have him as an every down back, but used more in those critical situations that we failed to get even a yard.

  • Kaptain

    Have an orginal thought. Your silly arguement comes down to Moreno was high draft pick, therefore, he is better than Hillis. Where does that put Terrell Davis? On your bench to be sure. Hillis and Moreno had the exact same line and now you suggest that we need a new offensive line.

    So Hillis didn't have one rush over 20 yards and yet he still blew away Moreno's YPC numbers. How do you explain that genius? Try thinking for yourself before you go into so huffy diatribe about Hillis being just a slow fullback. Silly, just silly. On second thought don't think for yourself because you are clearly a clown incapable of making an intelligent thought.

  • anthony33

    It's still too early to fully judge Moreno. He certainly did not live up to his billing, but I would consider him a bust either.

    I completely understand the Marshall situation, I kind of accept the Cutler situation although I don't like it and Scheffler is weird deal. What is just plain stupid to me is this situation with Hillis. The ONLY thing that would justify what happened to him this year is if he had lost a step or two after his severe hamstring injury last year. That is something no one would talk about, but would show up in time trials and practice. Other than that it is mind boggling he didn't get on the field considering considering his contributions last year, his seemly good attitude and work ethic.

    I don't get it. Bottom line: four of the five best YOUNG promising skilled position offensive players we had last year could all be gone by May. Whew.

  • mikebirty

    I love watching Peyton Hillis. I'm his number 1 fan. I even named my championship winning Fantasy Football team after him – I'm waiting for the write up Kyle ;)

    But Hillis did get a chance, all be it a slim one – he even said in that interview that the fumble against Cleveland on the kick off seemed to count against him. And he dropped a sure 1st down pass in one of the early games – Cowboys I think. And he failed to convert a couple of short yardage plays in the first few games. Being the only healthy fullback for nearly half the season probably didn't help. And he brought out the last kick off against KC when he should've taken a knee.

    Should he have got more chances, yes of course.
    Should he have replaced Moreno, no.
    Would he have got a chance if there was an injury and would he have done well, yes.

    If he makes it as far as Training Camp then he'll have a role with the Broncos next year – with an improved o-line he could certainly do for the Broncos what Hightower does for the Cardinals, short yardage, swing passes and goal line. But that's a big IF.

  • mikebirty

    I love watching Peyton Hillis. I'm his number 1 fan. I even named my championship winning Fantasy Football team after him – I'm waiting for the write up Kyle ;)

    But Hillis did get a chance, all be it a slim one – he even said in that interview that the fumble against Cleveland on the kick off seemed to count against him. And he dropped a sure 1st down pass in one of the early games – Cowboys I think. And he failed to convert a couple of short yardage plays in the first few games. Being the only healthy fullback for nearly half the season probably didn't help. And he brought out the last kick off against KC when he should've taken a knee.

    Should he have got more chances, yes of course.
    Should he have replaced Moreno, no.
    Would he have got a chance if there was an injury and would he have done well, yes.

    If he makes it as far as Training Camp then he'll have a role with the Broncos next year – with an improved o-line he could certainly do for the Broncos what Hightower does for the Cardinals, short yardage, swing passes and goal line. But that's a big IF.

  • denverfanindallas

    if he can block, catch and run (kinda) why not put him at TE? i know he's not tall, but neither is D.G. and with the Schef situation (which i still have no idea what happen) but if it really was an attitude problem, then switch it up.!! haha, i know that the real world isnt Madden, but wouldnt in it be nice! ?

  • denverfanindallas

    this is going to be a long off-season…

  • denverfanindallas

    you can't possibly tell me you're still hanging on to the cutler dream? he got what he wanted, beg program, big money and he was shell shocked. looked like SD last year…if that play is called right, we don't even have a shot at “win and your in” last year. we get swept by SD and are much worse than 8-8.

    If I told you at the beginning of the season that we were going 8-8 and our D would rank in the tops most of the season (with our QB, D and schedule)… would you take it? i would

  • Mike

    The problem with Plummer wasn't Plummer. It was Shanahan who kept the handcuffs on. Jake did not get a very deep playbook to work with. Anytime you limit your offense, you limit your offense. I should not even mention the schooling Cowher gave Shanahan in the AFC title game. Talk about out-coached. All Jake did was run for his life. Shanahan walked off the field with his head swimming wondering what happened…uh, it must have been Jakes fault. The “mastermind” indeed!

  • TheTroglodyte

    He is certainly as good a TE as that guy we drafted and never played. I have said over and over not to judge last years draft until at least mid-season next year or it isn't fair. I'll concede and Astrix next to Quinn's name however. We didn't need him, didn't want him. Unless he miraculously proves to be the second coming of Shannon Sharpe (and that isn't going to happen) he was a total waste of a pick when there was some very good talent still left on the board.

  • kerry

    wow. just wow. so 8-8 is ok with you huh? just as long as Cutler and shanny arent there for it right? um i will NEVER accept 8-8 regardless of the situation. 8-8 is mediocre PERIOD! but hey you keep hanging onto those 8-8 seasons. me personally, and i cant speak for everyone, but i see playoff appearances and ultimately SB titles as a successful season. not 8-8 finishes. its sad really that 8-8 is a success to you. really.

    and no im not hanging onto the Cutler dream. but dont sit here and pretend that we are such a great team now because he is gone. we are still a mediocre team with a worse offense. the ONLY difference is our defense, which Orton has NOTHING TO DO WITH. Cutler may have gotten what he wanted, but even with all the INT's, he still threw for more TD's then Orton and had only one less win, with far less talent then Orton has here in Denver.

  • TheTroglodyte

    To be fair on this, Hillis did get his entire YPC average in junk time in 1 game after Moreno and Jordan were pulled. I'm on the same side as you in wanting Hillis to be given a shot. Comparing this years YPC numbers doesn't make sense though.

  • kerry

    i dont think its too early to judge Moreno. RB is the easiest position to translate to when coming out of college. and Moreno looked downright terrible in most games. of course everybody blames the O-line, but good RB's can actually make plays regardless of O-line play. just ask Steven Jackson of the Rams. Moreno has no speed, no power and sucks in blitz pickup. and NONE of that is the O-lines fault. wanna know what i really think? i really think McD drafted Moreno out of fear that the Chargers would get him. i really do. because i cant understand how you draft a 210 RB with no speed and no power, at the 12th pick. ESPECIALLY when a RB wasnt needed but defense was.

  • denverfanindallas

    were suppose to win 3 games! i repeat, three games!

    just because surprised some people early doesn't mean we are gonna win the super bowl. this team was never gonna win the super bowl, never gonna go undefeated, YOUR EXPECTATIONS AFTER THE FIRST SIX GAMES SKYROCKETED! Let's try to be realistic. i love shanny, but we all knew something had to change…

  • denverfanindallas

    “superbowl or fail” mentality leaves fans of 30 teams hopeless every year. i don't have that mindset, so i can enjoy a game from time to time.

  • kerry

    yeah i wanted Shanny gone too. so your Shanny reference means nothing to me. and 6-0 start didnt raise my expectations. McD said “we arent rebuilding, we are gonna win now” THAT raised my expectations and yet again. we finished 8-8. and what we were “supposed” to win means nothing. 6-0 to 8-8 is pathetic. plain and simple. not even Shanny did that. you start 6-0, you are supposed to get into the playoffs.

  • kerry

    well you keep enjoying 8-8 seasons.

  • denverfanindallas

    and i will be happy and realistic, and you will be miserable and disappointed every year. :) football is a game. and there always has to be a loser. our schedule was brutal, an 8-8 kinda schedule for a young coach, new system etc… with a look at the schedule next year, things should be better. trust me, My expectations are higher for next year. but one more win gets us in lately, so we should be in for a happy year as bronco fans.

    McD has pride, but it's pride in winning, he's gonna do whatever it takes, we will improve.

  • denverfanindallas

    agreed… good points

←  
Newer Comments  →