2011 Broncos: Spreading the Ball Around

A lot of players have gotten their hands on the football this season in Denver.  (Images courtesy of Getty Images, AP Photos and Reuters Pictures)

This season in Denver, the Broncos have certainly spread the football around.  Nearly 30 different players touched the ball this season, either returning an interception or kick, passing or rushing.

Last season, only two players attempted a pass.  This season, five different Broncos have thrown the football (although one of them was Britton Colquitt on a punt gone wrong).  Of course, when three of the five players attempting passes are a pair receivers and a punter, it’s no surprise that only two players have completed passes this season for Denver.

Running back Willis McGahee has accounted for 1,105 yards of offense and five scores this season. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

Nine different players have rushed this season for the Broncos, Willis McGahee leading the way with 1,054 yards on the ground.  Quarterback Tim Tebow is second in rushing yards (644), but owns the best yards-per-carry average (5.6) and has rushed for the most touchdowns (6).

Thirteen players have been on the receiving end of passes, receiver Eric Decker has led the team in catches (43), yards (607) and touchdowns (8).  Second year receiver Demaryius Thomas has emerged as Tebow’s favorite target in recent weeks, owning the teams best yards-per-catch average (17.8) and closing in on Decker’s yardage mark with 517 yards — 414 of them coming in the month of December.

On special teams, eight different Broncos have returned either a kickoff or punt in 2011.  Receiver Eddie Royal has been the most explosive returner, running back two kicks for scores this season (although one of them was called back for a phantom block in the back penalty).

Finally, fourteen different players on Denver’s roster have scored at least one touchdown this season.  Three of those players (Cassius Vaughn, Andre’ Goodman and Mario Haggan) scored on interception returns.  Tebow’s eighteen touchdowns lead the team, followed by Decker’s nine scores.

The Broncos have spread the ball around this season, which has resulted in team wins.  Quarterback Tim Tebow receives a lot of credit for the offenses’ success, but the entire team has had one of their best seasons in recent memory.