Lindsay could earn 100 touches as rookie
Former CU star more than cute little story for Broncos
Phillip Lindsay is the favorite son of Broncos Country. He’s as genuine Colorado as a “Native” bumper sticker on a 1994 Chevy Suburban. The cheering section for Lindsay spreads as wide as the four corners of the state. Cut him from the local NFL team? No way. Fans might never forgive the Broncos.
“How’s my guy doing with the Broncos at training camp?” CU coach Mike Macintyre asked, with the first words out of his mouth after a recent practice in Boulder.
Well, Coach. The question isn’t so much how Lindsay is doing, but: How did the Broncos ever get by without him? Lindsay is going to make this team.
The hardest place to find clarity on this Denver roster has been at running back. With so little contact during training camp that practices would’ve passed as a Fourth of July picnic back in Randy Gradishar’s day, it has been tough for coaches to determine the heir apparent to C.J. Anderson, sent packing by the Broncos after rushing for 1,007 yards last season.
But a clear pecking order at tailback began to form Saturday night during an exhibition game against Chicago. Could it be the one-two punch capable of packing the most wallop is the rookie combination of Royce Freeman and Lindsay?
Please say yes. Freeman is the
thunder. Lindsay is the lightning.
While Devontae Booker was listed No. 1 on the depth chart released early in camp, it’s clear the Broncos want Freeman to be their lead back. And the thirdround draft choice from Oregon looks like the winner of the competition, as Freeman ran hard between the tackles and scored a touchdown against the Bears.
His best attribute is one-cut efficiency through the line favored by Denver since the glory days of Terrell Davis. But Free- man ain’t no T.D., and I mean no disrespect, because who is? With a reputation as a power back, I asked Freeman last week if he can do more than move the pile. “Yes, sir,” he replied. After gaining 4,859 yards from scrimmage on 5.5 yards per touch during his career with the Buffaloes, Lindsay went undrafted by the NFL. Hey, these things happen when you’re nearly 13,995 feet shorter than a Colorado fourteener.
The Broncos, however, gave Lindsay a shot. He’s run with it, caught on, kicked butt while working with special teams and stood his ground when big, bad Bears tried to mess with him during recent joint workouts between Chicago and Denver.
From the jump, Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall insisted Lindsay has the distinct look of the team’s third-down back. When I relayed that little piece of happy information to Macintyre, he grinned, then quickly reeled in his enthusiasm, as football guys often do before they study the film.
“Well,” Macintyre said, “Brandon Marshall isn’t a coach.”
Well, Coach, ball don’t lie. At training camp, even a knucklehead like me notices when Denver quarterback Case Keenum checks down against coverage, the target of his throw is often Lindsay.
Against the Bears, Keenum performed much more efficiently than in his clunker of a debut against Minnesota. But truth be told, Denver’s second offensive unit, led by ascending quarterback Chad Kelly, played with more energy. Put Lindsay in the backfield alongside Kelly, and the Broncos have two live wires creating sparks. Lindsay showed he could bring value beyond catching the football with an electric 15-yard rush on the first play of the second half.
Cut him? Or offer Lindsay a spot on the practice squad? That would be nuts. Another NFL team would scoop up Lindsay faster than you can say Kyle Sloter.
Lindsay will make the 53-man roster on the strength of his performance on special teams alone. But how much more can Lindsay can contribute? Can he be the NFL’S next mighty mite?
OK, let’s not get carried away. Lindsay is not Maurice Jonesdrew, the 5-foot-8 back who rushed for 8,167 yards and 68 touchdowns in nine pro seasons.
Using Darren Sproles and Danny Woodhead as a template, however, an optimistic but not totally unrealistic projection for Lindsay would be 100 touches from scrimmage as a rookie, with 300 yards on the ground and 300 yards as a receiver.
For a player NFL regarded as too small, it would be a huge impact.