I love these reports, too, but with all due respect to Cecil, he was raving about Hillman this much last year, and he didn't get the starting job over Moreno when McGahee went down last year, so I am taking that info with a grain of salt.
This is true although I am going to be fair because I Am one of those guys that has poked fun and said "Cecil loves Jeremiah Johnson..avoid"..or "whoever Cecil likes, flip it." With all that being said, I tip my hat because he is bringing great info and I love the format this year.
With both of you on this, and the thought has crossed my mind as well. I was one of the ones last fall talking about Moreno while the crowd pounced on Hillman post-McGahee.
All that being said, it's a year later, and I've said it before, but guys make huge jumps first to second year in the NFL with their conditioning, body, diet, etc. IF they're workers, and by all accounts Hillman is that, then they can make giant gains.
Reports on Hillman have been all positive, and frankly I'm more skeptical of Ball given the mediocre combine measurables, system in college, and just an overall gut feeling that I have trouble fully expressing. My willingness to buy Hillman also points to the presence of Moreno on my roster, who, IMO, would get a lot of the work should Hillman get hurt for some reason. Peyton's offenses demand protection from the RB, and Hillman and Moreno can do that.
If I owned Ball, and I don't, I'd be concerned about a Mark Ingram-like usage pattern where the D knows he's running if he's in the game, given his struggles in pass pro. Not always easy to have success in that situation, and it wouldn't take much for a contender like Denver to move on to Hillman or Moreno in the red zone if Ball doesn't produce.
ALL THAT BEING SAID, it's still really early, but Hillman IMO is worth the dice roll...