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Fire up the Torain bandwagon...! (1 Viewer)

Shanahan is completely over-rated when it comes to being able to judge RB talent. Very few of the guys he drafted did anything on other teams, they weren't good, they just produced in his system which made any RB look good.

Now he has a bunch of equal RB's so he'll use em all leaving none of them to be viable fantasy options in a given week. Torain won't help clear it up, he'll confuse it since it will just add another ingredient to the recipe.

 
moderated said:
Shanahan is completely over-rated when it comes to being able to judge RB talent. Very few of the guys he drafted did anything on other teams, they weren't good, they just produced in his system which made any RB look good.
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Terrell Davis is a borderline Hall of Famer. I hope we can agree he was no product of the system. Clinton Portis is a perennial stud. Clearly he's no product of the system, either. For as little as has been invested in real terms, winding up with a borderline HoFer and a perennial stud is spectacular enough in its own right. I mean, according to a pick value chart floating around on the internet, the draft picks used to acquire Portis, Bell, Clarett, Gary, Griffin, Anderson, and Terrell Davis *COMBINED* are only worth as much as the #12 overall draft pick (a mid-first rounder). Turning a mid first-rounder into a borderline HoFer and a perennial stud is a tremendous coup all by itself, even if every other RB was a worthless bust (and I'd contend that Anderson was actually a very good RB who simply never got a chance to shine on another team until he was well past his prime). And this is forgetting about Reuben Droughns, the first Cleveland Brown to break 1,000 yards in two decades (he finished with 1232).
 
Every year, I grab at least one member of the Denver running game. I don't take him as my RB1, or even my RB3, but somewhere around RB4 or lower, I start looking for a Denver RB.

For a relatively low pick, I've had the joy of watching Mike Anderson come back from injury and get a number of spot starts during the heart of the schedule (2005) that helped get me into the fantasy playoffs. I've squeezed blood out of Mike Bell. I've milked Tatum Bell. I got a boost last week from Andre Hall out of my flex spot.

For those of you that look at the Hydra that is the Bronco's running game and run away scared, you're missing an opportunity. A Denver RB is not what you want for a keeper in a dynasty league. A Denver RB is not what you want for a RB1 through RB3.

A Denver RB is someone who offers a high reward, but also carries a high risk. To keep the risk manageable, you have to pass on the "hot" Denver RB in the draft. Take his backup. Take his second backup. Take the injured rookie. Hold them if you have the space on your roster. Wait for things to happen, as they always do in the Denver backfield.

Every naysayer in this thread has pointed to the fact that you can "never" pick the one Denver RB, or that something "always" happens to the front runner. Well, use those certainties to your advantage.

I "always" take at least one Denver RB, late in the draft, or early in the season off the waiver wire. Worst case - that pick strikes out, like many of the flyers I take during the season. Fair-to-middling case - I trade that player to someone with the front runner Denver RB or someone who's hoping to catch lightning in a botte. Best case - that player gets his opportunity and makes hay while the sun shines for at least a few weeks during the season. Anyone who has missed their playoffs by one game knows how great it can feel to ride a hot streak from an unexpected player.

I've thrown enough cliches out, and rambled long enough (I've been drinking), but I hope I've gotten across the importance of paying attention to the Denver running game, and why you should always take at least a liitle nibble from that tree late in your draft, or early in the season via the waiver wire. No other team in the last decade has offered so much potential for so little investment, over and over and over again. Anyone who bad mouths this strategy played it the wrong way - they drafted a Bronco RB early, or traded heavily to get one, or paid some other high price, and then got burned.

Do it the right way, and you'll do it that way every year.

This year, I grabbed Torain off waivers this week. I drafted Andre Hall as my RB4. Hall has alread paid off, and Torain doesn't need to. But if he does, everyone looks at me like a genuis.

 
Kevan Barlow notwithstanding...

I haven't heard Shanihan express anything like the mancrush he seems to have on Torain about any of his RB's in quite a while.

As you can tell form my sig line, I grabbed Torain as a handcuff to Young (our auction was pre-injury). I think he has dynasty value for what I paid for him in our auction so I've kept him on my roster despite his injury. I think he could be the bellcow in 2009 and 2010, maybe longer. He's actually got a nice blend of size and speed that could work in the Denver system.

If you run large rosters, I think he's a high reward longshot that won't be any bigger a waste of that roster spot than anyone else you're looking at on the waiver wire right now. Don't add him because you think he WILL become the 20 carry feature back this season or next...add him because you think he MIGHT do that...which makes your modest investment worth the risk.

 
http://blogs.rockymountainnews.com/broncos..._inbox_f_4.html

September 16, 2008 11:07 PM

Lee Rasizer and Jeff Legworld/Broncos 24/7

Q: Regarding the rushing attack, based on what you have seen or heard do you think that Ryan Torain can be the kind of impact rookie that Eddie Royal has turned out to be when Torain returns to to the active roster?

A: He showed the kind of instincts in traffic and the athleticism to make the move once he saw the opening, to make me believe he has the skills to be a No. 1 back.

The question now, as it was when he entered the draft, is health. Can he stay healthy at a high impact position to stay on the field?

Torain missed plenty of his senior season - he finished just five games -- at Arizona State after foot surgery. He did average at least five yards a carry in his two years with the Sun Devils after transferring from Butler Community College, including 1,229 yards rushing in '06 to go with 5.5 yards per carry.

But some guys just get injured more than others, it's always been that way and sometimes there is just no preventing it no matter what happens. His elbow injury, however, was just bad luck, he got flipped in traffic and put his arm out to break his fall.

But the fact the Broncos gave him a roster spot instead of putting him on injured reserve is all you need to know about what they think of him. He is a quality size-speed option and if he can stay healthy he will help an offense that is already moving the ball well.

Some teams didn't like his speed (he ran a 4.71 40 on the electronic clock at the combine, but was still recovering from his foot surgery) in pre-draft workouts. Other teams clocked in him in the 4.5s at his on-campus workout, and he vision in traffic and ability to cut when he's at or near his top-end speed, means he fits the Broncos mold.

At 225 pounds or so, the Broncos believe he could be the closest thing they have to an every-down back.

He'll certainly play in the second half of the season and they'll keep adding carries as he shows he's ready for them. Shanahan sees him as a starter.
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I'm liking Torain coming back from injury. Trying to figure out when I'm going to spend a roster spot on him is hard though. While Denver's Fantasy RB situation is a mess they have averaged 140+ yards in the first 2 games (10th in the league) and have 4 Rushing TDs. If Torain manages to get half the load he could well turn into a 70-80 yard + 0.7 TD player, with upside left if Shanny actually likes him. The passing game should HELP a RB like Torain, much like Addai in Indy, with three receiving threats and a dangerous QB there will be openings for long runs most games.

Lastly, if you believe his pro day times, his speed score is a 107, which is solid if unspectacular for a RB.

 
Brant said:
Do it the right way, and you'll do it that way every year.This year, I grabbed Torain off waivers this week. I drafted Andre Hall as my RB4. Hall has alread paid off, and Torain doesn't need to. But if he does, everyone looks at me like a genuis.
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Hall has already paid off? You started him week 1? 61 rushing yards and no TDs? That's paid off? Looks like you wasted two roster spots, and won't ever start either. I'm still waiting for the "right way". Because it seems your way hasn't paid off jack.
 
From Broncos Mailbag, By Mike Klis

I keep hearing about Ryan Torain coming back and the impact it may/may not have on our team. Was he the best back in camp before he got hurt?

-- Broncosteviep, Tampa, Fla.

I saw Torain pass through the locker room Monday and did a double take -- it was noticeable how much smaller his heavily braced left arm was compared to his right arm. "It definitely has gotten skinny," he said.

Once Torain gets the brace off his dislocated left elbow, he will have to get pumping on his atrophied left arm. It's been almost two months since he suffered the injury in training camp, and recovery time for such damage is three months. The goal is to have Torain back during the late-October bye week, and have him playing in Game 8, Nov. 2 against Miami.

Was he the best back in training camp? No, but he was getting there. The feeling was he would have been the Broncos' No. 1 tailback early in the season, but I'm not sure he would have started ahead of Selvin Young in the opener at Oakland. We'll never know.

Quick and strong at 6-foot-1, 225 pounds, Torain has the potential to be a 20- to 25-carry-a-game back. But as former Rockies star Dante Bichette once said, potential means you haven't done it yet.
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Link
 
I was going to post the same article, WarRedbirds. I think there's a clear possibility that Torain will play a factor for the Broncos this season. If Shanahan was happy with what he had, why would he use this ridiculous 3 man committee? On the other hand, by the time Torain gets back, coupled with getting back into shape he may not be back in time to be relevant for fantasy. I'm troubled by the fact that his arm has visibly atrophied--what will it look like in 7 weeks?

I will probably stash him a week or two before he comes back if I have the space. But I'm not picking him up any time soon, I don't have the space for that dead weight on my roster.

 
WarRedbirds said:
Ketamine Dreams said:
So as of week 7 there will be four backs to share carries instead of three?
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No, five backs... (Hall, Young, Pittman, Hillis, and Torain)But if Torain is as good as Shanahan says he is...then Torain becomes the workhorse. They are in a committee right now because each of them do something well in their own right, but none of them are the complete back. Torain is the big one-cut runner that is perfect for Shanahans system.

Selvin Young 5-11 215lbs: Shanahan knows he's talented, but only talented enough to fit a certain role. Young is a great pass catcher...but Shanahan won't feature him because he doesn't see him as an every down back.

Andre Hall 5-10 212lbs: Best chance to become a feature guy IMO, but given the lack of buzz on him, I'm not sure that Shanahan feels that he is a special back.

Peyton Hillis 6-2 250lbs: The fullback. Not getting alot of carries, but Shanahans moved his fullback to featured runner before.

Michael Pittman 6-0 225lbs: Appears to be the goal line back, but is 33 and is quite simply a role player.

Ryan Torain 6-1 225lbs: Ideal size and abilities to become the feature back in the Denver one-cut system, which plays to his strengths. Not the best receiver. Appeared to be winning the starting job in training camp before breaking his elbow. I wouldn't feel as positive about him if it was a leg or knee injury. He shouldn't lose any explosiveness from an arm injury. It might only take him a week or two to win the starting job outright if he comes back strong. Shanahan has already featured Royal, so it would not be a surprise to see him turn to a rookie back. Add that to the fact that rookie RB's are quick to make an impact in general, I give Torain a strong chance to take this job sooner rather than later.

I am not surprised that people wrote off Torain for this year, but I believe that to be short-sighted. He'll return at mid season and should be at full strength. If one of the main backs gets injured between now and then, which is quite probable, that will clear the way for Torain even further.
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Actually, and this may be picking nits, Hall and Young are ideal RB size. Go look at all the great RBs and most hover around 5'10 and 210 pounds. Very few of the greats are over 6 feet tall. So when I think ideal I'm thinking the LTs, WPs and ESs of the world.
 
Picking up steam...

Broncos report: Injured running back Torain close to return

By Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published September 26, 2008 at 4:38 p.m

A secret weapon? Not exactly.

"Just maybe one people don't expect," Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler said.

Somewhat lost in all the numbers the Broncos offense has put up in three games thus far is the fact the guy who just might have been their starting running back is close to returning to practice.

Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said Friday rookie Ryan Torain is on track to return to practice in the days leading up to the Broncos' Oct. 20 game in New England. If all goes well, Torain could play following the Broncos' Oct. 26 bye.

The Broncos face the Miami Dolphins on Nov. 2 in Invesco Field at Mile High.

"From what we saw in camp, the kid is an explosive runner and in the second half of the season, guys get worn down and we're going to pop this fresh kid in there," Cutler said. "It's going to be exciting to watch."

Torain suffered a fractured left elbow and some ligament damage that required surgery in early August. At the time, he was steadily moving up the team's depth chart with Shanahan saying, before any preseason games had been played, that Torain was headed toward being the team's starter.

At the time, Shanahan called him "one of the most gifted running backs I've been around, and I've been around for a long time, very similar to Terrell Davis when he came in."

Torain, who is still wearing a brace on his left arm for much of his day around the Broncos' Dove Valley complex, has been doing conditioning work and exercises to regain the range of motion in his arm.

"I'm excited, I'm just going to keep working hard and get back," Torain said. "I started running and that's when it started to feel like it's getting closer, like I was taking some strides. It's going to be fun."

At 225 pounds, Torain is considered the team's best power/speed combination in the backfield. In two seasons at Arizona State, he averaged 5.4 yards per carry and rushed for 1,229 yards a junior.

He played just six games as a senior because of a foot injury that required surgery. Some teams didn't like his speed at the scouting combine - he ran in the 4.6s in his 40-yard dashes, 4.71 on the electronic clock - but others believed his speed would improve some as he continued to recover from his foot surgery.

Shanahan has consistently pointed to Torain's ability to cut at nearly full speed during the Broncos workouts, which enables a runner to play faster than his timed speed. Torain showed enough in the first two weeks of camp that the Broncos kept him on the 53-man roster rather than place him on injured reserve for the season.

"The guys on defense were saying that all along," Cutler said. "He's going to have some impact for us."

For Torain, this week has been slightly disappointing. The back, who went to high school in Shawnee Mission, Kan., was hoping to play in Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday. Torain will almost certainly face the Chiefs on Dec. 7 in Denver, but will have to wait until next season to play in Kansas City in front of family and friends.

"It would have been great to play Sunday," Torain said. "It would have been great for the family to come out and watch me. But the Chiefs still have got to come here and my family is still coming out for that."
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So even if you don't believe Skeletor...Now we are hearing some positive buzz from Cutler and the Broncos defense. November 2nd is a very realistic date for his return, which means he would play week 9.

 
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you guys don't have much common sense if you think shanny is going to go from this 3-headed attack who is producing fantastically, to giving a mid-round rookie draftee, who has never played a down in his NFL career and is coming off a major injury, 20+ carries/game and all goal line duties at any point this season, much less 8 or 9 games in, immediately when he returns from injury, and after his offense is already a well-oiled machine.

wake up, people.

 
kd1 said:
you guys don't have much common sense if you think shanny is going to go from this 3-headed attack who is producing fantastically, to giving a mid-round rookie draftee, who has never played a down in his NFL career and is coming off a major injury, 20+ carries/game and all goal line duties at any point this season, much less 8 or 9 games in, immediately when he returns from injury, and after his offense is already a well-oiled machine. wake up, people.
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Time will tell !!!!!
 
Islanders rule said:
I've got him on my bench. I say 8 - 10 TD's in the 2nd half of the season and the playoffs.
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What are peoples serious expectations for this guy? Our commish actually suggested an injured reserve x 2 this year for people who are "Out" or on "IR" (3 year keeper). I really don't have the roster spots cause I'm weak at WR (also have Colston on IR). My RB's at the moment are AD, CJ3, Edge and Slaton. Would it be worth dropping someone like Edge or Slaton once he is back in the lineup?
 
kd1 said:
you guys don't have much common sense if you think shanny is going to go from this 3-headed attack who is producing fantastically, to giving a mid-round rookie draftee, who has never played a down in his NFL career and is coming off a major injury, 20+ carries/game and all goal line duties at any point this season, much less 8 or 9 games in, immediately when he returns from injury, and after his offense is already a well-oiled machine. wake up, people.
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Thank you Nostradamus! I'm glad that you have Mike Shanahan figured out.
 
mt99808 said:
Islanders rule said:
I've got him on my bench. I say 8 - 10 TD's in the 2nd half of the season and the playoffs.
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What are peoples serious expectations for this guy? Our commish actually suggested an injured reserve x 2 this year for people who are "Out" or on "IR" (3 year keeper). I really don't have the roster spots cause I'm weak at WR (also have Colston on IR). My RB's at the moment are AD, CJ3, Edge and Slaton. Would it be worth dropping someone like Edge or Slaton once he is back in the lineup?
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Torain is no more than a stash and pray at this point.Slaton will be a beast...hold 'em.
 
teamroc said:
Brant said:
Do it the right way, and you'll do it that way every year.This year, I grabbed Torain off waivers this week. I drafted Andre Hall as my RB4. Hall has alread paid off, and Torain doesn't need to. But if he does, everyone looks at me like a genuis.
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Hall has already paid off? You started him week 1? 61 rushing yards and no TDs? That's paid off? Looks like you wasted two roster spots, and won't ever start either. I'm still waiting for the "right way". Because it seems your way hasn't paid off jack.
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What has your alternative gotten you? Sammy Morris against Miami? Spot starting Ahmad Bradshaw a week after he blows up? Dangling Sproles to the LT owner?The Denver running game is not for the impatient or the worrisome soul. The top half of your roster has to be strong enough to allow you to stash a Denver RB or two until they get their turn. I never said that this was a low-risk play; I tried to say that there's enough upside to warrant the risks that are involved. If you disagree, then that's okay.
 
mt99808 said:
Islanders rule said:
I've got him on my bench. I say 8 - 10 TD's in the 2nd half of the season and the playoffs.
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What are peoples serious expectations for this guy? Our commish actually suggested an injured reserve x 2 this year for people who are "Out" or on "IR" (3 year keeper). I really don't have the roster spots cause I'm weak at WR (also have Colston on IR). My RB's at the moment are AD, CJ3, Edge and Slaton. Would it be worth dropping someone like Edge or Slaton once he is back in the lineup?
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You won't get Torain then. He will be gone in most leagues soon. I would not drop Edge or Slaton at this point for Torain. That said, Torain is a great sleeper at this point if you have the bench space. In my case, we play through the Superbowl so playoff guys are valuable and I think the Broncos make the playoffs. Their D just needs to improve.
 
Torain has a blog on denverbroncos.com that he updates weekly. He seems like a stand-up guy.

This weeks blog entry:

Ryan Torain Sept. 25 Blog Entry

Getting My Stamina Back

Alright, I’ve got some big news this week:

I started lifting weights with my left arm. I’ve started conditioning and running full speed now, too — I don’t have to be on the treadmill all the time. It definitely gives me a lot more to do now that I’m not just lifting weights with one arm. So I’m starting to take big strides just by getting into the swing of things, getting my stamina up.

I’m getting excited. It’s getting closer every week and I can’t wait to get out there. I can’t wait to start practicing. Then when I step on that game field, it’s going to be something I ain’t never felt before. It’s the NFL, I haven’t played in a game yet, I missed all the preseason games. I’ve just been out here watching. I’ve got a whole bunch of energy balled up and ready to explode, for real. I just can’t wait to get out there.

So last week was another exciting game — it was a whole bunch of emotions going all which ways. I was wishing I was out there helping the team, but I’ve just got to give verbal support, just doing what I can to keep guys hyped and cheered up and just bring some enthusiasm to the sidelines.

Combine the big win with the fact that I’m lifting with my left arm and I don’t have to wear the brace 24/7 anymore, and it’s been a pretty good week.

This past Tuesday I went with a bunch of the rookies to a Boys & Girls Club to help get the kids excited about staying active and in shape. That was fun. It was an experience. The little kids look up to us players, so we just went out there and had a good time and played with them. They had a couple questions and I had a couple of questions for them, just trying to make them think. I’m glad we got to get out there and make the kids feel better about themselves.

As you can tell, we in the ‘08 rookie class have been trying to stick together. It’s team camaraderie. We’ve got to be close with each other and have a good time.

That’s it for this week, just getting ready for a trip to KC and hopefully we can keep this fast start going.
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FWIW, the sports radio guys were talking about the Broncos abandoning the run game this week, and one of them mentioned that insiders on the team told him "We are just biding time until Torain gets back" or something to that effect, implying that they can't rely on the run game with the current backs, but that they feel Torain will bring something different.

(Yes, I am a hopeful Torain owner, but I am simply relaying info I heard while driving here)...

 
kd1 said:
you guys don't have much common sense if you think shanny is going to go from this 3-headed attack who is producing fantastically, to giving a mid-round rookie draftee, who has never played a down in his NFL career and is coming off a major injury, 20+ carries/game and all goal line duties at any point this season, much less 8 or 9 games in, immediately when he returns from injury, and after his offense is already a well-oiled machine. wake up, people.
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Any coach would be stupid to ignore a possibility just because the current setup seems to be working. It remains to be seen whether Torain can get up to speed in time to make a difference, but the fact that Denver's burning a roster spot on him indicates they certainly believe he can. Besides, even if Young/Hall/Pittman were averaging 200 yards per game @ 5 ypc, if the coaches honestly believed Torain could improve that, then why not let him try? Why settle for 200@5ypc when you could try for 240@6ypc?
 
Islanders rule said:
kd1 said:
you guys don't have much common sense if you think shanny is going to go from this 3-headed attack who is producing fantastically, to giving a mid-round rookie draftee, who has never played a down in his NFL career and is coming off a major injury, 20+ carries/game and all goal line duties at any point this season, much less 8 or 9 games in, immediately when he returns from injury, and after his offense is already a well-oiled machine. wake up, people.
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Time will tell !!!!!
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I agree. If you have him, trade him now. His speculation couldn't be any more ridiculous. This guy also gets hurt easily. If your buying, I have A house for sale, want a sub prime loan to boot?
 
King of the Jungle said:
Todd Andrews said:
SELLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!(to me)
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I agree (and I own him in dynasty). BUT I am going to wait until about week 8 right before he comes back. By then the hype should be brooming.
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I don't think you agree at all. The way I understand it is that Andrews *HOPES* everyone is selling, because he's looking to buy ("sell... him to me"). You, on the other hand, are looking to sell. Opposite viewpoints.Here's my thing with Ryan Torain- some people might think that this is just a smokescreen, but there is just soooooooooo much smoke being thrown up here that if it is, it is the thickest smokescreen the world has ever seen. If you don't mind me mixing my metaphors, I'm buying on Torain because, where there's smoke... there's usually a fire.If I get a second, I'll post links and quotes from all of the Denver rags filled with all the different people who have said "just wait till Torain gets back" so far the past few weeks. It's overwhelming.
 
Love Torain. Going into this season, I saw Torain as the 3rd best RB in this year's draft behind Stewart and Mendenhall. His draft stock slipped because of a Lisfranc but was impressive enough coming out of college that smashmouth NFL teams like Pittsburgh had him come into work out on multiple occasions prior to the draft.

I have had the opportunity to watch Torain at ASU a lot and I think he is going to be an every-down back in the NFL. He was running behind a very small and incompetent o-line at ASU and he created/earned every yard. The ability to create without the strong presence of an o-line is what really stands out. Strong inside runner, hits the hole between the tackles with authority. Very good feet for a big guy, and a very underrated athlete. Has excellent one-cut ability, a great match for Denver's running schemes. Does not have the top end speed but has great vision and patience. Moved the pile very well as I think it is very important to see that he has the shown the ability to grind for the tough 3-4 yards. He also has the ideal size of someone that can carry the ball 325+ times in the NFL.

I can't pretend to decipher the RB situation in Denver, but I do believe that the recent "musical chairs" at that position over the years is more due to the strength of the personnel that dictated Shanahan's inability to stick with one guy. I think if he had an every-down back that he would roll with him consistently. He has shown it with Terrell Davis and Portis before, Torain is really the first guy to come along since then where Shanahan can envision him as that one guy. If you have a fantasy team that can afford to wait a few weeks, Torain is no doubt worth a stash. It is under-the-radar, high upside guys like Torain that have the possibility of helping many teams down the stretch.

 
Denver Post article (13-OCT-008)

Link: http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_10712152

Is it possible that we've got the dead-artist thing going with Ryan Torain? When he got hurt, the consensus seemed to be that it was a shame because he was maybe working his way into playing time. Since the injury, he has steadily grown into the second coming of Terrell Davis. That's a lot of pressure for a rookie who was also around to be drafted in the fifth round.

-- Andrew Thornberry, Enid, Okla.

Andrew - Dead-artist thing. I like it. You made another point that's worth penetrating. The reason why Torain lasted until the fifth round was his injury history. He may have been considered a first- to second-round talent had he stayed healthy. He is quick, 225 pounds and rushed for 553 yards in just six games his senior year at Arizona State.

But he missed four games as a sophomore in junior college with a severe ankle sprain and seven games as a senior at Arizona State with a Lisfranc injury to his foot.

And now Torain has missed all of preseason and the first six regular-season games with a dislocated elbow. Torain is supposed to return to practice this week but I doubt he will play Monday night at New England. After the bye week, he will get a few carries Nov. 2 against Miami. At that point, the legend of Ryan Torain will transform into Broncos running back Ryan Torain. We'll all be curious to see whether Mike Shanahan and Bobby Turner have discovered another running-back gem.
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Yahoo Sports Pick-ups of the Week:

Link: http://sports.yahoo.com/fantasy/nfl/news?slug=be-gmcpow

Ryan Torain (RB) Denver Broncos

According to Denver insiders, the Broncos three-headed rushing mongoose (Michael Pittman, Selvin Young and Andre Hall) is merely keeping the seat warm for Torain. Sidelined with a fractured elbow since the preseason, the electric rookie from Arizona State is an ideal blend of Pittman power and Young burst. Expected to return to full practice this week, his anticipated debut is slated for November 2 versus Miami. Pittman was sensational Sunday, collecting 100-yards on the ground, the first Denver back in 18 games to do so. However, Mike Shanahan's strong support of the rookie prior to the injury means he could slip into a featured role by Week 10. Because of the Broncos' relatively soft schedule from Weeks 10-14, save the Jets (at Cle, at Atl, Oak, at NYJ, KC), Torain is someone worth stashing in all 12-team and deeper leagues.
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getting closer. just made moves for him in 2 leagues. dropped mark clayton and ladell betts.

Another big step this week, everybody. First it was being able to get back to working on my conditioning. Then it was being able to lift weights with my left arm again. Now, it’s something even bigger.I was at practice yesterday. My first NFL practice, and being a rookie, it felt good, even if I was just watching it go down and not participating yet. I missed practice. It’s been a while since I’ve been in that atmosphere. Watching guys make plays, guys working hard and just playing the game. I just missed that competitiveness. I’m definitely excited to get back, and it’s been great to be back out at practice. Now I’m just kind of taking steps to get back in the flow of things, and hopefully next week I’ll be able to put the cleats on and run around.Coach Shanahan said there’s a chance I’ll be back out on the practice field making plays on my own starting next week, so I’ve just got to stay working hard with rehab and keep conditioning to make sure it happens. Whenever I get called on, I’ll be ready to go. I can’t wait to get back.Usually you think the main thing I would miss is being on the field on Sundays, but at this point I miss practice just as much. Practice is a huge key to the game — if you do well in practice, you’ll do well in the game. If you don’t do well in practice, you probably ain’t going to even be playing in the game. So I always look forward to having a great practice every day, and I’m ready to start that trend up again next week.I don’t have any plans to play in the game next week, just hopefully I’ll be back on the practice field. I’ve got to get my football conditioning up. You can condition all you want, run black lines and gassers all day, but conditioning for the game of football is a different kind of conditioning. Luckily the trainers and strength staff are doing what they can to make sure I’m in tip-top shape and I’ll be ready.I told you all a couple weeks ago that I was itching to get back on the field. Right now it’s even worse. I’m fiending. I’m really excited. Especially since it’s coming up real soon. I can’t wait to put on that uniform and make some plays. And believe me, I will make some plays.Thanks for everybody’s encouragement as I’ve been getting back toward the field. Speaking of which, I saw that my grandma wrote a comment to me in last week’s blog. She’s always trying to keep in contact one way or the other.Grammies: Hopefully I’ll be back next week, and hopefully y’all get to come out to the game when I get back. I can’t wait to see you. Miss you.As for the rest of you: Thanks for your support. I know it’s been tough while I’ve been out of the game, rehabbing, but I appreciate you all sticking with me. Now that I’m hopefully getting back out to practice, I’ll hopefully be able to reward you all with my performance on the field soon.All right, keep reading, and maybe this time next week I’ll be telling you about my first week of regular season practice in the NFL.This entry was posted on Thursday, October 9th, 2008 at 1:18 pm and is filed under On the Field, Return Timetable, Ryan Torain, Practice. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.
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per sportsline

The Denver Post reports Broncos rookie RB Ryan Torain, out since suffering a dislocated left elbow in training camp, is expected to start practicing Wednesday. The Broncos' plan is for Torain to work his way into shape in Week 7 and the following week, which is Denver's bye in Week 8, before considering him for play in Week 9 against Miami.(Updated 10/14/2008).
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The Torain hype is truly puzzling. The kid has had one NFL practice. I doubt he's going to become the #1 RB in Denver this year, much less make that job valuable enough to serve as more than a spot starter.

 
sterjs said:
The Torain hype is truly puzzling. The kid has had one NFL practice. I doubt he's going to become the #1 RB in Denver this year, much less make that job valuable enough to serve as more than a spot starter.
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The key is that he has a *chance*, which really can't be said for any other RB on most people's waiver wire. The fact that this kid could be a hit second half and will cost nothing but the waiver pickup fee makes it worth it for many of us. When all you are giving up is a roster spot and you have a deep enough bench, why not?
 
As far as Torains prospects are concerned, I see good and bad in the emergence of Pittman in the Denver backfield.

On the negative side, Pittman appears to be firmly entrenched as the starter, even when Torain gets back on the field.

On the positive side, it shows that Shanahan is open to having a single horse carrying this cart.

 
[scooter] said:
NatronIsMean said:
The key is that he has a *chance*, which really can't be said for any other RB on most people's waiver wire.
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Michael Pittman, Selvin Young, Andre Hall.Have a chance? Check.On the waiver wire? Probably.
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that the "competition" is so highly regarded as to be found on the waiver wire speaks volumes.How about has a chance and hasn't already blown multiple chances already this year. Shannahan strikes me as the kind of guy who likes to think that he's a genius. My gut feeling is he'll give the kid a shot, and if he's anywhere near as good as many who've claimed to watch him through college :shurug: Certainly better for my team that Mark Clayton or Ladell Betts...
 
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