Young's role may grow
Henry's troubles could put rookie in starting lineup
By Lee Rasizer, Rocky Mountain News
October 6, 2007
ENGLEWOOD - His phone rang Thursday night when the news regarding Travis Henry hit the Internet and beyond. Selvin Young answered, and a veteran teammate proceeded to offer encouragement heading into a murky future, with Young quite possibly inheriting the Broncos' lead role in the backfield.
"It might be your time to make a name for yourself," tight end Daniel Graham advised him.
Henry's potential suspension for a year is being held up in the courts. He might even play Sunday against the San Diego Chargers, after practicing Friday. But if his last-ditch legal effort fails, rookie Young is waiting in the wings.
Young might even play a starring role this weekend, given Henry's recent knee/ankle issues.
Graham, who won two Super Bowl titles with the New England Patriots, felt it was important to make sure his neighbor was preparing himself for that challenge properly amid all the controversy.
"He's the next running back, and a lot is going to be on his shoulders now," Graham said.
Young, whose maturity has been cited often during his quick start this season, took the possibilities of extra responsibility in stride.
"He told me he's ready to do it," Graham related.
Young has been prepared at every turn so far.
He mainly has played in three- wide sets as a single back on passing downs. His 138 yards, on only 15 carries, are third among NFL rookies. His 9.2- yard-per-carry average is best among any player with at least that many attempts. But he hasn't had to deal with the pressure of an every-down role.
"He's a good runner and I think he's great for that system," said Chicago Bears running back Cedric Benson, who competed head-to-head with Young while at the University of Texas. "They stretch guys and use a lot of cutback stuff. He's a shifty guy. I think Selvin will do well there."
Young declined to talk Friday, but earlier in the week he was just as accepting of leading-man status publicly as he was privately with Graham.
"It's always a good feeling when somebody looks at you and says, 'We want you to make a play,' " Young said Monday, when Henry was undergoing magnetic resonance imaging exams on his right leg. "I'm always available for that any game, any day."
Young has been through too much to see it any other way.
He had a rough upbringing in Houston, followed by major ankle problems and academic woes at Texas that landed him temporarily at a junior college. He rebounded to become an honor student and contribute to the Longhorns' 2005 national championship team.
And his development with the Broncos coupled with Henry's off-field issues have given him an opportunity to become the team's latest undrafted free- agent find who hits the jackpot.
Young called his current situation previously "living the dream."
"It finally looks like his stars are shining and he'll have an opportunity to show people what me and a lot of people know he can do," said David Snokhous, Young's prep coach at Jersey Village High School in Houston.
Count Vince Young, the Tennessee Titans quarterback, among the running back's biggest supporters. It was Selvin Young who threw the lead block against Southern California for Vince Young's touchdown that won Texas its title.
"A lot of people don't know his background," the Titans standout said of his close friend. "He's so quiet and likes to sit back and watch things, because he's so grateful for everything he has. There's been so many bad things going on around him, but he rose above it all. If people don't know that, they should know it."
Those life lessons have created a maturity in Young that has been entirely evident to those around the Broncos organization.
And it's why, should he become the lead back, there's no sense in thinking he would shrink from the challenge.
"He'll handle it good. Selvin's hungry right now," fullback Cecil Sapp said. "He wants to play football and he's a real good back. I could see him being like an Olandis Gary-type back, coming in, running for so many yards his rookie year, or a Mike Anderson or Terrell Davis. I see him as being that type of guy."
All three of those former Broncos went on to 1,000-yard seasons in their first years.
So did Mike Bell, who's now a fullback in Denver.
As the frenzy now builds around Young, Bell can only smile, since he's experienced something similar - something "exciting and shocking," as he put it, when he was an undrafted free agent who hit the big time just like Young.
"I just took it one day at a time. And I'd say the same thing to him," Bell said about his rookie year, in which he started three games and scored eight touchdowns. "Don't put too much pressure on yourself or let outside sources put too much on you, either."
Young's style is different from Henry, who's a masher between the tackles and a physical force in the open field.
The rookie has excellent vision, doesn't miss assignments and has elusiveness and a more speed-based game.
"He's received a second chance and a new outlook on life, and he's definitely trying to take advantage of every opportunity," said Titans fullback Ahmard Hall, another college teammate of Young. "He deserves an opportunity."