Jonah Coleman Makes Statement As Broncos Rb Of The Future

During Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs, it became clear a shakeup was underway at the running back position. When the game began, JK Dobbins was given plenty of opportunity to lay the ground game foundation on which Bo Nix’s passing attack would be predicated. None of Dobbins 7 carries would go for longer than 6-yards and he would finish his night running for just 13-yards, averaging an unacceptable 1.9 yards per carry. His long of 6-yards was only eclipsed by the -8-yards he managed during a backwards run in the 2nd quarter.

It was clear last week against the Cardinals, with his 10 carries for 39-yards and at touchdown, that rookie Jonah Coleman was poised to take a hammer to the running back depth chart. Against the Chiefs on Sunday, he did just that. While patiently waiting for Dobbins to self-immolate on the field, Coleman muscled out 41-yards on 11 carries for a touchdown. While a 3.7 yards-per-carry isn’t anything to get excited about, it’s nearly twice the 1.9 that Dobbins offered. When you factor in Coleman’s receiving stats, 4 receptions for 63-yards compared to Dobbins’ grand total of zero, Broncos Country should have no doubt just whom their bell cow will be going forward.

So, why did it take so long for Sean Payton to embrace what all of Broncos Country knew early in the 1st quarter?

Coleman was unable to hide his ’it’ factor just as much as Dobbins couldn’t contain the ‘not-it’ oozing from his every pore. Sure, Dobbins is a seasoned veteran who has earned every amount of respect and efference he’s been given, but in the face of the 100+ yards that Coleman produced (especially with carries primarily given to him in the second-half), there is no putting the toothpaste back in the tube.

Jonah Coleman is the Broncos future at running back.

This doesn’t mean that Dobbins shouldn’t play, be released, or anything like that. If anything, having an explosive playmaker like Coleman in the backfield is a good thing for him. With Coleman, defenses will have to show a greater respect the run and that will translate to better opportunities on the ground (and not to mention in the air) when Dobbins is in. With RJ Harvey and Tyler Badie on IR, it’s going to be the Coleman-Dobbins show for the foreseeable future (barring some blockbuster move as we close in on the NFL trade deadline).

Broncos Country saw what JK Dobbins was capable of during a solid performance before being injured last season. While he’s struggled to regain that form and dominance this season, it’s not impossible to think that he can’t regain some of that form in the coming weeks. That Kansas City defense, with all the deflected balls and constant pressure Bo Nix endured, managed to play the Broncos as tough as anyone with Dobbins being the primary victim. The Broncos schedule gets less difficult going forward and with opposing teams keying in on Coleman, Dobbins might find some opportunities to get his game going.

However, that maturation will be up to Dobbins. The Broncos have found their star back and it’s Jonah Coleman. Will Dobbins shrink and pout in the face of competition or will he jump in and embrace the future with both legs churning? The future of the Broncos running attack is looking exceptionally bright. Dobbins will have to find a way to complement that or he’ll end up watching from the sideline.