RJ Harvey isn’t shy about what he wants out of the Denver Broncos’ backfield.
After Monday’s training camp practice, Harvey said the group has bigger goals than just carving out roles. He wants the whole room chasing a standard that sits at the top of the league.
"We want to be the best running back room in the NFL," Harvey told reporters following Monday's training camp practice. "So, we're just going to take it day by day, get better each and every day with the O-line and the quarterbacks. And, yeah, the running backs, we're just going to push each other."
That room includes veteran starter JK Dobbins and rookie Jonah Coleman, and the early signs have been encouraging. Dobbins sat out last week’s preseason opener against Atlanta, but Coleman made the most of his chance, turning four carries into 24 yards. Harvey added five rushes for 16 yards.
Behind them, the Broncos got mixed results from the rest of the group. Jaleel McLaughlin matched Coleman’s 24 yards, doing it on six carries, though he also coughed up a fumble. Tyler Badie finished with 18 yards on five attempts, and Cody Shrader led the team with seven carries while gaining 17 yards.
Denver may only carry three running backs on the 53-man roster when the final cuts come at the end of the month, and if that’s how it shakes out, Dobbins, Coleman and Harvey look like the safest bets to stick. Even so, the depth picture gives the Broncos something they didn’t always have last season: real variety.
Harvey believes that’s the strength of the room.
“I feel like every running back in the room brings something to the table," Harvey said. "We go out there and compete each and every day and make each other better. I love the room that we have, and each day we’re just going to continue to grow and continue to make each other better.”
There’s reason for the optimism. Dobbins is a top-ten NFL RB when healthy, Coleman has looked like a fourth-round draft steal, and Harvey brings a receiving dimension that neither of the other two can match.
And while Denver is still sorting out a modified offense under new coordinator Davis Webb, there’s confidence inside the building that the trio can make Harvey’s bold goal sound a lot less like a slogan and a lot more like a plan.
For Harvey, that comfort is already showing up on the field.
“I feel like this year I feel way more comfortable," Harvey said. "Coming from college last year, we had a lot of one word play calls and coming to the NFL is way different.
So I feel way more comfortable, I’m not thinking as much when I’m on the field now. Yes, I feel a lot more comfortable.”
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Broncos Roster Hopefuls Just Put Real Pressure On Preseason Game 2
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Barrons play in the secondary stood out as the kind of splash moment that can reshape a competition, and Murdock brought plenty of activity in his debut. Colemans showing only adds to the pressure heading into preseason Game 2, when coaches will be looking for the same energy and, in some cases, an even bigger answer from players trying to carve out a role. [Read more 🡒]