When Josh McDaniels drafted Knowshon Moreno with the 12th overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, the team should have picked up a running back who was going to be a future Pro Bowler. Instead, the Broncos have failed to receive that kind of production out of the back in two seasons so far.
According to the Denver Post's Jeff Legwold, Moreno will no longer be the featured back on the team; instead, he will be used as a situational back, mostly on third downs. In his rookie year, Moreno compiled 947 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground, but regressed in 2010. That was partly due to injury early in the season and a fluctuating offensive line that settled after a few weeks.
But eventually McDaniels kept going away from the run, forcing Kyle Orton to throw and throw and throw some more. Moreno had just two 100-yard rushing games in 2010 (106 yards, 161 yards), but over the final three games of the season he had just 17 carries for 65 yards
Legwold suggests the Broncos will look at possible free agent-to-be DeAngelo Williams to be the feature back once the league's labor issues are resolved. This has been suggested for months now since Williams was Fox's running back in Carolina.
For more on Moreno and the Broncos, visit Mile High Report.