Payton Defends Dobbins As Rookie Runing Back Steps Up

The Denver Broncos paid J.K. Dobbins during the offseason based on the assumption that he’d be their lead running back, but that’s not what’s happening. Dobbins has been struggling to find holes and break tackles, and on Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs the Broncos turned to rookie running back Jonah Coleman to provide some answers and explosive plays.

Coleman did just that, but coach Sean Payton came to Dobbins’ defense, saying he’s “a huge part of what we do” in a piece by Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. 

Payton’s defense was decidedly tepid, however. He looked at the topic mostly as a numbers game, saying that much of the time it’s about going with the running back with the “hot hand,” and the coach added that Dobbins has been “fantastic.” 

His quotes about keeping the topic off the table were more lively, though. Payton said the issue isn't a “hot button topic with us here,” and that the Broncos are “good” with the rotation. 

The unspoken words at the end of that were “for now.” Payton has been trying to quell the rumors that the Broncos are either all in or should be when it comes to trading for Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor, which he dismissed earlier in the week as “internet gossip.” 

Meanwhile, Dobbins’ snap count cratered, even with running backs Tyler Badie and RJ Harvey currently on injured reserve. Per Florio, Coleman was on the field for 41 offensive plays, and he had 11 carries for 41 yards and four catches for 63. Dobbins played 13 snaps, getting seven carries for 13 yards and no targets in the passing game.

Payton retreated to the numbers game in defending Dobbins’ snap count, saying that “it’s always easy to work two [running backs].” He added that Dobbins is “doing a great job,” and the caveat there may be “given that he’s coming off a serious injury.” 

Other numbers tell a different story. Dobbins has 94 carries for 306 yards in eight games, with eight catches for 27 yards. That’s 333 yards from scrimmage, which gives him an average of 41.6 per game.

The Taylor rumors won’t be going away any time soon, and the next test here is Denver’s upcoming road game against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. The snap counts for both running backs will be carefully scrutinized, as will Coleman’s ability to once again provide big plays as the Broncos try to hold on to their narrow lead in the AFC West.