Three's Company

What's life like in the Broncos' crowded backfield?

After a morning practice at training camp, Mike Anderson, Terrell Davis and Olandis Gary sat for a roundtable discussion on Denver's seemingly foolproof ground game.

SI: Why does this system work, seemingly no matter who's running?

GARY: I don't think anyone can do it, but it's all a matter of being dedicated to the running game. I see teams shy away from the run if it doesn't work, but we're on a mission every year to run first.

DAVIS: What you have here are three guys whose work wasn't highlighted in college. But look at the three of us. We've got all the attributes you need to be good NFL running backs. Big bodies. Tough. Speed and quickness. Soft hands. Very good blockers. Some players come out of college, and all they can do is run. You ask 'em to block, and they say, I'm here to run, not block. That's not a complete back.

SI: Did it help or hurt to be college no-names?

DAVIS: When I came here, I realized I could play because I was good at what they wanted: I could run hard, I could catch, I could block. In the NFL you've got to be a chain-mover, and that's what the three of us do.

SI: Is there a prototype Denver back?

ANDERSON: You're looking at three of 'em. Not flashy. No spin moves. Just beat the defense, find the hole, run downhill.

SI: How important is courage? Olandis, you played a quarter against the Rams last year after tearing your ACL.