Ronnie Hillman

07/31/2013 12:01:00 AM MDT

When the Broncos competed during the offseason workouts in gym shorts and T-shirts, Ronnie Hillman was the team’s No. 1 running back.

When training camp opened, rookie Montee Ball and veteran Knowshon Moreno had not moved to the front of the line. The Broncos put the pads on and started knocking one another around for the first time Saturday. Three padded practices later, Hillman went into the camp off day Tuesday with his arm wrapped tightly around the starting running back spot.

A fun competition among friends? Come on. Friends, yes, but this isn’t the backyard. This is the NFL.

“I’d say it’s a tough competition,” Hillman said. “Knowshon, Montee, Jeremiah (Johnson) is doing pretty good. Really good. It’s definitely one of the toughest position battles going on in training camp right now.”

When Broncos front office boss John Elway and coach John Fox constructed their running backs stable, a clandestine peek at the blueprint wasn’t necessary to understand their vision.

Eventually, Ball is to be the featured back. His proven durability and production in his four seasons at the University of Wisconsin made him the team’s second-round draft pick in April. The Broncos hope he develops into a 15- to 20-carry back in the NFL.

There’s the plan. But just as in constructing a home, it doesn’t go from blueprint to flipping the remote from the living room couch overnight. It’s built in stages.

“How it moves forward — we don’t know enough about Montee Ball yet,” Fox said. “We know what style he has. I’ve been very impressed with his football character. And you do find out pretty fast at that position.”

The college rushing statistics of Hillman, Ball and Moreno are ridiculous. Taking just the two seasons Moreno played at Georgia, Hillman at San Diego State and Ball’s final two years at Wisconsin, the trio combined for 9,731 yards rushing and 121 rushing touchdowns. That’s more than 1,620 yards and 20 touchdowns per season for each back.

When Hillman, Ball and Moreno were drafted into the NFL by the Broncos in rounds three, two and one, respectively, they discovered carrying the ball was secondary.

“Honestly, it’s 60 percent pass protection, 40 percent running the ball,” Ball said. “In the NFL, it’s no secret: It’s a passing league. And on this team, when you have a great quarterback like we have, you’ve got to protect him.”

Moreno is coming off arthroscopic knee surgery that sidelined him through most of the offseason. He might be third on the depth chart, but come Sept. 5 when the Broncos play against Elvis Dumervil, Terrell Suggs and the Baltimore Ravens, you had better believe Moreno will get his share of snaps.

“We all got here by running the ball in college,” Moreno said. “Everyone here can run the ball. It’s those little things, what can you do besides run the ball. Pass protection. Catch the ball out of the backfield.”

A tailback on offense is what a safety is on defense — the last line of protection. It’s where Hillman struggled last season as a rookie. It’s why he was the No. 2 back to Willis McGahee in the first half of the season. And it’s why Hillman was leapfrogged by Moreno after McGahee went down with a knee injury.

That Hillman has maintained his No. 1 spot on the tailback depth chart from Day One of the 2013 preseason speaks to his improvement in blocking for quarterback Peyton Manning.

“I’ve made it a priority, and I think I’m making strides at it and it’s paying off,” Hillman said. “I’m trying to get better every week at it so it becomes second nature.”

The competition for Broncos’ starting running back didn’t really start until the pads went on. Pads mean contact. How can anyone evaluate a running back if there’s no contact?

“When the pads come on, that’s when you’ve got to show how physical you are,” Hillman said. “You have to continue to keep your body up. The competition heats up when the pads come on.”

Hillman has maintained his starting position through every stage this year. Through the voluntary organized team activities that McGahee skipped. Through the mandatory minicamp when McGahee was cut. Through the first week of training camp.

The next round is preseason games, starting with back-to-back road games Aug. 8 against the San Francisco 49ers and Aug. 17 against the stout Seattle Seahawks.

You had better believe the depth chart won’t be affected by the leading rusher alone.

from: http://www.milehighreport.com/2013/8/7/4596052/broncos-vs-49ers-five-position-battles-to-watch

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Ronnie Hillman was born on September 14th, 1991 (time of birth unknown) in Long Beach, California according to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronnie_Hillman

September 14th, 1991

9 + 14 +1+9+9+1 = 43 = his life lesson = Congratulations. Celebrating. Entertainer. Entertaining. Fun times.

Three of Cups Tarot card

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September 14th, 1991

9 + 14 = 23 = his core number = Athlete. Sports. Leadership.

King of Wands Tarot card

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September 14th, 1991

14 +1+9+9+1 = 34 = his “secret” number = Running back.

Eight of Wands Tarot card

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September 14th, 1991

September 14th

9 + 14 +2+0+1+3 = 29 = his personal year (from September 14th, 2013 to September 13th, 2014) = Self-confidence. Teammates. Teamwork. Cooperation. Working together.

29 year + 10 (October) = 39 = his personal month (from October 14th, 2013 to November 13th, 2013) = Dream come true.

Knight of Cups Tarot card

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using the number/letter grid:

1      2    3       4       5       6     7    8     9
A      B   C      D      E       F      G     H      I
J   K    L      M      N     O   P    Q R
S     T      U      V     W     X      Y    Z

Where:

A = 1 J = 1 S = 1

B = 2 K = 2 T = 2

C = 3 L = 3 U = 3

D = 4 M = 4 V = 4

E = 5 N = 5 W = 5

F = 6 O = 6 X = 6

G = 7 P = 7 Y = 7

H = 8 Q = 8 Z = 8

I = 9 R = 9

Ronnie Hillman

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