Dobbins Gets the Rock - Broncos Coach Explains Lopsided RB Split
One of the reasons the Denver Broncos were able to get off to a great first-half start vs. the Indianapolis Colts was the commitment to and success of the run game. Just ask quarterback Bo Nix, who passed for three touchdowns through two quarters of play.
“We ran the ball well. Our O-line did really good," Nix said after the game when asked what worked well offensively in the first half. "Came out the game [with] three straight runs, ran it right at them, and I thought our backs ran the ball well. We were able to get first downs on the run game and that was really good to see. I think that just opened up a few other things on some of those longer drives. And when it looked like we were moving down the field, it was really smooth because of the run game.”
Broncos running back J.K. Dobbins set the tone early, busting off an 18-yard blast on the team's first offensive snap of the game. He would finish with 14 carries for 76 yards (5.4 avg) and a touchdown.
Behind Dobbins, Broncos rookie running back RJ Harvey only garnered five carries, which weren't enough to get into a groove against the stiffer-than-expected Colts' rushing defense. Harvey picked up only eight yards rushing in Week 2, after picking up 70 on six carries in the season-opener, including a 50-yarder.
On Monday, Broncos head coach Sean Payton hosted a conference call with local press, and he was asked why Dobbins is getting such a higher touch share than the rookie second-rounder.
“I think sometimes there are certain tags. Harvey got some tougher run looks in the 11 or sub-personnel groupings," Payton said. "Dobbins had some real good runs for us, though. Quite naturally as one’s going, you feed him more."
O-Line Opening Holes for Dobbins
The Broncos' offensive line did a good job blocking for the team's 118 rushing yards on the road. That came on the heels of Denver's 151 rushing yards in the season-opener.
It hasn't been perfect upfront, but Payton likes what he's seen from his highly-paid offensive line.
"I was pleased overall with how we played as an offensive line. I thought we did a good job of creating space, creating movement," Payton said. "The opening series was going to be three runs in a row to get our first first down, and it happens on the first run. At that moment when you’re able to do that, you have more control of the game, and so that part of it was important.”
The Broncos seemed mostly in control of this game up until the fourth quarter, when a series of snafus and blunders led to a total collapse, and the Colts coming from behind to win 29-28. On Nix's fourth-quarter interception, the Broncos were on the Colts' 28-yard line nursing a 28-23 lead.
That Fateful Third Down Call
On a 3rd-&-3, instead of handing the ball to Dobbins, who, remember, averaged north of five yards per carry on the day, Payton called a passing play. Nix was pressured inside, making him unable to step into a throw deeper down the field to Courtland Sutton, and it sailed on him, getting picked off.
“I just missed," Nix said post-game.
The play-call decision combined with the turnover led to a six-point swing, taking a likely field goal (if not more) out of the equation for Denver, while the Colts drove down and kicked a field goal on the ensuing drive, narrowing the margin to two points. Why Payton didn't hand it off to Dobbins on that 3rd-&-3 we still don't know.
Hopefully, Payton will get to a point with this new-and-improved rushing attack where he won't have to write a note to himself or be reminded to call a run play. I get that Payton wants to do his part to ensure that Nix becomes a top "four or five" quarterback sooner rather than later, but he's still an inexperienced quarterback, NFL-wise, and a young signal-caller's best friend is a reliable run game.
The Broncos will have to extract what lessons there are to be learned from that bitter loss to the Colts and move on quickly, as the Los Angeles Chargers are next up on the schedule. That AFC West tilt will be played at SoFi Stadium in L.A.
Bruins Unveil Massive Training Camp Roster Ahead of 2024–25 Season
The Boston Bruins have released their training camp roster ahead of the 2024-25 season.
Boston's training camp will start as soon as Wednesday, with the Bruins having a roster full of five goaltenders, 17 defenseman and a whopping 28 forwards. The news comes after rookie camps across the NHL wind down to a close — with the Bruins participating in the Prospects Challenge via games against the New Jersey Devils and Pittsburgh Penguins.
Noteworthy on the Boston training camp roster are goaltender Simon Zajicek, 26-year-old Michael DiPietro and former AHL All-Star Matěj Blümel.
Simon Zajicek
Netminder Simon Zajicek was recently signed to a one-year entry-level contract with an NHL cap hit of $872,500 back in May.
Boasting with international on-ice experience, he previously appeared in 29 games with HC Litvinov of Czech Extraliga during the most recent 2024-25 season, tallying an overall record of 15-13-0 with a 2.12 goals against average and a .930 save percentage.
Zajicek stands at 6'8", weighing 187 pounds and also ranked irst across the league in save percentage and tied for second in shutouts with five.
Michael DiPietro
Another goaltender, DiPietro will enter Boston's training camp after being drafted as the No. 64 overall pick by the Vancouver Canucks in 2017. He was named to the AHL First All-Star team in 2025.
He's seen play in three NHL games so far across his career and also earned the Aldege "Baz" Bastien Award in 2025, which is awarded to the AHL's most outstanding netminder.
A left-handed goalie, DiPietro was signed in June after ranking second in wins and save percentage (tie) and third in goals against average across the AHL.
Matěj Blümel
A talented right wing, Blümel was previously considered one of the top scorers in the AHL — scoring 31 goals in 72 games with Texas in 2023-24, 72 total points in 67 games in 2024-25. He has two season with the Dallas Stars under his belt, coming off of seven games played also in the NHL with the Texas franchise in 2024-25.
He was signed to a one-year contract with the Bruins on July 1st.
The Bruins will begin their season with preseason games against the Washington Capitals, New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers. Boston's regular-season opener will also be at the Capitals on Wednesday, Oct. 8.
