Broncos give rookie running back Montee Ball his shot
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Montee Ball is getting his shot.
The rookie running back received the bulk of the Denver Broncos' first-team repetitions in Monday's practice, two days after starter Ronnie Hillman lost his second fumble of the preseason.
Ball acknowledged that his first-team workload increased, but said he believed he had earned the snaps — not that Hillman had lost them.
Ball is the Broncos' preseason rushing leader, with 80 yards on 25 carries, and he scored his first touchdown Saturday against the St. Louis Rams. More important, perhaps, is that Ball showed improvement in pass protection after missing a key block in a Week 2 preseason game at Seattle.
When Ball whiffed on Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner, Peyton Manning ended up flat on his back.
"I knew the guy was blitzing, I ran up there aggressively, but (had) poor technique," Ball said. "It's the worst feeling as a rookie, seeing a future Hall of Famer getting hit like that. That's not a good thing at all. I most definitely got chewed out about it and I couldn't say a word."
Coach John Fox told reporters after Monday's practice not to "read too much into anything," about the amount of work for Ball and Hillman as indications of a change to the depth chart.
