Sep 4, 2008 4:55 am US/Mountain
Rookie Fullback Earns Starting Job With Broncos
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By Pat Graham, AP Sports Writer
DENVER (AP) ―
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Peyton Hillis, Fullback
Denver Broncos/CBS
Broncos fullback Peyton Hillis' willingness to hit anything in his way has made him a favorite among Denver's tailbacks.
It's also earned the rookie a starting spot, a week after worrying about whether or not he'd even make the team.
"Everything's moving so fast," Hillis said. "I've got to adjust in a big hurry ... and I've already got adjusted to it. I've been through that point where I was calling my family, telling them how excited I was. Now, it's to the point where I have to get down to business."
One teammate who quickly became a believer in Hillis was tailback Andre Hall.
"I'm loving Hillis. He doesn't really care, he'll hit whoever. And he hits and he keeps driving," Hall said during camp. "Most guys hit and twist and turn their body. Hillis hits you right down the middle, he's going to continue to drive right through the play."
Hall said there's more to Hillis than his hard-hitting style, too.
"I won't lie. I think Hillis could fight for the best hands on the team," Hall said. "Offensive wise, or in the running back room, he's got it, I can't fight with him. I'm going to give him a run, but he's probably got the best hands out of the running backs."
He also has arguably the best scouting report on Raiders rookie running back Darren McFadden. After all, Hillis blocked for the two-time Heisman Trophy runner-up while they were at Arkansas.
So, what's the secret to stopping the 6-foot-2, 210-pound McFadden?
"You've got to hit him low and hit him hard," Hillis said. "He's a big, strong guy. He's a tough runner and the sooner you stop him the better it is for us."
Hillis got off to a slow start in training camp, falling behind the other candidates with an injured left hamstring.
So concerned were the Broncos about their depth at fullback, they switched Michael Pittman over from tailback and rookie Spencer Larsen from linebacker.
But Hillis proved to be a fast healer, quickly working his way back into the mix. He was elevated to the top of the depth chart after incumbent Cecil Sapp suffered a left quad injury in the preseason finale.
Hillis is eager to be the lead blocker on a team that relishes running the ball.
"It's big for me," he said. "I've waited my whole life for this point and I'm going to take full advantage of it."
GO DEEP: Broncos defensive coordinator Bob Slowik wouldn't be surprised to see newly signed Raiders receiver Ashley Lelie running a few fly routes Monday night.
"If he does play, it's just run as fast as he can down the field," Slowik said. "He's going to go deep."
Lelie was signed by Oakland on Tuesday after being cut by San Francisco. He was originally a first-round draft pick by the Broncos in 2002, before being traded to Atlanta in 2006 following a nasty holdout.
Raiders coach Lane Kiffin doesn't know if Lelie will be ready to play against Denver.
But Lelie thinks he will be, saying it won't take him that long to catch on.
"All I gotta do is get in my books and study," he said. "That's pretty easy. If you want to do it, you can do that. It's not hard."
Playing against his old team offers extra motivation.
"I'd be lying to you if I didn't say I had something else extra in the tank for Denver," Lelie said. "It'll be a fun game."
Lelie isn't the only Raiders receiver eager to face his old team. Javon Walker signed a big deal in Oakland after he was released by the Broncos over the winter.
Walker, however, got off to an inauspicious start in Oakland. He was mugged in Las Vegas in the offseason and at one point considered retirement.
"Javon has had a tough offseason. He was heavy during the offseason. His altercation in Las Vegas and then coming back. And then he has missed some practices due to injury during camp as well. So it has not been a very good offseason for Javon," Kiffin said.
He said Walker has refocused and is ready for the season, but Kiffin isn't ready to declare him Oakland's primary receiver just yet.
"That will show during games and in his production on game day. There has not been enough done to be able to say that yet," Kiffin said.
PLUM NICKEL: Karl Paymah ended up with a spot in the Broncos' nickel package while Domonique Foxworth was shipped to Atlanta.
Still, Paymah thinks both benefited from the move.
"He's going to get a chance to start in Atlanta and get to showcase his talent," Paymah said.
Paymah came on during camp, taking the nickel job away from Foxworth. That, and the emergence of rookie Jack Williams, made Foxworth expendable. Paymah said he's spoken to Foxworth and "he really likes it, as far as his chances at starting."
QUOTE OF THE DAY: "I got a broke bone. I don't have a decapitated hand." -- Safety Marquand Manuel on his ability to play despite a broken thumb on his right hand.
FIRST DOWNS: C Tom Nalen (knee) and OLB Louis Green (hamstring) didn't practice Wednesday ... WR Brandon Stokley said his property in Lafayette, La., suffered some damage from Hurricane Gustav. "It was a lot better than it could have been," he said. "Everyone's healthy and that's the most important thing."
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(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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