The Broncos have added plenty of speed and physicality to their offensive backfield this offseason.

Denver didn’t take a running back in the draft, which was no surprise - they already had Montee Ball penciled in as their starter, and C.J. Anderson to back him up. If he shows maturity and better hands, Ronnie Hillman can certainly be the third back.

But it wouldn’t come as a surprise if Hillman ends up fighting for his job, given his history and the quality of the undrafted backs behind him.

I’ve always liked Hillman - I watched him run for two years at San Diego State, where he was an exciting, dynamic player. He was strong enough to break college tackles, and powerful enough to be successful when he hit the middle of the line. Now, he’s a solid example of two things:

The first is that the league is smart to enforce the rule that prevent players from reaching the NFL when they are too young. Hillman was the youngest player in the NFL as a rookie. Professional maturity was a problem for him, even last year. Some underclassmen can be ready for the leap to the NFL, but in my experience, not a lot are.

The second issue illustrated is how big the leap between the college ranks and the NFL is. The two issues are tightly intertwined. Hillman may be a guy who topped out just below the level of the NFL. He could also be one of many players who take time to get up to speed. He is up to 205 lb this summer, and that may help him. Training camp will tell, once they put the pads on.

Kapri Bibbs

Only 21 years old, rookie Kapri Bibbs joined the Broncos after just one year at CSU. He went to two community colleges before joining the Rams; his minimal film and single year’s production explain much of why he went undrafted. But there’s a second concern - his work in the passing game has been minimal as well.

He’s a 5’9”, 212 lb back who broke the single game record for CSU with 312 yards and also holds their third highest total at 291 yards. He produced 1,800 yards from scrimmage in 2013, 1,741 of that via rushing. He wasn't asked to do much receiving or blocking in the Rams' scheme, so that’s a weakness he’ll have to overcome. He was hampered by turf toe when he ran his 40, so his time isn’t important. On the field, he’s very fast.

Although I like Bibbs, I have some concerns with him, as you’d expect with any undrafted rookie. One is his age; maturity is an individual thing, but he’s not dissimilar to Hillman in many ways. They have similar physicality, although Bibbs weighs more. Kapri also struggled academically, and he’ll have to show that he can absorb information quickly. Hopefully, he’ll be able to bring a more focused, motivated attitude to his Dove Valley performance. A lot of CSU fans are rooting for him, and for good reason. But there is another side to his game.

The Bad

Bibbs was part of Colorado State's 2011 recruiting class, but couldn’t qualify academically. He played one year of juco football at Snow College in Utah, and then took classes at Front Range Community College in 2012. That was his last hurdle before being able to qualify for CSU last year.

Now he’s trying to ascend to the NFL. That‘s a lot to handle in a short time. I liked his level of vision and ability to slide sideways into a hole at CSU, and I love his second gear - if he gets loose near the second level, he’s a natural playmaker who’s tough to touch in space. But, why the hurry to declare for the draft? Why not stay in a positive situation for another year?

Bibbs talked this over at length with his family before deciding. He came out in part because he doesn’t think that he can learn much more football at the college level. He also recognizes that running backs often have short careers. He wants to get as much time in the NFL as possible, regardless of where he begins. He just wants a chance, and he’s realistic about his opportunity. He showed a lot in the 2013 season. It’s a fair argument that he’s taken that level as far as he needs to, but he’d have drawn more attention if he had at least two years of film.

His argument to the contrary is solid. Bibbs broke the CSU single-season records for rushing yards and yards from scrimmage. He set school records for rushing touchdowns (31), total touchdowns (31), and points (186). He’s shown a lot of talent, but he’s only shown it for one year. That might matter less had it been his senior year, but it’s an impressive resume for any year.

So, can he handle the NFL, or will he be just another CFA who came out a year too early? That’s what we’ll find out this summer.

Bibbs’ minor experience in the college passing game may be a concern for Denver. Everyone has to be able to block for Peyton Manning, and I’m not sure that he can, right away. If Denver sees him as a returner or a change of pace back, he might still find his way onto the team. You can’t deny that he’s explosive.

I loved watching his vision during game film. He’s very talented in that area. How well he plays on special teams is likely to have a big effect on whether he’s wearing orange this season.

Here’s a YouTube that shows off his best side:

To give him credit, he’s a lot of fun to watch. He's limited in some ways, but he’s a demon with the ball. In that, he reminds me of Shonn Greene.

Greene is much bigger (5’10” 235 lb.) and has a different style of running, but he, too, was drafted mostly on the basis of his production over a single year at Iowa. Both are remarkable athletes.

So, in fairness, are Brennan Clay, Juwan Thompson, and Jerodis Williams. I’ll deal with them at a later time.

Right now, I consider C.J. Anderson a lock for the slot behind Montee Ball. Hillman and Bibbs are similar in body metrics, age, and to an extent, running style. This may be Hillman’s last shot with Denver, though, and Bibbs may spend a year or two on the practice squad and go on to have a fine career.