ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Coach John Fox declared in the aftermath of Denver’s loss to Baltimore in the playoffs that the Broncos needed to bulk up their backfield.
Turns out they didn’t have to draft Wisconsin running back Montee Ball to accomplish that feat.
Ronnie Hillman, who was down to 180 pounds by January, is pushing 200 pounds in his quest to get more playing time in 2013.
That extra mass and muscle should help him better take on blitzers and linebackers in his second season in the NFL.
Hillman’s rookie season was marred by a pulled hamstring in camp and weight loss during the season, two factors that combined to keep him from honing his blitz pickup skills that are a prerequisite for playing alongside Peyton Manning.
