Willis McGahee provides needed power running to Broncos

There is making yourself at home. Then there is Willis McGahee really making himself at home.

"It's a great fit. I just love it here," McGahee said as he squinted into the Colorado sun Monday. "Believe it or not, I don't want to go nowhere else. Whenever I decide to end it, I'd like to end it here."

McGahee, 29, is only a few weeks into his Broncos tenure, but he likes what he sees. And the team likes him, as it has shown by handing, throwing or pitching him the ball near the end zone.

The Broncos tried to pound McGahee into the end zone on back-to-plays Saturday night in their 24-10 preseason win over the Buffalo Bills. He scored on a 1-yard run. Denver quarterback Kyle Orton tossed him a short pass later, and he turned that into a 13-yard touchdown reception.

McGahee already has the look — and the sound — of a closer.

"You always want to get that ball in there when you have the chance," McGahee said. "You don't want to be one of those teams that gets all the way down there and has to pass."

"It's about touchdowns," Orton said. "I've always said you can run for as many yards as you want, you can throw for as many yards as you want, but the whole idea is to score touchdowns, to do whatever you need to do to get points on the board. (McGahee) is going to be a big help in doing that."

McGahee signed a four-year contract to join the Broncos this summer. That's the longest deal Denver gave to a free agent, showing the importance of acquiring McGahee.

At 235 pounds, McGahee has the size head coach John Fox desires in a running back.

McGahee also is an option as a receiver and blocks well enough when needed to play in long-yardage situations.

After passing on a first-and-goal play at the 1-yard line in their preseason opener against the Cowboys at Dallas on Aug. 11 — Orton's toss to wide receiver Brandon Lloyd was incomplete — the Broncos did nothing like that Saturday against Buffalo.

When they moved the ball to the Bills' 1-yard line to open the second quarter, the Broncos ran McGahee on first down on the right side. When that play was stuffed, they ran McGahee again on the right side — this time for a touchdown.

"That's how you want it to go. It's why I came here," McGahee said. "(The Broncos) are known for running the ball. Coach Fox is known for running the ball, and if you're a running back, that's what you want to do. You want to run the ball."

The Broncos are hoping McGahee can be the consistent finisher in the running game they have sought for years. The last time the Broncos scored 20 touchdowns rushing and had a running back contribute at least 10 was the 2005 season. That's the last season the Broncos won more than 10 games — they won 13 — and the last time they made the playoffs.

McGahee has rushed for 55 touchdowns in his NFL career, including 13 with the Bills in 2004. Broncos running backs coach Eric Studesville was McGahee's position coach in 2004 at Buffalo. McGahee rushed for 12 touchdowns in 2009 with the Baltimore Ravens.

"The good run teams have that ability to run the ball in the situations when they want to run the ball," Studesville said. "They have to have those guys who can convert opportunities into touchdowns."

"When I came here, I didn't even meet with Coach Fox. I didn't have to," McGahee said. "I met with Coach Eric and I said, 'C'mon, let's go.' And that's what I'm going to do.”



(denverpost.com)