National Football League

McGahee giving Broncos boost in red zone

Published Aug. 29, 2011 11:40 p.m. ET

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The Denver Broncos were money between the 20s last year, and middling in the red zone.

Willis McGahee to the rescue.

Since his first season in the NFL in 2004, McGahee ranks third in the league among active running backs with 50 red-zone TDs, tied with Larry Johnson and trailing only LaDainian Tomlinson (96) and Thomas Jones (52).

The ninth-year running back has quickly become the offense's biggest offseason acquisition, scoring three red-zone TDs in the last two weeks, on runs of 1 and 2 yards sandwiched around a 13-yard touchdown catch on a screen pass from Kyle Orton.

''Willis just brings a good physical dimension to us,'' running backs coach Eric Studesville said. ''But really, it's just a complement to what we're trying to emphasize offensively anyway.''

More touchdowns, fewer field goals. All of which starts with a better ground game.

Last year, opponents didn't respect the play-action and blitzed like crazy when they were backed up, double-covered Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Lloyd, and forced a lot of Denver's drives to fizzle.

''We're just trying to run the ball more vertically, more physically down there,'' Studesville said. ''And I feel like we have a talented room and any of those guys, I feel like I'd want to touch the ball down there.''

A leaner, quicker Knowshon Moreno, a more experienced Lance Ball, a promising Jeremiah Johnson.

But especially McGahee.

The Broncos converted 29 of 56 trips into the red zone into touchdowns last season.

The 55.8 percent clip was actually middle of the pack in league rankings, but the failures were exacerbated by a dismal Denver defense that was the worst in the NFL and left such a thin margin for error.

''Oh yeah, that's going to change,'' McGahee said. ''That red zone is where we weren't getting it in last year? It's going to be totally different this year. I know I ain't going to get it in every time, but we're going to be getting it in more than last year.''

New coach John Fox likes to use a lot of two-tight end, two-back sets, so there's a renewed emphasis on the run in Denver with McGahee on board and Moreno getting through training camp healthy for the first time. Moreno leads the team with 98 rushes on 20 carries for a 4.9-yard average.

''He got hurt the very first 15 minutes of camp last year,'' Studesville said, recalling Moreno's pulled hamstring that sent him into the regular season still on the mend for the second straight year. ''This time he's done a great job in the offseason of preparing himself, and I think you're seeing it. He is quicker, he is still strong, he's still aggressive and he's playing at a high level right now.''

The M&M tailback tandem features a bruiser in McGahee and a cruiser in Moreno.

''It's a change of pace not only for the defense but also for the offense,'' McGahee said. ''Knowshon's one of those scat backs that can get outside and hit the corner real quick. I'm a downhill guy and I like to be in the trenches banging.''

McGahee swears he's not going to complain if Moreno gets the ball near the goal line and not him.

''If he's in or I'm in, one of us is going to get in regardless,'' McGahee said.

With their newfound balance and improved efficiency, the Broncos lead the league in yards per pass play (8.7) and they're finally finishing off the drives, converting six of nine trips into the red zone into TDs during the preseason.

''I like where we're at right now,'' Orton said.

And he absolutely loves being able to get the ball into McGahee's hands inside the 20.

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Connect with AP Pro Football Writer Arnie Melendrez Stapleton at http://twitter.com/arniestapleton

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