The Broncos want to put wide receivers Wes Welker, Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker on the field together along with tight end Julius Thomas, who isn't their best blocker but shows enormous potential as a pass-catcher — he leads the team with eight catches for 105 yards in the preseason.
But to get those four on the field, they'll need a running back that can pick up the blitz so they don't have to send in another blocking tight end to replace one of Manning's targets.
That's where fifth-year veteran Knowshon Moreno might come in.
Gase said Moreno has taken on some of the veteran leadership duties that McGahee used to provide.
"He's done a good job of helping the younger guys," Gase said. "I would say his ability in pass protection to explain some things, when we get out on the field, he's seen more than the two young guys. And he does a good job of explaining those things. He can communicate with them really well."
Ronnie Hillman (ball security) and Montee Ball (pass protection) are struggling for different reasons right now, and neither player is running the ball particularly well, so Moreno might work his way back into the rotation as the team's best pass blocking RB.
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