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Paul Sancya

Last year’s top back, Knowshon Moreno, has moved on in free agency to the Miami Dolphins. The Broncos are likely to give a majority of the carries to last year’s second-round pick Montee Ball in 2014.

With Ball as their lead back, the Broncos will look to have a more balanced offense with a more effective ground game. In 2013, almost 80 percent (79.7) of Moreno’s carries came with six or fewer defenders in the box. Chances are good that Ball can be more productive against such fronts this season.

Behind Ball, the Broncos have question marks. They could use a veteran addition like Michael Bush.

C.J. Anderson is currently considered the primary backup behind Ball. He’s the team’s lone power back, and Anderson has a quicker-than-expected initial burst. This helps get him to the second level of the defense in a hurry. Once there, Anderson can be difficult to bring down.

Anderson is unproven as a pro back, having only seven carries for 38 yards as a pro. Even though he lacks experience, Anderson has the ability to be a quality starter if need be.

Behind Anderson is the team’s change-of-pace back Ronnie Hillman. He’s arguably the fastest player on the team, but he needs to hold onto the rock if he wants to keep his job. Hillman spent most of last offseason as the lead back, but lost the job in the preseason due to three fumbles.

A goal-line fumble against the Indianapolis Colts put Hillman on the bench (or inactive) for the rest of 2013. It’s no guarantee that he even makes the final roster.

Adding a player like Bush is a good move. He’s a bigger back with plenty of experience. Bush is a “swiss army knife” type of running back who can contribute as a runner or receiver out of the backfield.

Bush could be effective catching passes from Peyton Manning out of the backfield. He could also be relied on as a short-yardage and goal-line back.

He’s spent the last two years with the Chicago Bears as the primary backup behind Matt Forte. Bush would be a great fit as a veteran insurance policy behind Ball.

In a six-degrees-of-separation sort of way, Bush has a connection with Broncos head coach John Fox. In college at Louisville, Bush backed up Eric Shelton. As the head coach of the Carolina Panthers, Fox selected Shelton in the second round of the 2005 NFL draft.

Bush is essentially a better version of Shelton. Fox could decide to add the multi-talented veteran for quality depth.