by Mike Klis The Denver Post , The Denver Post

At 210 pounds, he runs between the tackles with the robustness of a back 15 to 20 pounds heavier. He blocks courageously against the blitz. He can catch the ball even when a 255-pound Dallas Cowboys linebacker darts in front.

Moreno is a solid, versatile running back who celebrates a teammate's touchdown with such unbridled enthusiasm, it's obvious his greatest joy comes from team victory.

But Moreno was the 12th player taken in the 2009 draft and, as such, more is expected from a back who, entering the Broncos' game Monday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers, has yet to break off a 20-yard run and has more fumbles (three) than quarterback Kyle Orton has interceptions (one).

If it helps, no one is less satisfied with Moreno's performance than the kid himself.

"No, I'm not pleased at all," he said. "I need a lot of improvement. I don't want to use the excuse that I'm a rookie. I feel like I should be doing more. I'm just going to keep trying to learn from meetings and keep working hard and keep running."

Evaluate the careers of all the great NFL running backs, and rarely does one follow another. For every Chris Johnson or Adrian Peterson, who were among the league's top five backs in each of their first two seasons, there is a Cedric Benson or a Thomas Jones, who never rushed for more than 750 yards in any of their first four seasons.

LaDainian Tomlinson lost four fumbles as a rookie - only three in his eight seasons since. The top two running backs drafted in 2008, Oakland's Darren McFadden (No. 4 overall) and Carolina's Jon- athan Stewart (No. 13), rushed for 499 and 836 yards, respectively, in their rookie seasons.

Moreno is on pace for 960 yards.

"He's done a nice job, but as a young player, a rookie in a new system, you're going to make some mistakes," Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy said. "He makes a lot more good plays than he does bad plays, but he has made some mistakes in the past that he knows about, and we're trying to correct those as quickly as we can so they don't happen again."

What often happens to rookie tailbacks, especially conscientious types like Moreno, is they can allocate too much concentration on their assignments and coaches' instruction.

Backs need instincts, not thoughts. There can be greater freedom to move when the mind doesn't get in the way. This is why some running backs don't take off until after their rookie seasons.

Yet, lessons must be learned. Moreno's first two fumbles were on him, as there is an adjustment to the violence that comes with an NFL tackle. His fumble Sunday at Baltimore, though, was more to the credit of the ferocious hit Ravens safety Ed Reed laid on Moreno a split second after the running back caught a lob screen pass from Orton.

"I wish we would have blocked the missile that hit him," said Broncos coach Josh McDaniels, before adding: "He has got to hang onto the ball, and he would be the first one to say that."

Said Moreno, who like so many Broncos players, is judicious with his words when talking to the press: "It was kind of a slow-developing play, but (Reed) made a good play. It worked in their favor."

What the Broncos have yet to get from Moreno is the home run - the big play, which NFL statisticians officially define for running backs as 20-yard runs.

Moreno has none in 109 carries. Johnson has 10 runs of at least 20 yards, and 73 other players have at least one, including the Broncos' Correll Buckhalter, who has three.

Moreno does have nine runs of at least 10 yards, but his longest has been for 17.

"I didn't really have too many big runs at Georgia, either," Moreno said. "It's all about those hard yards."

Moreno was part-modest, part-guilty of selective memory. He had 23 runs of at least 20 yards in his two seasons and 498 carries for the Georgia Bulldogs. But it's also understandable if those 475 carries of 19 yards or less are more indelible in his memory.

He does run strong between the tackles - stronger than anyone should expect from a tailback of his size. He leads all NFL rookies with 420 yards rushing, and he leads all NFL backs, period, in fewest negative plays (5.5 percent of his carries). His next step as an elite NFL back, though, is to make a few highlight runs worthy of the 10 o'clock news.

"No. 1, you've got to get him out in space," McCoy said. "You get him out in space, I'm sure he's going to make the next guy miss more often than not."

Mike Klis: 303-954-1055 or mklis@denverpost.com --------- Lucky No. 12

The past six NFL drafts have produced solid-to-star players at the No. 12 overall pick:

Year....Player....Pos.....Team....

2009 ....Knowshon Moreno....RB.... Broncos

On pace for 960 yards rushing; 25 catches, seven TDs.

2008 ....Ryan Clady....OT.... Broncos

He not only could be a Pro Bowler this year, he could be all-pro.

2007 ....Marshawn Lynch....RB....Bills

Had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, but 3.1 yards per carry following three-game suspension this year.

2006....Haloti Ngata....DT....Ravens

One of the NFL's best interior defensive linemen.

2005 ....Shawne Merriman....OLB....Chargers

The NFL's most unstoppable pass rusher his first three years.

2004....Jonathan Vilma....MLB....Jets

NFL tackles leader in his second season. Shift to 3-4 pre-empted trade to Saints.

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