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Charles could be X-factor for Broncos' Super Bowl return

Jason Hanna / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Let's get one thing out of the way: The Jamaal Charles who signed with the Denver Broncos on Tuesday isn't the same one who dominated the league for most of nine seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs.

In fact, we really don't know what to expect from Charles after he's battled through knee injuries for the better part of two years, which is why he was only able to get a one-year, incentive-based deal from Denver.

But even though Charles isn't in his prime, he can still make an enormous impact in 2017 if used smartly - and, of course, if he stays healthy.

Last season, Denver's defense was almost as good as it was the year prior, when the unit dragged a limited offense to a championship.

After the Broncos' more severe offensive struggles left them outside the playoffs in 2016, some attributed the setback to the downgrade from Peyton Manning to Trevor Siemian. While it may sound blasphemous, though, little separated their play from a physical standpoint. Manning still had all of his years of experience and cunning, but his passing ability had declined to the point where Siemian was able to come in and perform at a similar level.

What did drop off in 2016 compared to 2015, however, was the number of explosive plays the Broncos got from their running game. In 2015, the Broncos had 11 rushes of 20 yards or more (13th in the league) and two of 40 yards or more (tied for ninth in the league).

Last season, Denver tied for last in the league in rushes of 20 yards or more with four, coming in alongside the Indianapolis Colts, whose starting running back, Frank Gore, is 33 years old and was never a burner.

Simply put, the lack of a home-run hitter in the Broncos' offense was one of the major factors in their decline. Long rushes extend drives, wear out opposing defenses, keep your own defense off the field and able to recover, and take some of the pressure for big plays off the quarterback - of particular benefit to a young pivot like Siemian or Paxton Lynch.

(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)

Enter Jamaal Charles.

Again, Charles isn't the Charles of old. But in 103 games with the Chiefs, he had 49 - that's 49 - rushes of 20 yards or more. He also added 16 rushes of 40 yards or more for good measure.

In terms of yards gained on "breakaway runs" - any run of 15 yards or more - since 2008, Charles ranks sixth in the league, according to Pro Football Focus.

It remains to be seen how explosive or agile Charles is after his knee injuries, but even at 80 percent, he's a more dangerous big-play threat than most NFL running backs.

And that's not even taking into account Charles' impact as a receiver. In 2016, the Broncos' running back duo of C.J. Anderson and Devontae Booker caught a combined 47 passes for 393 yards. Of those catches, five went for more than 20 yards and one went for over 40.

Denver, working with an inexperienced player in Siemian, clearly tried to get the ball out of his hands, utilizing the running backs as receivers. But neither player is that adept a pass-catcher; while the plan was right, the execution wasn't.

Given his injury history, pounding Charles between the tackles would be foolish, so the Broncos will likely use him more as a receiver, even splitting him out wide. In 2013, Charles showed how dangerous he can be as a focal point of the passing game by catching 70 passes for 693 yards and seven touchdowns, with eight 20-yard-plus catches.

Charles is a uniquely explosive player, whose skills should fit seamlessly with those of Anderson - a more traditional bell-cow back.

"I just want to come in here and help the team with my explosiveness," Charles said of signing with Denver, according to Jeff Legwold of ESPN. "I want to come up and play for each other and push each other to get better. That's the goal at the end of the day. Now we're on the same team, so we're going to try and push each other to get to the one goal, and that's another Super Bowl."

The Broncos have many questions to answer on offense before they can be thought of as a serious championship contender again - namely, who will start at quarterback? And can the offensive line be better with the additions of Ronald Leary and first-rounder Garett Bolles?

But if Siemian or Lynch can assert themselves, the protection and blocking improves up front, and Charles stays healthy, the veteran can be the Broncos' X-factor, their much-needed ace in the hole on offense.

For nine years, the sight of No. 25 sprinting off into the distance filled Bronco hearts with despair. Now, it's what could bring them back into the Super Bowl fight.

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