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Andy Janovich Impressing Denver Broncos With His ‘Hammerhead’ Style Play

By Oliver Vandervoort

Oct 10, 2015; Lincoln, NE, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers fullback Andy Janovich (35) breaks free to score against the Wisconsin Badgers at Memorial Stadium. Wisconsin defeated Nebraska 23-21. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 10, 2015; Lincoln, NE, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers fullback Andy Janovich (35) breaks free to score against the Wisconsin Badgers at Memorial Stadium. Wisconsin defeated Nebraska 23-21. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports /
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Andy Janovich has already endeared himself to his Denver Broncos coaches so much that he’s earned the nickname “Hammerhead.”

It should be pointed out that the former Husker has managed to do this despite the fact that he’s only been in training camp for a week. In the NFL, as the Denver Post points out, you generally don’t get yourself a nickname a week into your rookie season.

The coaches or the Broncos have already taken to calling him Hammerhead and the nickname is catching on plenty. That’s because of the way Janovich plays the game. He loves playing fullback and shows defenders why, by laying into them as much as possible.

There are plays when I knock the crap out of a linebacker or something and everybody seems excited,” Janovich said at Broncos headquarters. “But that’s just the role of the fullback. I feel like they’re liking what I’m doing.”

“But that’s just the role of the fullback. I feel like they’re liking what I’m doing.”

In the NFL, the fullback has become a position, not unlike a kicker or a punter, that teams generally feel is interchangeable. This is likely why Janovich was the first fullback drafted … in the sixth round.

Despite that interchangeability, it seems as though the former Husker star has landed on just the right team.Broncos coach Gary Kubiak is trying to rebuild his offense after the departure of Peyton Manning and he’s starting with the fullback position.

The team wants to go back to being a running, smash mouth team. Something it didn’t need to do with Manning. Now that the team has an unproven  quarterback at the helm the offense is going to be more balanced.

That’s good news for Janovich who showed he can indeed be a weapon on offense. He was largely ignored for former coach Bo Pelini’s offense but when Mike Riley came to town, he became a special kind of weapon. Will he have that same kind of role for the Broncos?

It looks like Kubiak and company are talking about it. Of course, he’s also going to be someone who has to block as a lead runner. That’s something he relishes. It seems to show when the coaches are watching.

Next: Former Husker Will Compton Helping Make NU New Linebacker U

The Hammerhead is just starting his career but it looks like it could be a good one.

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