Ask Andre Hall his current mind-set and he shoots back confidently, "I'm ready to rock and roll."

It's a sound choice - striking, too, given he previously has been nearly forced to face the music that perhaps things weren't meant to be as a player generously listed as 5-foot-10, 212 pounds, playing for his third NFL organization in two years.

The running back never made it to training camp in his initial stop with Tampa Bay in 2006 as an undrafted free agent. He then lasted a month with Chicago, which tossed him on the scrapheap after summer workouts.

Even Hall admitted he was "walking on eggshells" early in his Denver tenure, afraid to make mistakes, which nearly sabotaged him here as well.

But now, fully entrenched in the Broncos offense and more decisive in his cuts, Hall is on the verge of playing a pivotal role in the Broncos backfield. His ascension has been so complete that Hall will be a spectator in Friday's preseason finale at Arizona (8 p.m. MDT, CBS 4).

"I told him the other day I was proud of him and that he'd come a long way," said Broncos running back Michael Pittman, who served as a big-brother figure to Hall in Tampa Bay.

With the Buccaneers, Hall was the frequent target of coach Jon Gruden and "intimidated with the surroundings," Pittman said.

"Gruden was really tough on him," Pittman said. "Andre would mess up and Gruden would act like it's the end of the word, say dramatic stuff. I was always the one who'd tell Andre it's all right."

It was hard for Hall to feel that way at times. Not only did Tampa Bay release him, but the Bears cut him before his rookie season despite Hall feeling he was better than some of his competition.

What kept Hall going, in his opinion, was the mantra he always had told his two young children, Andre and Makiya, never to give up in their athletic pursuits.

"It would have been wrong for me to quit," said Hall, who also was buoyed by a number of workouts with other pro clubs during three months out of football.

He since has managed to resurrect his career since joining the Broncos practice squad in November 2006, even overcoming a training-camp injury last August.

"I had no room for error. But at the same time, I knew I could play and had the potential to be a starter and still feel like that," Hall said. "I had to be a role player last year; still, I was so nervous."

That nervousness has turned to swagger with time, opportunity and a comfort level in the Broncos' zone-blocking scheme.

"It's confidence," running back Selvin Young said. "He's a guy who puts a lot of pressure on himself to perform, which is something you've got to have. He expects to go out and play well and make big plays. And he's starting to fit into his role."

Added Pittman: "Watching him, he's really sure of himself now."

Building on one run

The turning point came after being declared inactive or largely a spectator on offense for the first nine games last season. Hall exploded for a 62-yard touchdown against Tennessee on Nov. 19 and began to rebuild his psyche.

And with the Broncos facing injury problems at running back the next week, he was named the starter against Chicago. On Hall's first carry, he suffered a severe high ankle sprain, then another lower sprain in the same ankle on the same drive.

He nonetheless finished with 26 carries for 98 yards and added a 65-yard reception. The next day, he barely could get around and was in a walking boot.

"I think they noticed I was pretty tough and willing to do whatever I could for the team," Hall said.

Hall began this summer as the No. 2 back, which was, in part, a nod to his time on the roster as opposed to Pittman, a free-agent pickup, and rookie Ryan Torain.

But Hall's place on the depth chart was threatened by Torain's solid camp before an elbow injury sidelined the rookie for three months.

Since then, Hall has run with his opportunity.

He had a 14-yard run in the preseason opener in Houston, bulled into the end zone the next week against Dallas and led the team with 46 yards against Green Bay.

Overall, Hall has run for 113 yards on 24 carries, a 4.7-yard average.

"I'm ready to play," said Hall, adding he's unclear what his role ultimately will be. "It's whatever now. You need me for short yardage, a seam route, to go make a block, chip, cut - I'll do whatever."

Low center of gravity

Hall has been in the backfield as the Broncos have attempted to move away from their goal line in preseason. He also has been used as a goal-line option.

Both on-field areas seemingly go against his small stature. But he has been hitting the hole hard and with authority, which has pleased the coaching staff.

"He's short and compact, but he knows how to run," said Young, who also has gotten some short-yardage tries in preseason. "At contact, he knows how to get low. And he's already a low guy, so it's hard for guys to bring him down."

Pittman pointed to a play in the Dallas game when Hall bounced off a tackle attempt by Cowboys linebacker Zach Thomas as evidence.

"He runs a lot bigger than he weighs," Pittman said.

Not included in that scale reading is the chip on Hall's shoulder from past slights. Through the experiences facing Gruden's wrath, the Chicago disappointment and constant needling from current Broncos running backs coach Bobby Turner, the running back maintained he has learned about himself and developed an even stronger work ethic.

"If you think you can do it, you can do it," said Hall, adding he feels the best he has since setting the University of South Florida's career rushing record. "Your heart and mind are so powerful. You have no idea, man."