Denver Broncos

We’ve become so accustomed to the Broncos’ plug-and-play offense—with both undersized linemen and backs culled from the latter rounds—that last year’s merely adequate performance was viewed as a down year. Of course, a large portion of Denver’s struggles can be attributed to losing a pair of O-line regulars—center Tom Nalen and guard Ben Hamilton—to injury. Plus, Jay Cutler was dealing with his yet-to-be-diagnosed diabetes and the Bronco backfield was even more of a carousel than usual. When you consider that despite all of the above Denver still ranked in the top half of the league in sacks allowed and its cadre of running backs averaged 4.5 yards per carry… well, at minimum it was a moral victory. But that doesn’t mean Mike Shanahan was comfortable with the status quo, especially as sacks climbed to a five-year high and left tackle Matt Lepsis announced his retirement.

Bucking the team’s long-standing tradition of drafting quick-footed linemen in the later rounds, Denver used the 12th overall selection in the 2008 draft on a quick-footed lineman. Ryan Clady earned the nickname “Sweet Feet” during minicamp and was immediately inked into the lineup in Lepsis’ old spot. Hamilton and Nalen are expected to return, though the team wisely pursued backup plans for both. Veteran Casey Wiegmann backs up Nalen, who should be back from arthroscopic knee surgery by the start of training camp but has 14 years of wear and tear on his 37-year-old body. Fourth-round pick Kory Lichtensteiger will be groomed as Nalen’s replacement, but the presence of Wiegmann gives Denver the luxury of time to do so. Plus, either Hamilton or Chris Kuper could play center in a pinch. On the right side Montrae Holland returns at guard, while the Broncos expect a spirited training camp battle for the right tackle spot. Erik Pears played there last year, but the club wouldn’t mind at all if 2007 third-round pick Ryan Harris claimed the job. Harris’ opportunity to crack the starting lineup as a rookie was scuttled by a training camp back injury but he has the quick feet Denver’s system requires while Pears isn’t quite as nimble. In a perfect world Pears would provide a young yet experienced insurance policy to both tackle spots, and the versatile Kuper has also played on the outside though he’s best suited to play guard.

As you might expect, Denver’s undersized (by NFL standards) line does its best work in space, picking up linebackers in the zone blocking scheme. The Broncos ranked dead-dog last in short-yardage and goal-to-go situations last year, converting just 49 percent of those opportunities according to the Football Outsiders; the league average was 63 percent. It should come as no surprise, then, that only four teams ran to the outside more than the Broncos. Selvin Young is the best fit for that style, so if you’re willing to play the game of Russian Roulette that is drafting Denver backs for your fantasy squad he gives you the best shot (pun intended). If Ryan Torian is asked to get the tough inside yards, he’ll have to do so largely on his own as the Broncos ranked 25th with an average of 3.86 adjusted line yards per carry between the tackles, according to Football Outsiders.

Where Clady and Harris will be most useful is in pass protection. Both have the quick feet necessary to handle the speed rushers that are becoming more common in the NFL, which should give Cutler the time necessary to look downfield for Brandon Marshall. The two sacks per game Denver allowed last season isn’t bad at all, and with the Clady/Harris tandem offering an apparent upgrade the Bronco offense could be headed back towards its perennial perch among the league’s most potent sooner rather than later. The personnel seems to fit the system, and after last year’s injury issues Denver appears to have the depth necessary to withstand a similar run of bad luck this time around. Then, of course, the question becomes… do you really trust Shanahan not to screw you over with another season of a revolving door at running back?

RUN BLOCKING: B
PASS BLOCKING: B
OVERALL GRADE: B

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