Identity of retooled Broncos lines may stump fans

By Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published August 15, 2008 at 11:57 p.m.

Text size  

• 17 Comments
• Email
• Print

Photo by Barry Gutierrez © The Rocky

Veteran center Casey Wiegmann, left, blocks Nic Clemons during training camp. Wiegmann is in his 13th season in the NFL but first with the Broncos.

They are front and center, the absolute bottom lines in what will become of the Broncos' football year.

And when the team arrives in Oakland for the regular-season opener in roughly three weeks, there is a good chance the Broncos will have had enough turnover in their offensive and defensive lines that only two players in those groups will start against the Raiders a year after starting against the Buffalo Bills to open 2007.

"That's how it is," Broncos defensive end/tackle Ebenezer Ekuban said. "We all have to get to know each other, each other's games, before the preseason is done. It only works if we all play together, but when you look at it, there has been a lot of change."

As the Broncos roster grew younger this offseason - this is likely coach Mike Shanahan's youngest team overall in his Denver tenure - the two units affected the most top to bottom might have been the offensive and defensive lines.

Those units will face one of the sternest preseason tests available against the power-first Dallas Cowboys tonight in Invesco Field at Mile High (7, CBS 4).

Just two players working with the Broncos starters in the defensive line - Elvis Dumervil and John Engelberger - started last season's opener against the Bills, and none of the five players working in the starting offensive line started against Buffalo.

"You always have new guys - every year," said offensive coordinator Rick Dennison, who also coaches the offensive line. "You try to get them to blend in, try to teach them the same thing, and then get them in different situations to deal with what's in front of them.

"Offensive line is tough to play, but I don't know that we could say that ours is more difficult than anybody else's. I do know we've got to get it right and we've got to get ready to play. So we get athletic guys, we get smart guys so they can handle that."

Defensively, the Broncos have been in search of a consistent pass rush for several years - they haven't topped 40 sacks in a season since 2000 - and spent much of the past few months trying to repair a run defense that sank their postseason hopes in 2007 in the season's first month.

But, in most ways, that has meant more adjustment in the scheme than to the personnel, as Dewayne Robertson and Nic Clemons are the only new additions on the field at the moment.

Rookie defensive tackle Carlton Powell, the team's fifth-round draft pick, is out for the season because of a torn Achilles' tendon.

Shanahan consistently has lauded Robertson as a potential impact player who can anchor things inside, but after offseason wrist and knee surgeries, he's still working his way up to full speed.

"And I'm just starting to feel like I'm back in football shape and get my legs back under me," Robertson said. "For us, it's all about getting the guys to work together, getting to know each other's game. And control your gap and trust the guy next to you is controlling his."

Offensively, left guard Ben Hamilton, with center Tom Nalen out most of training camp because of a knee injury, suddenly finds himself as the sage of the playbook up front.

Veteran center Casey Wiegmann is in his 13th season, but it's his first with the Broncos.

"And that's a little weird," said Hamilton, who is set to enter his eighth season with the team after missing '07 with post-concussion troubles.

In addition to Hamilton, the Broncos line up a rookie at left tackle in Ryan Clady, a player who is essentially a rookie in Ryan Harris at right tackle, Chris Kuper - playing with a fractured right hand - at right guard, and Wiegmann.

None of those players started at Buffalo last season at a position where continuity is considered a valuable commodity.

As a result, the Broncos linemen have spent a little more time in workouts with "bag drills" - working through fundamentals in footwork and handwork with the blocking pads.

"I think we're coming together," Clady said. "I know I'm just trying to learn my assignments and make sure I have a good idea of what we're doing. Because once the season starts, it's about getting the job done, not how old you are or where you were last year."

Robertson said the key will be how the veteran players help the younger ones, as well as the younger players taking the responsibility of being ready to play.

"Basically, my message is what the older guys told me when I first came in," Robertson said. "Know what you're supposed to do and where you're supposed to be. You make a mistake, make it going 110 miles an hour.

"They can correct a mistake, but they can't correct your effort. So let's start with effort and go from there."

• August 16, 2008

  7:32 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  improvise88 writes:

  I wish the more aspects of this world went by the last idea. "They can correct a mistake, but they can't correct your effort." If that has been being preached by the coaching staff over the years, then most of the issue last year stemmed from the players not listening to it. The defense often played hesitant, afraid to make an error, and wound up making more than they would have if they had just gone full-tilt and risked something. At least then the coaching staff could have made more accurate evaluations of what was going on. So to the whole D this year, heed the veteran words: "You make a mistake, make it going 110 miles an hour."

• August 16, 2008

  7:38 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Vector049 writes:

  Who cares.

• August 16, 2008

  8:50 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  asa_watcher writes:

  Identity of retooled Broncos lines may stump fans
  yea, so the Rocky should at least publish a roster for tonight's game?

• August 16, 2008

  9:33 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  OrangeCrush_77 writes:

  Nic Clemons? Really? A whole off-season, after a season in which our D-line was filled with the mediocre contributions of many an anonymous soul, and we are headed into the season with Nic Clemons?

  I love the Broncos. I bleed Orange & Blue. I am trying to remain positive about the upcoming season, but I see absolutely no reason to believe that the defense is going to be markedly better. It's hard to argue that our line-backing situation is any better. Our D-line feels like it's going to be a lot like last years (meaning Nic Clemons is likely to be released in three weeks, for no real reason other than just being Nic Clemons). I know Bates has been a popular target, but his defense worked everywhere else. Are people finally ready to realize that this defense has no talent, and it doesn't matter who's coaching if you don't have the horses?

  You can tell me that the Broncos are just building for the future, but I ask you this: Was Jarvis Moss supposed to be a part of that? Tim Crowder? Shouldn't your first and second rounders be ready to contribute in year two? Neither one of them are even close to being starters right now. How do the Broncos build a defense when they can't judge talent in the draft or FA?

  Yeah, it's early, and I hope I'm wrong, but I think that it could be another long season. And, if it is, when will all of you Shanny apologists face up to the fact that the man is a brilliant game caller, but horrible when it comes to player personnel decisions?

• August 16, 2008

  11:57 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  zdcoombs writes:

  Lets be positive. Preseason means nothing. I really think our team will be 10-6 or better!!!!!

• August 16, 2008

  12:03 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Dynamicdave writes:

  OrangeCrush_77, where is all this "doom and gloom" coming from? 1 preseason game? Bronco fans don't do that. I will quote you: "Yeah, it's early, and I hope I'm wrong, but I think that it could be another long season. And, if it is, when will all of you Shanny apologists face up to the fact that the man is a brilliant game caller, but horrible when it comes to player personnel decisions?", unquote. EARLY! So where do you base this long season from? It's unfounded. You're better then that. You complained about Shanahans personnel choices. Bet that wasn't the case when we won the "back to back" Superbowls. Or when we picked Jake Plummer. Hell, even I thought that would be a good choice. But we have Jay, now, and I support the choice and I like what we have. Moss? He was injured last year. He is taking longer to come around but he will be fine. Our D this year is going to be much improved. You can't judge last weeks or even this weeks game by anything. We are without Boss, Champ, Dre, Abdullah. We only play the starters for a small portion of the game. Many won't even be here in regular season. Don't be one of those fans that complain when we do bad and "high-five" when we do well. Stand by your team. Don't judge them before the season has even started.That not how a Bronco fan should be. That's not how you should be. Here's to kicking that Dallas tail, tonight.

• August 16, 2008

  12:04 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Dynamicdave writes:

  zdcoombs, ABSOLUTELY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

• August 16, 2008

  1:11 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  pete10000ft writes:

  should've kept everyone and changed the head coach...5 years ago

  can't take another season of the McGenius.

  I wish PB canned him and promoted Kubiak...

  But Bowlen is making the biggest mistake an owner can make:
  Putting loyalty ahead of the good of the team

  McGenius can't control his team (Marshall) and when everything goes south he'll lead us on by signing a big Free agent that doesn't produce but is more of a distraction..(Travis Henry)

  I hope he proves me wrong .....

• August 16, 2008

  2:23 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  12thmaniac writes:

  Bad personnel decisions, do you guys follow the NFL or are you just reading local garbage that’s from misinformed writers and fans. Keep in Mind that Denver has been to the super bowl 6 times which I believe is tied for 1 in the AFC. Keep in mind that Pat and Mike were here helping with the decisions on 5 of those appearances. All of you haters are spoiled maybe you should live in Arizona so you don't take greatness for granted. No Team ranks in the top 10 year after year but a handful of coaches in history have come close including Shanahan. You want to trade Kubiac for Shanahan go ahead but don’t be upset when the end result is the same. Kubiac is a mirror image of Shanahan after all he has reported to him since he was a back up here in Denver way back in 85. They don’t call Huston Denver south for nothing, same coaches and same old Denver players that were personal decisions of Shanahan a future hall of fame coach. I don't need to mention, Davis, Smith, Eddie Mack, Nalen, Portis, Champ and most recently Cutler, Elvis Dumervil, D. Will, Foxy, Marshal, Shuffler. It’s a completive league and no one has the perfect formula but Shanahan and Pat have proven to do it better than most in the league.

• August 16, 2008

  3:33 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Dynamicdave writes:

  12thmaniac, well spoken. It's hard to take people serious when they write off the season before it's even started. Or they moan and groan throughout the season and when Denver does well, they are all cheers and boasting as if they knew it all along. Those are the bandwagon crowds who you will never convince that they are not Bronco fans. They have all the answers. I know I don't, but what I have is loyalty and a positive outlook. Their loyalty is not with the Broncos. They prove that by negative posts when we played 1 preseason game. How much do you want to bet, that they were praising Shanahan as a genius (yes, that's you "pete10000ft") when we won the Superbowls? I know you were, you know you were and everyone else knows you were. But now, everybody who claims to be a fan, badmouths the team and the coaches. Real fans don't do that.

• August 16, 2008

  4:21 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  BroncFanFl writes:

  Some people are plain just impatient when counting on the NFL team in Denver to produce year-after-year champions. They finally insist it is the head coach's fault after a decade removed from Superbowls.
  Sorry, but the NFL doesn't work that way. If Denver did succeed in making perennial Superbowls, no doubt there'd be more criticism from people such as these types for not making it to the big game *properly*.

• August 16, 2008

  5:49 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  vvsignin writes:

  I like the Broncos chances in 2010 but until that O line and D line play together some more Shawne Merriman and LaDanian Tomlinson are going to continue to have field days 2x per year, along with a long list of other teams. Divest yourself emotionally from this team for the next few years...

• August 16, 2008

  10:18 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  wjrudy writes:

  Well - There you go. Obviously another miserable and looooong season coming up. We can tell by the mediocre performance against Dallas in another vitally important preseason game. The Donkeys only managed a 14-7 advantage in the first half with the "starters," Cutler and crew could only do 16-20 for 178 yds and no ints and Prater obviously can't kick (where is Rich Karlis when you need him?). And that miserable D could only muster an int. in holding the Cowgirls out of the endzone towards the end of the game. And that bunch of no-names! SIX, count them SIX penalties for a whoping 36 yds. in this game. Why can't Shanny get these guys to play more disciplined. Darn. Why can't we get a real forward thinking owner like Al Davis and a personnel guy with a flair for choosing top notch character players like the genius in Cincinnati? OR, maybe we should assume we're on the way to the Super Bowl because we beat Dallas in the 2nd preseason game! It's bandwagon time guys... time to get back on and make flight reservations for Tampa!

• August 17, 2008

  12:39 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Dynamicdave writes:

  wjrudy, is that all you can muster for brains? Simply "copy and paste" the exact same thing you wrote on the other article. Get an original thought, or better yet, go back to Oakland where nobody thinks.

• August 17, 2008

  4:43 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  6_is_the_new_7 writes:

  wjrudy, Your comments do not deserve a return. However they did inspire a few questions. How's life with no hope? Do you hate your life, job, family, and yourself as much as you hate the team you supposidly root for? Has the love/hate for your team turned mostly into hate? If so I suggest you give up on sports and try to find something that can give you some satisfaction in your life. Have a nice day.

• August 17, 2008

  5:21 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Dynamicdave writes:

  Kooiman, I had bashed wjrudy on another post. He responded that he was merely being sarcastic. Once I reread it, I saw he was only messing around. If you reread it like I did, then you'll see he meant just the opposite.

• August 24, 2008

  7:50 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  6_is_the_new_7 writes:

  Sorry wjrudy

Featured

• DNC in Denver

  

  Complete coverage of the 2008 Democratic National Convention.

• The Crevasse

  

  A five-part series that examines one tragic day on Mount Rainier.

• Deadly denial

  

  Sick nuclear workers applied for government compensation but most haven't seen a dime.

• Final Salute

  

  The Rocky followed Maj. Steve Beck as he took on the most difficult duty of his career.

• 'Colorado's burning'

  

  Coverage of the state's worst wildfires.

• Columbine shootings

  

  Coverage of the April 20, 1999, shootings at Littleton's Columbine High School.

• The Crossing

  

  Colorado's deadliest traffic accident killed 20 children on Dec. 14, 1961.

• Osveli's journey

  

  Osveli Sales left Guatemala for a better life. Two months later, he came home in a box.

• Wake for an Indian warrior

  

  Oglala Sioux bestow a tribute to the first tribal fatality in Iraq.