Go to the mobile version of this Web site.

Login | Contact Us | Site Map | Paid archives | Electronic edition | Subscription Questions | Extras

Harris' opportunity knocks

With retirement of Lepsis, there's a big hole to fill

By Lee Rasizer, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published January 2, 2008 at 12:45 a.m.

Text size  
Broncos offensive tackle Matt Lepsis is calling it a career after 11 seasons in the NFL. "I don't expect a lot of change," Lepsis says. "Chris Kuper and Chris Myers came in and did so much better than anybody expected, so they're going to fight for jobs."

Photo by Barry Gutierrez / The Rocky

Broncos offensive tackle Matt Lepsis is calling it a career after 11 seasons in the NFL. "I don't expect a lot of change," Lepsis says. "Chris Kuper and Chris Myers came in and did so much better than anybody expected, so they're going to fight for jobs."

More Denver Broncos

More stories »

Next to zone blocking, it's a virtual certainty for any young Broncos offensive lineman who eventually landed any significant playing time with the team.

Wait, watch for at least a year, then do the best possible with a likely opportunity.

It was essentially the path taken by center Tom Nalen, guards Ben Hamilton, Chris Myers and Chris Kuper, and tackles Matt Lepsis and Erik Pears.

And with the news that Lepsis will retire after 11 NFL seasons, it's probably the direction Ryan Harris' career is headed, too.

Harris, a virtual nonparticipant as a rookie, aside from special teams, soon could be thrust into the role of filling Lepsis' shoes in his second pro season.

It's a big responsibility protecting the blind side of quarterback Jay Cutler. Whether Harris, a third-round draft pick out of Notre Dame in April, is up to the task remains to be seen. He hasn't even played a preseason game to gauge where he stands against pro competition, but instead often battled a 121/2-sack pass rusher to help him get his bearings.

"I'm definitely lucky to go against a guy like Elvis Dumervil in practice daily," said Harris, whose initial summer with the Broncos was derailed after two weeks by a procedure to repair a herniated disk. "Throughout the season, I definitely learned how to be a pro. And it took me a few weeks after my back surgery to know how to practice, what's expected week to week and know how to study."

Even before Lepsis' announcement, Harris was steeling himself for the potential of following in his predecessor's footsteps in Denver.

He's clearly intent on making an impact after getting time to assimilate the Broncos' scheme.

"I feel I'm capable of doing that," Harris said. "I know there's a chance for everything from being a swing tackle to being a starting tackle. Either way, I see a lot of it depending on me, and what I do and how I do and how I play in minicamps and training camp. I'll work hard to give myself the best physical advantage to compete."

The decision by Lepsis, which he has hinted at but never would confirm directly in recent weeks, is the first step in what could be a refashioning of Denver's offensive line.

On Monday, Hamilton talked about there being "no doubt" that he'll return after missing a season with post-concussion syndrome. Nalen is planning to return for a 15th year after coming off a biceps tear.

That could relegate Kuper and Myers, who started in place of Hamilton and Nalen, respectively, to reserve roles. Or the Broncos could look to strengthen the group from the outside, particularly at tackle.

"It's going to be a shuffle," Pears said. "I'm just going to try and put myself somewhere in that shuffle. Nobody knows what the shuffle will be."

The Broncos line, like the rest of their team, battled inconsistent play all season. There were only 33 sacks allowed but periods where pressure was particularly problematic.

The club's 122.3-yards-per-

game rushing average was ninth in the league but was well off the output of the previous three seasons (134.5, 158.7 and 145.8). Denver had difficulty running the ball effectively, in particular, in short- yardage situations in the red zone.

"I don't expect a lot of change," Lepsis said before he left the home locker room after the season finale Sunday night. "Chris Kuper and Chris Myers came in and did so much better than anybody expected, so they're going to fight for jobs, even if everybody's healthy and back. But that's just a good thing. And if they don't end up coming back starters, we're going to have a couple really good backups."

rasizerl@RockyMountainNews.com