Offensive line: Rookie on the line

By Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published July 23, 2008 at 6:06 p.m.

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George Kochaniec Jr. © The Rocky

First-round draft pick Ryan Clady is expected to start at left tackle in his first season with the Broncos.

offensive linemen

No.	Name	Ht.	Wt.	Yr.
78	Ryan Clady	6-6	325	R
50	Ben Hamilton	6-4	290	8
66	Tom Nalen	6-3	286	15
70	Montrae Holland	6-2	322	6
73	Chris Kuper	6-4	302	3
69	P.J. Alexander	6-4	297	6
61	Mitch Erickson	6-6	290	R
65	Dylan Gandy	6-3	290	4
74	Ryan Harris	6-5	300	2
67	K. Lichtensteiger	6-3	295	R
64	Erik Pears	6-8	305	3
76	Tyler Polumbus	6-8	310	R
62	Casey Wiegmann	6-2	285	13

Starters: Ryan Clady (LT), Ben Hamilton (LG), Tom Nalen (C), Montrae Holland (RG), Chris Kuper (RT).

Backups: Erik Pears (T), Ryan Harris (T), Dylan Gandy (G), Casey Wiegmann (C), P.J. Alexander (G/C), Mitch Erickson (G), Kory Lichtensteiger (C), Tyler Polumbus (T).

The lowdown: This is certainly a group in flux. Clady needs to progress quickly or the Broncos will have to adjust protections to help him, which would certainly add predictability to the offense for opposing defenses. They will also keep a close eye on Hamilton, who is returning after missing all of ’07 because of a concussion.

Good to know: Cutler was sacked 10 times — 37 percent of his season’s total — in the Broncos’ final three games of ’07.

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