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Broncos' tackles Clady, Harris holding their own

Young linemen quickly adapt to demands of NFL

By Lee Rasizer, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published October 24, 2008 at 8:34 p.m.

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Offensive tackles Ryan Harris, left, and Ryan Clady had a combined three snaps of pro experience entering this season but have allowed just one sack.

Joe Mahoney / The Rocky/Joe Mahoney / The Rocky

Offensive tackles Ryan Harris, left, and Ryan Clady had a combined three snaps of pro experience entering this season but have allowed just one sack. "It's unusual to have veterans come in and do what these two have been doing out there," center Casey Wiegmann said.

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In 13 seasons, Casey Wiegmann has seen just about everything there is to witness on an NFL offensive line.

Yet, Wiegmann appears genuinely surprised at what's unfolded with the group he anchors at center.

Two players with a combined three snaps of pro experience entering 2008 have been inserted into the Broncos lineup at the two tackle spots for the AFC's most pass-happy offense.

The duo have gone nearly a half-season and combined to allow just one of the team's five credited sacks and committed only four penalties between them.

Quarterback Jay Cutler's ability to slide and move in the pocket and fire the ball away under duress helps in pass protection.

So does having long-armed Ryan Clady on the left side and tenacious right tackle Ryan Harris saving his bacon, too.

"It's unusual to have veterans come in and do what these two have been doing out there," Wiegmann said recently. "They're on islands every single pass play and that's the nature of the beast. You know at tackle, you're going to get that. But these guys have come in and shut guys down - and not just any guys. They're shutting down good pass rushers, too."

It's well-documented the Broncos (4-3) have issues at the bye week. Both edges of the offensive line don't appear to be among them.

Clady hasn't looked much different than he did on the tapes of him playing at Boise State, leading Denver to spend the 12th overall pick in the first round to secure his services.

"He hasn't surprised me a lick," said Jim Goodman, the Broncos vice president of football operations/player personnel, his voice rising for emphasis. "My wife could tell on tape."

Clady has demonstrated the nimble feet to slide in protection, range to protect the edge and the reach to keep defenders off him.

While he's played with exceptional balance, when he's beaten, he's shown the athleticism to recover.

"He's just a talented guy," said offensive coordinator Rick Dennison, while stressing repeatedly the rookie still has much work to do.

"He's got a lot of gifts. He's tall, long. He's got good feet and he uses them. But it's not like he doesn't work hard at it, too. He learns."

Early challenges

The soft-spoken Clady, an offensive rookie of the year candidate at this early juncture, maintained the speed of the game and playbook were initially the biggest obstacles to overcome. He's since gotten to a point where he feels comfortable on both fronts, helped greatly by preseason matchups facing Houston's Mario Williams and Dallas' DeMarcus Ware.

"They have such a variety of moves. They challenge an offensive tackle," Clady said. "It was nice to have them early and see the best so you could adjust to it."

Clady credited the coaching staff and his teammates for helping him quickly recognize the different fronts and blitzes.

Playing in a wide-open, passing offense in college also helped with his transition.

"I thought we'd get a home run for it," Goodman said of the club's decision to select Clady as the second tackle in the draft behind only No. 1 overall pick Jake Long, by the Miami Dolphins, who Denver plays Nov. 2 after the bye week.

And Clady isn't a one-trick pony, either.

While his pass protection might be slightly ahead of his run blocking, he is skilled in that area as well.

Clady can cut off defenders, get to the second level, block in space, pull.

"And it's all out there in front of him," Goodman said. "He's going to be a great one."

Clady's counterpart has impressed in nearly equal measure.

Overcoming penalties

Harris, a 2007 third-round pick, was limited to just a few snaps and special teams work after back surgery interrupted his rookie year. But weight issues that sidelined guard Montrae Holland in this summer's camp changed plans to play Chris Kuper at right tackle and shifted Kuper inside. That left plenty of snaps for Harris to prove his worth with the starting unit.

It didn't go well, initially. Harris was called for four penalties in the Aug. 9 preseason opener against the Texans.

"I told myself I got the worst out of the way early," Harris said.

But he built off that negative and while he has been flagged only once, for unnecessary roughness in the Broncos' 41-7 loss Monday at New England, it did cost him a $5,000 fine.

There were more painful problems before that tough preseason outing, though.

Harris, dogged by a painful bulging disk, attempted to fight through the pain in his initial camp last summer but decided to have surgery when it was obvious he could no longer continue playing with the problem.

Sitting out has given him a greater appreciation of his current role alongside Clady, Wiegmann, Kuper and left guard Ben Hamilton.

"There were times last year where I didn't know if I could play the game, period," Harris said. "So I'm just happy to be a contributing member. The team has my utmost effort, every play. And the standard's been set by the others on the line."

Like Clady, the team was extremely high on Harris coming out of college.

One of the only issues was his health, since Harris had back surgery before his senior season, too.

"He's been sound - pass pro, run blocking," Goodman said. "And he's got a little nasty to him you don't see in real life because he's such a gentleman and so scholarly. But he's really played well. I'm just so proud of him."

The Broncos envision the two tackles as possible cornerstones for the next several years.

Clady is just 22; Harris 23.

"There's no question," Wiegmann responded to that notion. "They've proven what they can do . . . and it's just a matter of staying healthy now. Bumps and bruises are going to happen, but you've got to fight through it. These two guys are fighters. And they'll eventually get there."

Comments

  • October 25, 2008

    8:21 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    gatengreen writes:

    The offensive line is the one bright spot for the Broncos this year.

  • October 25, 2008

    9:32 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    oldbroncofan4972 writes:

    The o-line is so important and yet overlooked. The qb, rbs and receivers depend upon the o-line just as the dbs and lbs depend on the d-line. I hope in this day of free agency the broncos keep these 2 if they turn out as good as they appear.

  • October 25, 2008

    10:58 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Brain writes:

    As long as these guys stay healthy they will anchor a great offensive line for years to come; and the Broncos have a great QB to go with it, the Broncos future looks good on the offense anyway.

  • October 25, 2008

    11:26 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    tykendo writes:

    This is flat out, the Best pass blocking line the Broncos have ever had. The Broncos line of the Super Bowl winning years were great run blockers & and good pass blockers, but this line is giving Cutler all day & a pizza to find open receivers. I think in time, this line will become excellent in the run game as well. A top notch running talent wouldn't hurt either. Clady & Harris are 2 picks the Broncos got 100% correct. Kudos are in order.

  • October 25, 2008

    8:52 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Broncody writes:

    This team needs a top notch running back. The problem is... how? The defense needs to be adressed in the draft, thats obvious. So where do we get the RB? I like Pittman and I think Torain may be special, but do we have a guy to get 100+ yards any given sunday. We have the line for it I believe, but we need the guy who can pound the rock for us.

  • October 26, 2008

    2:15 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    gylizard1 writes:

    The offensive line has been a bright spot with a very talented young drops of players. Wiegmann has stepped right up to help replace Nalen as well. That solid veteran presence helped the young guys immensely. As nice as it would be to see another high round draft choice used on a stud offensive lineman to compliment Harris and Clady and Kuper..the defensive line needs addressed much more. It was nice to see those sacks last week..a nice step in the right direction. Ryan Torain has a chance to show us what he can do the rest of the season and hopefully Selvin Young can be a contributor as well. Michael Pittman has filled in admirably; I thought he as washed up..but he shows alot of determination and grit.

  • October 27, 2008

    11:37 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    myerda00 writes:

    Kodo's to Clady and Harris, well deserved.
    But without Weigmann and Kuper stepping up, the line would only be average. Chris Kuper has shown that he really knows how to play the game. And Mike picking up Casey Weigmann in FA has been the totally best FA acquisition ever. I would be amiss if I did not nod to the pro's pro Ben Hamilton and our supersub Kory Lichtensteiger.
    Nice super unit.

  • October 28, 2008

    12:27 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    bronc4evah writes:

    Great posts guys -absolutely on target. When a team is building and we really are this season, the offensive line is a huge factor in how well the offense performs. The turnovers lately have wasted a lot of otherwise positive progress and provided they get this issue under control along with getting Stokes and Scheffler back, there is no reason why this offense can't get back to playing the kind of football they played early on. Shanahan usually always comes back from the break with a win and that could put us back up 2 games over San Diego, who are having problems of their own. Go Broncos!