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Broncos' line working out just fine

Little-tested mix of veterans, young players meshing

By Lee Rasizer, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published September 17, 2008 at 10:18 p.m.

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Center Casey Wiegmann (62) and tackle Ryan Harris (74) help clear the way as running back Michael Pittman leaps into the end zone against the Chargers on Sunday. Wiegmann was acquired from the Chiefs in the offseason, and Harris is in his second year.

Photo by Darin McGregor / The Rocky

Center Casey Wiegmann (62) and tackle Ryan Harris (74) help clear the way as running back Michael Pittman leaps into the end zone against the Chargers on Sunday. Wiegmann was acquired from the Chiefs in the offseason, and Harris is in his second year.

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In black-and-white terms, this is what the Broncos were presented with in the offensive trenches during training camp:

* A rookie.

* A first-year player, coming off his second back surgery, with zero NFL experience.

* A veteran who was new to the team and unwanted by his former club.

* A younger player switching positions.

* An athlete coming off an injury serious enough to not only cost him an entire season, but put his future in doubt.

What the Broncos have gotten through two weeks of the regular season is five players running an orchestrated system as if they've played together for some time.

"It's a good mix of young guys and guys who've been through the wars," said Jeff Goodman, Broncos assistant general manager. "And the mentalities and personalities have meshed."

There eventually will be growing pains. Bank on it. But with an offense that's keeping teams off- balance and a quarterback operating behind them with the mobility and smarts to get the ball off in time, even when improvisation is needed, it's so far, so good.

"We did the same things we've always done - just teaching the concepts and getting them to talk to each other," said offensive coordinator Rick Dennison, who oversees the group. "You just start from the start and you've got who you've got. They're playing well."

It could've been different

If not for a few twists, the offensive line might have had a completely different look.

It started when right guard Montrae Holland reported to camp overweight and eventually was traded. That scuttled plans to have Chris Kuper potentially play right tackle. Instead, he was kept inside, although opposite the left guard spot he manned last season.

Tom Nalen's recurring left knee trouble hoisted Casey Wiegmann into the center spot. Cast off during the Kansas City Chiefs' roster purge, he has been one of the Broncos' best offseason finds to date while Nalen prepares for a potential return in a couple of weeks.

There also was some organizational holding of the breath that left guard Ben Hamilton would hold up after post-concussion symptoms ended his 2007 season last summer. So far, he has had no recurrence of the severe mood shifts that dogged him.

"Ben's back, Casey's as solid as they get and Chris Kuper, I love him. He's a fighter in there," quarterback Jay Cutler said Wednesday when asked about his expectations up front his season. "So, really, we were looking at the two Ryans to see how they would pan out. We knew they were good, we just didn't know if immediately they could go in there and be one-one-one."

Yet the "Ryans" at the tackle spots, first-round pick Ryan Clady on the left and second-year pro Ryan Harris on the right, often have been entrusted to single block. Denver used multiple six- and seven-man protections in the opener at Oakland, chipping in with backs and frequently running two tight ends. But against San Diego on Sunday, the pair was asked to generally play straight up. The only sack of Cutler on 51 drop-backs in that game came on the controversial late- game fumble.

Randy Cross, a three-time Pro Bowl guard and three-time Super Bowl winner with the San Francisco 49ers, was CBS' analyst for the Chargers game after calling about four Broncos contests last season. He called Denver's line "a strong group," though he said it's too early to make sweeping conclusions about strengths or weaknesses.

Cross said the interior three showed an ability to block on the move quickly. "But you have to be able to, in tight quarters, short yardage, things like that, sort of flip a switch and be able to control things," he said.

"Thus far, they've seemed to do that pretty well."

At the tackles, Harris is "solid" and Clady, whom Cross liked coming out of Boise State, has adapted to the pro game well.

"I didn't spend much time talking about him Sunday, only because he didn't leap to your attention," Cross said. "It doesn't look too big for him right now, and that's all you can really ask from a young lineman."

The Broncos' organized team activities, training camp and preseason have allowed the linemen to get a good feel for one another. Joint practices with the Dallas Cowboys helped Denver's line not only get a look at a 3-4 scheme they'll face several times this season, but also to block some bigger players who aren't a staple of Denver's roster during two-a-days.

"It's too early to judge whether we've done a great job," Hamilton said matter-of-factly. "We've only played two games. Write the story in a month and we'll see how we've done. We've been together through all the training camp; that helped. Other than that, I don't know what it is. But we've definitely had some issues."

Cross sees "plenty of challenges for this group" ahead, including home games against Tampa Bay and Jacksonville and playing at New England.

And one task the Broncos' front hasn't yet been charged with is controlling the ball on the ground. So far, Denver has run the ball only 51 times, not counting Cutler scrambles, compared with 74 pass attempts. Some team eventually will slow Denver's passing game and force the Broncos to go back to their run- first ways. Still, the team's averaging 4.9 yards per carry.

Receiver Brandon Stokley, though, pointed out that the Broncos wouldn't be able to spread the field as they have so far if they didn't have confidence in the offensive front. Yet, he's surprised how quickly it has jelled.

"I knew we had a chance to be really good, but they've been awesome the first two games," Stokley said. "As young as they are and having not played together, really, it's been a nice surprise."

The Broncos certainly didn't mesh the same way after injuries decimated them up front last season.

"Everybody's been healthy, so they've all been able to practice with each other and get used to playing with each other," tight end Daniel Graham said. "That's a big part of it."

Comments

  • September 17, 2008

    10:43 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Broncody writes:

    I am very proud of the O-line so far. Great protection when defenses know the Broncos are going to pass. Very well done so far.

  • September 18, 2008

    8:25 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    broncodano writes:

    AMAZING play by a first year line. First year together, actual first year for some players.

    And no sacks. Yes, the fumble play by Cutler was ruled a sack, but it was no sack. No player got beat, no defender got in. Cutler has time to call Brandon Marshall on his cell phone to let him know the pass in comming, the protection is so good.

    Another reason is the beyond belief job the receivers have been doing. If Marshall/Royal/ or Scheff couldnt get open, then the line would have to hold just that much longer. One of the reasons EVERYTHING has been working so well is the fantastic job by the recievers to present a quick open target for Cutler.

    Beyond expectation, beyond belief.

    Someone should take the offensive line out for icecream, because MOST OF THEM ARE TOO YOUNG TO DRINK!!!!

    amazing.

    bd

  • September 18, 2008

    10:07 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    benkho writes:

    Deffense......please !!!!!! play with angry and here come super.....

  • September 18, 2008

    2:18 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    STR8SHTR writes:

    Anybody see Ryan Harris a couple of years ago on the MTV series of "Made"...it was when he was in High School and he wanted to be made into a College Football player (offensive lineman)...not bad, a full ride scholarship to Notre Dame and playing for the Broncos...

  • September 18, 2008

    8:11 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Dynamicdave writes:

    broncodano, ha, ha. They're not too young, though. "Almost" too young, but they are all over 21. Besides, with their kind of money, THEY should take US out for ice cream or drinks.