During the 2007 season, the Denver Broncos saw various injuries to their offensive line take place. Center Tom Nalen, Guard Ben Hamilton and backup tackle Ryan Harris most missed most of the year due to injures. Plus, Damial Graham, who is known as the best blocking TE in the league missed time with an injury. These injuries were never more apparent then in the last few games of the year. In week 15 Jay Cutler was sacked 5 times! And in the following week he was sacked 4 times! During these two games the Broncos offense was anemic as they scored a total of 16 points in the two games. Why didn't they score? Because Jay Cutler didn't have time to throw, he was under constant pressure. The offensive line was the biggest flaw on the offensive side of the ball last year and it needs to be addressed on the first day of the draft this year.
Mike Shanahan has been known for taking offensive lineman late in the draft, but it's time for that trend to change. Many of teams who experience success on a regular basis draft lineman early in the draft. For instance lets take a look at the 18-0 Patriot's starting Offensive line:
LT-Matt Light-The Patriots drafted him in the second round of the 2001 draft.
LG-Logan Mankins-The Patriots drafted him in the first round of the 2005 draft.
C-Dan Koppen-The Patriots drafted him in the fifth round of the 2003 draft.
RG-Stephen Neal-The Patriots signed him as a free agent.
RT-Nick Kaczur-The Patriots drafted him in the third round of the 2005 draft.
Three of the Five starter on the Patriot's offensive line were first day picks. This years draft has plenty of good offensive lineman at the top of the draft and the Broncos need to draft one of them. The following offensive tackles are projected to be first or early second round picks:
Jake Long
Ryan Clady
Jeff Otah
Gosder Cherilus
Sam Baker
Chris Williams
Any one of these tackles would be good enough to start over the Broncos current takcles (Ryan Harris and Eric Pears). So please Shanahan do the right thing and draft an olineman early in the draft.
Jessica Gomes
Anabel Dela Cerna
Did You See That?
Top 15 Instant-Impact Freshmen
Comments (8) Add A Comment
In my mind there are a few needs the Broncos need to address: safety, wide receiver, linebacker, o-line....I do believe that any of those would be a good direction to go in the first round.
Biakaba is Eric…
Total Comments (1213)
I think if they do get on OL, it's most likely to be Ryan Clady. Good blog.
ROYALwCHEESE BS CB…
Near Cleveland, OH
Total Comments (1753)
We need a good left tackle to protect Cutler, then we can move on to the other needs.. good blog.
ALL ABOUT LIFE &…
Denver , CO
Total Comments (530)
I think Lynch is right--IF we get an O-lineman on the first day it'll be Clady....and I'll be happy with that, as long as he turns out to be more like a Joe Thomas and less like Robert Gallery...I just wonder if we're lacking on Defense a little more...if the O-line has worked for all but one of Shanahan's 12 or 13 years as head coach I think we should trust his drafting method for O-lineman. After all, like you said, it was all due to injuries that the O-line underachieved. There's no doubt we could use some depth, but a first round pick...I don't know. Very good blog though.
Loveland310
Easton , MD
Total Comments (127)
everyone keeps talking about clady. kiper thinks we should but its not like mike.
E4P Is Not So Mad…
Glendale , AZ
Total Comments (2531)
What pick do the Broncos have? Only a top 6 pick could get Long or Clady. Otah shouldn't go top 20. The Broncos need to get a middle linebacker.
IrishR#1
Total Comments (8588)
Broncos are at 12....Irish is right, Clady might not be left and Long DEFINITELY won't be around at 12. I think we probably have our eye on 3 players: Rivers, Phillips, and Clady--one of them will be around the 12 spot and I'd be happy with any of them (tho I have made it clear I like Phillips). Elway4Prez is right tho and it's not like Shanahan to use a top 12 pick on a lineman. When all is said and done I bet we don't even pick at 12. I don't know which way we'll move but Sundquist and Shanahan love to deal on draft day--so odds are this discussion is moot anyway
Loveland310
Easton , MD
Total Comments (127)
For example, I see the Texans not far behind us and a few players that they'd love to have around at the 12 spot that get picked up before their pick (#18) comes up. And we all know that Kubiak and Texans are more than cordial with the Broncos.
Loveland310
Easton , MD
Total Comments (127)
Comment
Remember to keep your posts clean. Profanity will get filtered, and offensive comments will be removed.