The Broncos are to a point now, as their third preseason game approaches Sunday night, where the calendar is either half empty or half full.
They said this week, and have continually said throughout the preseason, they have “a lot” of time to get things figured out before the regular season begins.
They open the season in Jacksonville in two weeks. They say two weeks as if it’s measured in geological time when most fans see two weeks and think that’s only one pay period.
Fast or slow, these are the things that bear close scrutiny over the next 14 days:
Coach Josh McDaniels is undecided, as of this week’s practices, who will play left guard. Add in a rookie at center in J.D. Walton — who has done well — and there are still plenty of questions to get things going.
Correll Buckhalter (neck/back) is in a similar situation, and LenDale White is facing a four-game suspension to open the season. The Broncos will need some kind of rushing attack to get defenses to back off quarterback Kyle Orton.
Moreno is the starter at running back and linebacker Robert Ayers will open his first season as a starter. The Broncos have high expectations for both this season, but Moreno wore down at times last season and Ayers finished his rookie year without a sack.
This year’s first-round picks — quarterback Tim Tebow and wide receiver Demaryius Thomas — have had issues as well.
Tebow will be a work in progress for a while no matter how many of his jerseys fly off the shelves. Thomas has battled pain in his left foot — the same foot he fractured in a predraft workout — and will be limited if his foot doesn’t heal quickly.
With an offseason almost done, that’s quite a to-do list still to finish.
Jeff Legwold: 303-954-2359 or jlegwold@denverpost.com
