With the opinions of Peyton Manning’s future as a soundtrack, with critical free-agent decisions looming, the Broncos amble this week into the NFL combine in Indianapolis facing multiple issues.
Whether Manning returns or not, the Broncos can say good- bye to any chance of returning to their second Super Bowl in three seasons without a reconfigured offensive line.
Options are open to address the issue through the draft or free agency.
Keeping Manning upright, if as expected he returns, will be a top priority along with developing a dynamic running game. With Gary Kubiak’s new coaching staff in place, the Broncos are beginning personnel evaluations. By any measurement, they need improvement on the offensive line, which could feature as many as three new starters this year. According to Pro Football Focus, the Baltimore Ravens, for whom Kubiak served as offensive coordinator last season, posted a 41.4 run-blocking score. The Broncos checked in at minus-4.1.
Denver general manager John Elway provided a hint of potential moves last month.
“Having been a quarterback, (Manning) knows that I’m going to take care of him and that offensive line. We always want to protect the quarterback,” Elway said. “I think that changing things for those guys might help them also, and we’ll do what we can do this offseason and try to help them also.”
The Broncos are expected to shift to a zone-blocking scheme under Kubiak. He desires a physical football team that can produce tough yards on the ground, setting up play action and bootlegs or at least mobile pocket passes. The zone-blocking scheme remains most functional with nimble players who can reach the second level on their blocking.
As such, Louis Vasquez is expected to move back to right guard, where he was all-pro in 2013, from right tackle, where he filled in admirably last season because of the ineffectiveness of Chris Clark and Paul Cornick. Right guard Manny Ramirez also graded out poorly last season, according to Pro Football Focus, and center Will Montgomery is a free agent.
That leaves right tackle and guard high on the offseason needs list. A deeper dive into candidates will take place at the combine.
The draft is considered above average this season for offensive tackles, according to NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock.
LSU’s La’el Collins ranks as arguably the best run-blocking tackle in the draft, but he needs to improve his pass protection. He can also play guard. The 6-foot-5, 321-pound lineman might not be available when the Broncos pick. Other possibilities: Colorado State’s Ty Sambrailo, Florida’s D.J. Humphries, Penn State’s Donovan Smith and Wisconsin’s Rob Havenstein.
“If you’re looking for a quality starting right tackle, I think you can actually wait until the second or third round,” Mayock said on a conference call.
If guard becomes the path, South Carolina’s mobile A.J. Cann is a strong candidate.
Free agency will dictate plans, especially if the Broncos are unable to retain defensive tackle Terrance Knighton and tight end Julius Thomas. The Broncos have not begun contract talks with Knighton this offseason, and if Thomas demands top dollar at his position he might have to find it elsewhere.
Mayock views defensive tackle as a deep spot with “eight high-level players,” including Ohio State’s Michael Bennett. Michigan’s Devin Funchess and Minnesota’s Maxx Williams lead the tight end prospects.
Adding linebacker depth makes sense in the 3-4 alignment after Danny Trevathan’s injury-riddled season last year.
First comes Manning’s decision. Then, at some point soon, the line that protects him.
“I believe there’s probably 10 or 12 quarterbacks in the league where you bang the table and say you could win a Super Bowl with that guy. He’s always been one of them, obviously,” Mayock said. “So I would suspect if he made the commitment to come back that he’d be ready to play at a high level again. I’d be surprised if he didn’t. Does he have the arm strength he had seven, eight, nine years ago? Of course not. He throws with more anticipation and timing than anybody in football.”
Troy E. Renck: trenck@denverpost.com or
Combine Needs
The NFL scouting combine begins this week in Indianapolis. The Broncos have multiple needs to address, which could change depending if they are unable to sign key free agents (theirs or others). NFL reporter Troy E. Renck looks at Denver’s potential draft candidates.
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| Position | Candidates (School) | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Right tackle | La’El Collins (LSU) D.J. Humphries (Florida) Ty Sambrailo (CSU) Donovan Smith (Penn St.) |
Broncos could have three new O-Line starters |
| Defensive tackle | Michael Bennett (Ohio St.) Malcolm Brown (Texas) |
A priority in free agency or draft if Terrance Knighton signs elsewhere |
| Linebacker | Eric Kendricks (UCLA) | Need to add depth, size in 3-4 scheme |
