In the words of popular West Coast rapper Kendrick Lamar, “we gon’ be all right.”
It’s not exactly what Kendrick meant, but the Broncos’ offensive line is going to be all right. The big news Tuesday was that Denver tried — but failed — to with the Cleveland before the deadline.
Let’s get this straight from the jump; Thomas would have made this team better. He’s quite possibly the best left tackle in football. I mean the guy hasn’t missed a single snap since being drafted in 2007, easily the best streak in the NFL with much more than 8,000.
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NFL sources told the Denver Post that Cleveland and Denver were extremely close in making the move. The difference between a 2016 third-round pick and fifth-round pick coming back to Denver is the reason Thomas is not a Bronco. The deal in place would have sent a 2016 second-round pick and 2017 first-round pick to Cleveland for Thomas and one of the above mentioned picks. Cleveland wouldn’t budge and neither would Denver.
So here we are with the Broncos offensive line much of the same, but that doesn’t mean the Broncos struck out on their chance for a Super Bowl or that they are doomed for failure.
One of the most underrated aspects of the offense’s improvement in the last couple of weeks has been the stellar play of the offensive line.
In the last two games, the big boys up front have led the way for 630 passing yards, 312 rushing yards and haven’t allowed a sack. You’ll never confuse the Broncos’ line as elite, but it doesn’t have to be.
Ty Sambrailo was injured in Week 3 and the line began to play better in his absence. Everyone was worried about Michael Schofield at right tackle, myself included, but he’s been the best thing a lineman could be over the last four weeks: quiet. No mention of his name, no worries about struggles, he’s handling his business.
Same for Ryan Harris and Tyler Polumbus rotating at left tackle. They’ll likely have to settle on one or the other eventually, most likely Harris, but there has been no problem.
Barring injury, I think the Broncos are in solid shape on the line for the stretch run.
To be honest, you don’t need an elite offensive line to win a championship.
You know how many Pro Bowl offensive linemen started for the Patriots in the Super Bowl? Zero. They had a rookie center and two former undrafted guards leading the way.
At least Broncos guards Louis Vasquez and Evan Mathis both have made Pro Bowls.
It would be have been great to have Thomas, but the move won’t cost the Broncos a Super Bowl.
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CHEW ON THIS
• ? NFL reporter Troy Renck answers this and more in this week’s Broncos Mailbag.
• Denver lineman Derek Wolfe was .
• Columnist Mark Kiszla thinks the .
• A , the Broncos’ Week 9 opponents.
• against Indy’s T.Y. Hilton.
• carried the Nuggets to a win over the Lakers.
• And the .
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These guys went .
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
The true bad guy of “The Karate Kid,” Ralph Macchio, turns 54 today. .
Cameron Wolfe: cwolfe@denverpost.com or @CameronWolfe
Online sports producer Joe Nguyen contributed to this story.
