INDIANAPOLIS — Broncos coach naturally has the biggest task, helping build a roster he can then mold into a playoff contender.
But offensive line coach Mike Munchak is a close second.
The Broncos need offensive line help. Immediate help. Veteran help. Young help.
The Broncos need better offensive line play. Better pass protection. Better run-blocking. Better durability.
No pressure, Mike.
“Obviously, Mike’s one of the best at his position,” Fangio said. “Great evaluator. Great coach.”
Those skills will be tested. Munchak is tasked with finding which players under contract merit a 2019 roster spot and which players on the draft board make sense.
Last year, the Broncos started three left and right guards apiece and two centers and right tackles apiece. Eight linemen played at least 242 snaps.
Citing his desire to move to the Denver area for family reasons, Munchak fell into the Broncos’ lap after he was not the choice of general manager to succeed coach .
If things go well, Munchak will be regarded as the best hire of the recently completed assistant coaching cycle.
Munchak, a Pro Football Hall of Fame player, will be involved in setting the offensive line draft board, which is normal. But the Broncos wouldn’t be blamed if they gave Munchak more say in making selections.
“The coaches are always involved,” Elway said. “We’ve always collaborated with the coaches and they’re always heavily involved with it. Mike has got a great reputation and has been around a long time.”
Two-plus weeks before free agency and two months from the draft, the Broncos have beaucoup issues up front.
*Who plays center if leaves in free agency?
*Who plays right tackle if Jared Veldheer isn’t brought back?
*Who plays right guard?
*Who can be versatile enough to serve as back-ups?
“Those are all what we’re going through right now, solving those issues and seeing where we’re going to end up,” Elway said.
What we know: The Broncos are committed to 2017 first-round pick Garett Bolles at left tackle, veteran left guard will return and the team is hoping to re-sign tackle/guard .
If Munchak can’t coax more consistent play out of Bolles, no one will.
Last year, Bolles allowed 6 1/2 sacks and 27 total disruptions (sacks, pressures and knockdowns) and committed a team-high 10 enforced penalties.
“Mike can be a big difference for (Bolles),” Fangio said. “I’m very confident Mike will help Garett a lot.”
Elway said on Wednesday that Leary would return.
Leary sustained a torn Achilles’ in the Week 6 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Because of his injury history (has not played a full season since 2013 for Dallas) and age (he turns 30 on April 29), the Broncos must have plug-and-play-well depth available.
What we don’t know: Just about everything else.
This is where Munchak comes in.
“With the o-line, the biggest thing is getting all five guys to work together as one and having the trust and confidence in the guy next to you that you’re working together seamlessly,” Fangio said. “Mike has a way of getting that done.”
Center becomes a huge issue if Paradis isn’t re-signed. He missed the second half of 2018 with a broken leg and Elway wasn’t rolling out the verbal red carpet for No. 61 during his combine press conference.
The draft has several intriguing options.
Texas A&M’s Erik McCoy started all 51 games of his college career, including 49 at center.
“I have the ability to go back and forth,” McCoy said. “I played guard just about every spring at A&M and I have a lot of experience game-wise at center. Guys will see that on tape and they will like it a lot.”
North Carolina State’s Garrett Bradbury converted from defensive tackle to start one year at guard and two years at center. As a senior, he won the Rimington Trophy as the nation’s best center.
At right tackle, Elway said Veldheer is an option to return, but that may also be a distant Plan B. The Broncos could take a right tackle at No. 10 or trade down and select one later in the first round.
Alabama’s Jonah Williams was a right tackle in 2016 and a left tackle in 2017-18. He ended his career with 44 consecutive starts.
Florida’s Jawaan Taylor also has right and left tackle experience. He arrived on campus at 383 pounds, but lost 50 pounds.
“I just feel I’m the best (tackle in the draft),” Taylor said. “I never want to put anyone ahead of me. I’m not perfect, but I feel like I’m the best one here.”
Via trade-down scenario, an option could be Kansas State’s Dalton Risner, a native of Wiggins, Colo. He made 13 starts at center before moving to right tackle for his final 37 starts.
“If I got the opportunity to play for (Elway), that’d be a pretty great experience,” Risner said.
If the Broncos could sign Pittsburgh right guard Ramon Foster in free agency and line him up next to a rookie right tackle, Munchak would have something to work with. But the stars in the form of money and the draft board have to align.
“We can talk about (scenarios) and evaluate and say what we’d like right now,” Elway said. “But until we see whatap out there and whatap involved, itap hard to be concrete with which direction (the Broncos will go).”
