Going Over The Line

The Broncos have a decent offensive line ready to defend QB Jay Cutler. There is no doubt about that, but we have our strengths and weaknesses. Especially the interior part is strong. The Rocky Mountain News has a great story on the line.

Rick Dennison eventually will get his fave five, just like Charles Barkley in those omnipresent cell phone commercials.

But first, the process has to sort itself out.

“I’m not putting anybody 1, 2, 3 or whatever and I don’t know where we’ll end up,” said Dennison, who oversees the Broncos’ offensive line in his role as coordinator. “It makes a difference who we get either through free agency or the draft and who’s left and who plays well.”

The Broncos have more interior depth up front than outside at tackle, particularly with guard Ben Hamilton and center Tom Nalen expected to return from injuries and Chris Kuper and Chris Myers fresh off a season’s worth of playing experience inside.

The big question appears to be at tackle, where Matt Lepsis retired.

Erik Pears is the incumbent at right tackle but has played the other side, where at this juncture Ryan Harris appears to be the front- runner for the all-important spot protecting quarterback Jay Cutler’s blind side.

But Harris has played only a combined three snaps in the regular season and preseason and could be pushed by a veteran acquisition or draftee.

“He did some really good things,” Dennison said of Harris’ progress last season after some initial work catching up. “He’s coachable. He learns and he wants to do it the right way.”

There also is the possibility Kuper can kick out to tackle after playing well at guard last season.

“Maybe,” Dennison said. “The best five will be on the field is all I know. And I don’t know where they’ll all end up.”

Dennison only hopes that whoever emerges will stay together after shuffling the deck in 2007.

“Consistency was the biggest problem we had, but getting everybody to flow together, that’s hard when you have a bunch of new guys playing,” he said. “But that will only help them in the future.”

From: The Rocky Mountain News