There’s one word in the Broncos’ offense that Tyler Polumbus probably won’t have to learn: “Omaha.”
Not because the Cherry Creek and CU grad spent any time with The Oracle, Warren Buffett, but because it was one of the most overplayed stories of the past two years.
The terms of his new offense, though are his biggest concern in returning to the team that cut him now more than five years ago.
Polumbus is certainly happy to be back in Denver, as he expressed following Thursday’s practice, but he knows that the language barrier is going to be the biggest challenge in getting him in game-ready form.
“Fortunately, I’ve played a lot of football,” he told the gathered media on Thursday. “Xs and Os don’t really change too much based on what team you go to. The terminology does. I’ve got to learn all the terminology, so I’ll be swimming there. It will be a challenge for me to get caught up to speed.”
The biggest thing going in his favor is that the system he’ll be running is somewhat familiar, even if the terms are not.
Polumbus has played for offensive coordinator Rick Dennison before, and Kyle Shanahan ran a similar system during he and Polumbus’ time in Washington. The familiarity will be big in helping Polumbus integrate quickly.
“It’s always good to have some familiarity,” he continued. “I’ve been very fortunate in all my stops. I’ve really been around people that I know. I was with the same offensive coaching staff really for five or six of my eight years. Fortunately for me, I got to come back to some more faces that I know, and that helps with the transition.”
That transition may have Polumbus swimming in some fast-moving waters, as rookie left tackle Ty Sambrailo remains day-to-day heading into Friday’s practice.
Head coach Gary Kubiak said he’s not worried about the possibility of Polumbus being forced to start if Sambrailo can’t play.
“I’m not worried about that. We’ll figure it out. We’re just trying to practice the whole group. We’ll figure that out at the end.”
Even the three-day window to get Polumbus doesn’t worry Kubiak: “We’ve had bigger tasks and they worked.”
