NFL playoff games are decided in the trenches. People are probably sick of hearing pundits spew that recycled line, but that doesn’t make it any less true. When it comes to January football, the team that can control the line of scrimmage has an infinitely better chance of moving on.
That’s true on both sides of the ball. Not only does the defensive line need to make life hell for the opposing offense but the offensive line also needs to make life easier for their quarterback. Therein lies the problem for the Denver Broncos.
It’s undeniable that Denver’s weak link in the chain is the offensive line. John Elway can only look in the mirror to assign fault for that simple fact.
During the offseason Denver made a fundamental shift to become a much more physical offense. Around every corner at Dove Valley folks were talking about a commitment to the running game and how that was going to be the focus of Gary Kubiak’s offense. With that, it made little sense when Elway seemingly put such marginal effort into upgrading the offensive line.
Elway had a huge task when it came to rebuilding the offensive line this season. Orlando Franklin was allowed to walk via free agency and Manny Ramirez was traded to Detroit. Add to that the huge void created by Ryan Clady’s injury, which happened on May 29.
Replacing the entire left side of the line and the center isn’t an ideal scenario for a team with Super Bowl aspirations. Make no mistake though. Elway had an abundance of time to come up with a reasonable solution.
To start the rebuild Elway traded for center Gino Gradkowski – a backup with the Ravens who probably wasn’t going to make their roster – and signed journeyman Shelley Smith. Then, he planned on switching Ben Garland from a defensive lineman to an offensive lineman. In case you were wondering, not one of those players is currently on Denver’s roster.
Elway drafted Ty Sambrailo in the second round and Max Garcia in the fourth round.
Did Elway really believe that his history of scouting and drafting offensive linemen was really going to strengthen Denver’s weakest position group?
Quick detour; Elway has drafted seven offensive linemen during his tenure. The results have been underwhelming to say the least. Philip Blake (fourth round, 2012) and Vinston Painter (sixth round, 2013) barely had cups of coffee with the team. Blake is currently with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League and Painter is on the Dolphins’ practice squad.
The Broncos didn’t make Michael Schofield (third round, 2014) or Matt Paradis (sixth round, 2014) game jerseys their rookie seasons (both are finally seeing playing time this season). The only three bright spots are Franklin (remember though, Elway thought so much of Franklin that he didn’t even offer him a contract when he became a free agent), Sambrailo and Garcia.
Would anyone consider that the gold standard of evaluating and drafting?
To be fair, Garcia has played well this season in rotation with two former All-Pros and Sambrailo showed glimpses of talent before suffering a season-ending injury. But all of the goodwill Elway gets for those two he loses with Schofield.
The minute Kubiak was hired he kept referring to “the kid from Michigan” and how they needed to find ways to get him on the field. Why would an incoming coach have any idea who Denver’s third round pick was from a year ago? Mind you it was a player that never suited up for a single game.
The answer is simple; Schofield was part of Elway’s plan all along.
By the way, the kid from Michigan has been so bad it’s become an unfunny joke.
Elway, in all his infinite wisdom, envisioned Sambrailo at right tackle, Garcia or Garland at right guard, Paradis at center, Louis Vasquez at left guard and Schofield at left tackle. Really?!?
What a dreadful plan. Elway thought starting two rookies, two players that’d never played a snap in the NFL and Vasquez was going to work?
Thankfully Evan Mathis was added to the mix at the end of training camp and Ryan Harris stabilized left guard. But neither of those has fixed the problem. Mathis struggled to fit into Kubiak’s offense early and is now battling injures. And Harris has been merely okay.
So was Elway’s rebuilding plan simply an oversight or just plain hubris in his own ability? That’s a debate for another day.
Football is an inside out sport; teams need to be good in the trenches on both sides of the ball. It’s clear which side is Denver’s biggest weakness.
Will John Elway’s offensive line be the Broncos downfall in the playoffs?
