Offensive Line: 111505 - What's up?

[Odysseus]

Our offensive line is a bunch of Samari. They are blowing some really good players off their heels. They have a pure warriors creed in how they go about business. All the props being passed around this was the one group that was worrying me coming out of the off season.

Cornell Green? How's he doing out there really? Is he that good?

George Foster? Hurt or not? Is he holding up?

Matt Lepsis? Hurt or not? Bring him bakc or not?

Nalen? Is he shutting it down? Another year left?

Cooper? During the off season his name got pounded into the sand now not a peep. Did he improve or just stopped sucking?

What do you guys see for next year?

Whats up?

[Paladin]

Nah. I expect a wholesale change on the Oline next year.

[Paladin]

BTW: How'er things in Iraq? We got your back here, but we sure would like for y'all to get home soon.

[GreatBronco16]

Green actually played some against the Raiders. I'm not sure if Foster got a little banged up, but Green came in and played pretty well I thought. Foster returned to the game to finish it though.

[2KBack]

count me as one of those that were worried about the o-line coming into the season, but those fears have been put to rest, at least by the starters. The running game is on, Jake has time to throw, not too many bad penalties. The group has come together nicely. Still lacking some depth though.

[ozomulsion]

Our offensive line is a bunch of Samari. They are blowing some really good players off their heels. They have a pure warriors creed in how they go about business. All the props being passed around this was the one group that was worrying me coming out of the off season.

Cornell Green? How's he doing out there really? Is he that good?

George Foster? Hurt or not? Is he holding up?

Matt Lepsis? Hurt or not? Bring him bakc or not?

Nalen? Is he shutting it down? Another year left?

Cooper? During the off season his name got pounded into the sand now not a peep. Did he improve or just stopped sucking?

What do you guys see for next year?

Whats up?
Green is better than most folks know. I've seen him own Kearse for an entire game. We may have Lepsis if we tag him next year. No longer than that. Cooper all of a sudden got good after the Miami game, or maybe he never stunk hmm. Nalen has to be done at some point. Who am I to judge?
Foster is good, hoping he'll become great one day.

[Odysseus]

Nah. I expect a wholesale change on the Oline next year.

Why do you expect a wholesale change?

[Paladin]

Just being a smart azz. I read soooooooo many times that the Broncos Oline is/was/maybe a disaster area. First there was the stuff about Lepsis, then Carlyse, then Hamilton was too small, then Nalen being old, then Foster not getting things done, and I don't know what all. And that was after the first week!

I think they have continued to do as well as can be expected for a group of guys who just cut block and grab and hold and scrathes and so on, all the while cheating in some way. They are part of the system, you see. And we all know what other teams think of the cut blocking, hoilding, grabbing, punching, eye-gouging cheaters that are members of the Broncos' Oline. H3ll, they cheat all the time.

That's what the Faiders think of them. And I would imagine the mullets believe that, as well. Certainly, a number of the members of the National Association of Incompetent Sports Analysts beleive that, and print that message all the time. That's why the RBs are all system backs.

But the D is just fine, thank you.

[Atlas]

BTW: How'er things in Iraq? We got your back here, but we sure would like for y'all to get home soon.

Haven't you heard?? Things are going great over there. Just like one big happy family.

[baja]

BTW: How'er things in Iraq? <b> We got your back here, </b>but we sure would like for y'all to get home soon.

That's nice. How do you do that?

[baja]

Our line is playing as well as any in the NFL right now.

[baja]

Shanahan says,

"The right tackle rotation of George Foster and Cornell Green continued for a second consecutive game against the Raiders. And no, the rotation is no longer




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about protecting Foster's injured left knee. "I think George's knee is fine," Shanahan said. "I can't say it's a performance issue. I just say it's two guys competing." ... "

[Paladin]

You know, they just don't read sarcasm as they once did........

[ludo21]

Our offensive line is a bunch of Samari. They are blowing some really good players off their heels. They have a pure warriors creed in how they go about business. All the props being passed around this was the one group that was worrying me coming out of the off season.

Cornell Green? How's he doing out there really? Is he that good?

George Foster? Hurt or not? Is he holding up?

Matt Lepsis? Hurt or not? Bring him bakc or not?

Nalen? Is he shutting it down? Another year left?

Cooper? During the off season his name got pounded into the sand now not a peep. Did he improve or just stopped sucking?

What do you guys see for next year?

Whats up?


Cornell is getting in and out. He is playing well
Foster is hurt and is rotating with Cornell. But still dominating.
Lepsis - WE BETTER RESIGN HIM - he is a beast so far.
Nalen - maybe one year left, we will see, so far, so good as usual.
Cooper - not perfect, but getting the job done and pushing guys around.
Ben Hamilton- the best of the guys, perfect technique, fun to watch, he is constanstly in the second level! :charge:

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

Green is better than most folks know. I've seen him own Kearse for an entire game. We may have Lepsis if we tag him next year. No longer than that. Cooper all of a sudden got good after the Miami game, or maybe he never stunk hmm. Nalen has to be done at some point. Who am I to judge?
Foster is good, hoping he'll become great one day.

Lepsis is here till he retires - we are starting to ear All Pro talk. Cooper did not get good, they are just calling plays to protect him - running left almost twice as much as in the past. Foster is doing fine. Hamilton is the most underrated OL in the league and I hope Nalen hangs around another year or two before he finally speaks to the press and says f you.

[broncogary]

And Carlisle is too tall, as we all know. Jake has bounced numerous passes off his noggin this season. Ha!

[Odysseus]

And Carlisle is too tall, as we all know. Jake has bounced numerous passes off his noggin this season. Ha!

Ha!

[broncohaven]

I think the OL is in good shape. I don't think we have to worry about Lepsis too much. Denver always has an advantage signing OL because of the type of guys they prefer. Lepsis is a tiny LT that just doesn't fit what a lot of teams are looking for. He's also a Colorado boy that probably doesn't want to be anywhere else.

FWIW I think he's done an amazing job of adjusting to the left side, and he has to be considered among the top LTs in the league. With Cornell Green stepping up, we have a little proven depth, and in the event that Nalen calls it a career at the end of the year I think we have guys that can be successful in his stead.

Hamilton would perhaps go to center, or Myers could win the spot. I also have no doubt that we'll draft Greg Eslinger, the C from Minnesota. He's perfect for Denver's scheme. The OL will always be fine in Denver, and most likely they'll be much more than that. This year is the perfect example. Looks poor on paper, great on the field.

[watermock]

Looks poor on paper, great on the field.

Been that way for a decade...

every time I think about getting some fresh blood in that line I cringe, but we will see...we will see...we can't expect the old guard to last forever....it's a good draft for linemen....we can develop a couple is my thinkin'....We show a couple the ropes...it only makes sense....Lepsis is a converted TE for Christ Sake...We need some more overachievers and we will be fine....let's just see what is out there...BPA but obviously, we can use fresh blood at S, OL and even WR still...

too early to worry about it....

[Odysseus]

Anybody seen Chris Meyers out there?

[fontaine]

FWIW I think he's done an amazing job of adjusting to the left side, and he has to be considered among the top LTs in the league. With Cornell Green stepping up, we have a little proven depth, and in the event that Nalen calls it a career at the end of the year I think we have guys that can be successful in his stead.

Hamilton would perhaps go to center, or Myers could win the spot. I also have no doubt that we'll draft Greg Eslinger, the C from Minnesota. He's perfect for Denver's scheme. The OL will always be fine in Denver, and most likely they'll be much more than that. This year is the perfect example. Looks poor on paper, great on the field.

I think we'll need Nalen for another year because he's playing better than he did last year and should go to the pro-bowl and we can bring him back for a year's contract. There's no way we can let Lepsis go because we have no depth there and it takes a guy years to learn our system and Lepsis can still play at a high level for another 3-4 years since he's been injury free and keeps himself in good shape.

I'd like to give Myers another year as backup while next season Foster/Green/Coop can battle it out for the right side and PJ Alexander should be back as well who was projected to compete at RG with Coop so we'll have depth there.

Can't wait for next year's draft because with two first rounders, an extra 4th, and up to two extra 3rd rounders from comp picks we could have a draft to setup this franchise for the next 5 years now that we've got some exciting players set at DL/CB/LB.

[ludo21]

Anybody seen Chris Meyers out there?


he will ride the bench for a year, learn, he will only get in if Nalen or someone else gets hurt.

Not sure if he is on time or anything as he just doesnt see action.

[BroncoBuff]

Cornell Green? How's he doing out there really? Is he that good?

George Foster? Hurt or not? Is he holding up?

Matt Lepsis? Hurt or not? Bring him bakc or not?

Nalen? Is he shutting it down? Another year left?

Cooper? During the off season his name got pounded into the sand now not a peep. Did he improve or just stopped sucking?

What do you guys see for next year?
Everybody is praising Nalen's play around the league this year - lotsa buzz - (John Henderson of Jacksonville, the KC guys and Schefter on NFL Network anyway). With Kevin Mawae out for the year, Nalen will probably make it to Hawaii in February. But something about his contract status apparently means he can't return to Denver (I don't fully understand it - but they said the same thing about Elam 3 years ago, so...?). If Nalen does leave, Hamilton moves to center, and P.J. Alexander into Ben's left-guard spot (remember PJ was set to challenge Carlisle to start before he went "K-2 on his mini-bike" in the pre-season?)

At tackle, Cornell Green is playing some already - on merit. He's been spelling Foster for 3 games now - about every 4th series, by my count. Shanny said something @ Monday's presser that sounded like "code" for "Foster is taking too many plays off". Anyway, both those guys seem solid - but can either one play the crucial LEFT TACKLE spot? It took Lil' Mattie Lepsis three years to finally move over there.

Lepsis is in his contract year, though, and apparently he'll be commanding lots and lots and lots of dough. (This past weekend in Oakland Mattie went down - HARD!! I just about wet myself as the Greek came running out and TV cut to commercial. But Mattie was back out there looking fine one play later).

There's been a couple of posts around the mane here about how Mattie 'owns Freeney' and 'owns this guy, that guy,' . . . http://www.orangemane.com/BB/showthread.php?p=840875#post840875. If you don't trust §pide(r), I can definitely tell you that while Michael Strahan did make a few tackles three weeks ago, he never came close to Jakey, as I recall. My read of Lil' Mattie - and how it took him 3 YEARS to move to LEFT TACKLE, for heaven's sake . . . I doubt he wants to move to ANOTHER CITY! After all, 18-year old little Mattie moved to Denver-Boulder 13+ years ago from tiny Conroe, Texas and he's never left - so I'll bet he re-signs.

Anyway - that leaves backups Cornell Green, Chris Myers, Erik Pears, some guy named Rob Hunt and a (sadly tore-up) 34-year old Dwayne Carswell.

[ozomulsion]

Green is a solid left tackle.

[orinjkrush]

what about some props for Dennison?

I'm eating crow on that one, i always figgered a LB couldn't coach the OL.

Wrong. Big time.

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

Despite his detractors here, Dennison has done a fine job and is considered one of the best OL coaches in the NFL.

[BroncoBuff]

Green is a solid left tackle.
Where do you get this info, Whiskey?

Looks like a checkered past to me:

CAREER TRANSACTIONS: Signed by Atlanta as an undrafted free agent 5/17/99; Waived by Atlanta 8/30/99; Signed by Washington 7/14/00; Waived by Washington 8/27/00; Claimed off waivers by N.Y. Jets 8/28/00; Waived by N.Y. Jets 9/5/00; Signed by N.Y. Jets (practice squad) 9/7/00; Signed by N.Y. Jets (active roster) 11/17/00; Waived by N.Y. Jets 12/3/01; Signed by Miami (practice squad) 12/11/01; Traded to Tampa Bay 8/20/02; Signed by Denver as an unrestricted free agent 3/29/04.

[Odysseus]

Dennison has proven a LOT of people wrong. I guess after 8 years or so of blind fan abuse you have to either improve or quit.

Special Teams has been excellent but how much credit do you give the coach on this? Was it him or the steel boot to his head. You decide....

O.K. We got Brewster. Can we have our Antonio Gates clone now?

[Bronco LB 59]

I also have no doubt that we'll draft Greg Eslinger, the C from Minnesota. He's perfect for Denver's scheme. The OL will always be fine in Denver, and most likely they'll be much more than that. This year is the perfect example. Looks poor on paper, great on the field.

Props to you and SoCal for supporting Eslinger. He's fun to watch.

I hope Eslinger drops to 2nd round because of his listed weight of 280, but he's being talked about as a late 1st round pick, maybe higher. Hopefully, Denver beats Atlanta, Baltimore and Houston to the punch.

[baja]

I bet there will be a few more teams copying Denver's scheme for the smalish quick O line prototype making the Denver type O lineman in more demand. Sucess breeds copy cats, this is the way of the NFL.

[Bronco LB 59]

I bet there will be a few more teams copying Denver's scheme for the smalish quick O line prototype making the Denver type O lineman in more demand. Sucess breeds copy cats, this is the way of the NFL.


I agree with you, Baja.

Jeff Legwold, of the Rocky Mountain News, had an interesting opinion about the copycat question in his mailbag last week:

http://blogs.rockymountainnews.com/denver/broncos/archives/2005/11/the_hall_walls.html#more

Marlow Perez in Quantico, Va., checks in once again and gets the gold star question . . .

Q: The NFL is a copycat league. So why aren't more teams turning to zone blocking schemes for their offensive lines? The leading proponents of zone blocking, the Broncos and Falcons, are leading their respective conferences in rushing. I don't understand. What is the downside to zone blocking that has kept so many teams from emulating zone-blocking-coach-guru Alex Gibbs?

A: The short answer is it's difficult to find players, especially in the salary cap era, quick enough and disciplined enough to do it well. And it's even harder to keep the five together for an extended period once you've found them.

A zone run scheme usually features offensive linemen that, for the most part, fire out in the same direction, simply trying to wash the defenders out of the play as they keep pushing them toward the sideline.

Usually the center is trying to get out to the middle linebacker. The idea is to leave two or three running lanes for the back to choose from, usually cutting back against the flow of the play.

The Broncos almost always use a zone run game but do not always zone block. They will pull a lineman the other way at times as well.

But it takes good footwork, good quickness and heady players who maintain the flow of the play without getting tangled up.

And as a rule, linemen are getting bigger across the board through the high school and college ranks so it's far more difficult to find top-level quickness and strength in a lighter player as coaches like Gibbs prefer to run the scheme. Just one offensive lineman invited to the NFL's scouting combine last year weighed less than 300 pounds, and he was 299.

The Broncos are also more patient with linemen than most teams, something that has to be an organizational philosophy from the top down. Of the five starters, four have been with the team at least five seasons, three at least six years. Right tackle George Foster is the only one of the five to have played fewer than three years in the system and is also the only one who weighs more than 295.

But Foster showed big-time quickness at Georgia and would have been drafted higher in 2003 -- the Broncos took him at 20th overall -- but some teams were concerned about a wrist injury that had hampered him with the Bulldogs.

Many personnel guys are also just concerned that if a line is too small, it won't be able to hold up against defensive lines that seem to be getting bigger all the time. The Raiders, for example, lined up Ted Washington and Warren Sapp, both well over 320 pounds at defensive tackle this past Sunday with 300-pound Tommy Kelly at defensive end.

So some teams just want bulk, they want 320-pounders of their own, across the front.

In the cap era, with free agency, it's also just difficult to keep any offensive line together, which seems more important in a zone scheme, one that does rely on movement and timing.

Also it's tough to get out and cut block a defender over and over again. Defenders don't like it, some offensive linemen don't like it and it can make for some testy games. Some younger guys just aren't ready for all that and still keep their composure.

Against the Eagles, Philadelphia linebacker Jeremiah Trotter, after center Tom Nalen had put him on the ground quite a bit in the game, jawed almost constantly at Nalen, especially after Nalen was called for a penalty in the game.

But Nalen just calmly stood and strolled back to the huddle each time.

Gibbs is also a tough coach to play for. He rules through intimidation, speaks his mind and a lot of teams -- including head coaches -- aren't always ready for that either.

[baja]

Nice piece 52, thanks for posting it.

Looks like in Dennison we got a young Gibbs without the anger management issues, sweet!!!!

[Bronco LB 59]

Nice piece 52, thanks for posting it.

Looks like in Dennison we got a young Gibbs without the anger management issues, sweet!!!!

Who was the offensive lineman that dubbed Gibbs as "Napoleon on speed"?

[baja]

Stinky