Breaking Down The Roster -- Part 3 -- Offensive Line

[TheSportsGuru]

Here is Part 3 of my Roster breakdown....

As always, thanks for reading!!!

http://www.milehighreport.com/story/2007/6/19/10296/4109

[Rascal]

Pears is starting at RT not Meadows.

[TheSportsGuru]

That wouldn't be a surprise to me at all....

Alot depends on how Lepsis comes back...

[Rascal]

Harris was a LT in college also, so I expect him to stay on that side in the pros.

[TheSportsGuru]

He played both, starting 8 games as a freshman at Right Tackle....

Like Lepsis when he broke in, the Broncos might put Harris on the right side to ease his transition into the NFL...

The Broncos have alot of flexibility along the line, a nice problem to have...

[Traveler]

In your last paragraph, you mentioned Harris as a possible RG. I take it that was a typo.

[TheSportsGuru]

Ahhhhhhhh...Now I get it...

It was, and it is fixed....Thanks!

[fontaine]

For me, I would love to see Erik Pears start at RT. Wasn't he a RT anyway in college?

I think he has what it takes, and would prefer a young stud like him rather than an aging hand in Meadows who's just a one year fix.

[SonOfLe-loLang]

Yeah, he was an RT in college and is a more natural RT as the speed rushers usually line up on the other side.

[Drek]

Harris is an LT. He played a little RT early on but he won't in the pro game. He's got a skillset very similar to Joe Thomas, another guy who is an LT or a NFL scrub. they don't have the size and power to handle bigger LDEs but have great mobility and footwork that make them rare commodities on the left side.

Also, Harris' big slide last season was largely because he dropped a ton of weight between the 2005 and 2006 seasons. At one point in '06 myself and fellow ND fans speculated that he was playing under 290. He lost a ton of strength as a result, obviously, and went from being considered a first round lock to a late first day type.

If he can keep the weight on he'll be a very productive LT.

I don't think we'll keep both Myers and Eslinger on the 53 man roster either. Thats three interior line backups to go with two OT backups. We rarely carry that much line beef and with the increased stress on more defensive line beef we won't have the roster space to spare.

Pears will start at RT also. He's a natural RT who outperformed Meadows when both were on the field last year and Pears was out of position. The staff will reward him for how he stepped up in Lepsis' absense. Lepsis' healthy won't effect our starting RT.

If you want to talk about Harris starting though, thats where Lepsis' health comes in. All reports indicate that he's going to be fine but if he should have any major set backs or not come back full strength that is when Harris gets a shot.

Meadows at this point in his career is nothing more than a good backup. He could be a solid starter but he lacks the conditioning and endurance for it. Thats what happens when you leave the game for a few years and at his age its not coming back. Pears and even Harris will be able to consistently hold him off for the starting jobs as we don't like to rotate our OLs and Meadows will require it.

The big OL battle that I see coming up is Holland v. Kuper. Kuper has a lot of talent but he couldn't get significant time on the field despite our OL injuries. I think he could still be something special but he's going to be challenging a mid-20's veteran who has started a lot of games over his career and who has 20 pounds on him. The staff wants more line beef, Holland is just that. Either way I think we're in for some very good RG play this year.

[Rascal]

Harris is an LT. He played a little RT early on but he won't in the pro game. He's got a skillset very similar to Joe Thomas, another guy who is an LT or a NFL scrub. they don't have the size and power to handle bigger LDEs but have great mobility and footwork that make them rare commodities on the left side.

Also, Harris' big slide last season was largely because he dropped a ton of weight between the 2005 and 2006 seasons. At one point in '06 myself and fellow ND fans speculated that he was playing under 290. He lost a ton of strength as a result, obviously, and went from being considered a first round lock to a late first day type.

If he can keep the weight on he'll be a very productive LT.

I don't think we'll keep both Myers and Eslinger on the 53 man roster either. Thats three interior line backups to go with two OT backups. We rarely carry that much line beef and with the increased stress on more defensive line beef we won't have the roster space to spare.

Pears will start at RT also. He's a natural RT who outperformed Meadows when both were on the field last year and Pears was out of position. The staff will reward him for how he stepped up in Lepsis' absense. Lepsis' healthy won't effect our starting RT.

If you want to talk about Harris starting though, thats where Lepsis' health comes in. All reports indicate that he's going to be fine but if he should have any major set backs or not come back full strength that is when Harris gets a shot.

Meadows at this point in his career is nothing more than a good backup. He could be a solid starter but he lacks the conditioning and endurance for it. Thats what happens when you leave the game for a few years and at his age its not coming back. Pears and even Harris will be able to consistently hold him off for the starting jobs as we don't like to rotate our OLs and Meadows will require it.

The big OL battle that I see coming up is Holland v. Kuper. Kuper has a lot of talent but he couldn't get significant time on the field despite our OL injuries. I think he could still be something special but he's going to be challenging a mid-20's veteran who has started a lot of games over his career and who has 20 pounds on him. The staff wants more line beef, Holland is just that. Either way I think we're in for some very good RG play this year.

Pretty much my thoughts as well.

[broncs2bowl]

reading this Ive come to realize how much I love Shanny and Co.

The O-line for the future could possibly be set(Nalen and Lepsis getting old and we must slowly replace them)

LT: Harris/Pears
LG: Meyers
C: Hamilton
RG: Kuper
RT: Pears/Harris

I love how we groom our O-line to always be competetive and never have holes.

[400HZ]

Looks like a weak link to me. :crazy:

[broncs2bowl]

Looks like a weak link to me. :crazy:

why? just cause ur a Charger fan and you have to criticize the "donks"?....cause our line looks pretty solid to me

[WoodMan]

Looks like a weak link to me. :crazy:

TROLL

[Phantom]

Nice read Guru.
Pears was impressive last year - all things considered. Hope he continues to build on that. I see him starting at RT this year. Kuper / Holland battle will be a good one to watch in camp.

[ZONA]

Looks like a weak link to me. :crazy:

You probably don't even know who they heck these guys really are or how they can play. You just come in here and spew out the nonsense that is common place for you. Frickin dolt fan - igit

[longtimer]

RT: Pears / Rogers
RG: Kuper /Meyers
C: Nalen / Eslinger
LG: Holland / Meyers
LT: Lepsis / Harris

PS: Fenton

Cut after training camp: Hamilton (to small to hold up again the bigger DT with Cutler needding to stay in the pocket), Meadows (over the hill)

[crowebomber]

I'd like to see them get Mustard some time on the field at tackle and develop him like they did Lepsis. He probably doesn't make a roster spot at TE because we're stacked. But, he blocks so well they need to give him a shot on the line. I would rather see them keep Mustard's potential then Meadows' diminishing skills.

[bcbronc]

I don't think we'll keep both Myers and Eslinger on the 53 man roster either. Thats three interior line backups to go with two OT backups. We rarely carry that much line beef and with the increased stress on more defensive line beef we won't have the roster space to spare.



The big OL battle that I see coming up is Holland v. Kuper. Kuper has a lot of talent but he couldn't get significant time on the field despite our OL injuries. I think he could still be something special but he's going to be challenging a mid-20's veteran who has started a lot of games over his career and who has 20 pounds on him. The staff wants more line beef, Holland is just that. Either way I think we're in for some very good RG play this year.


Eslinger didn't look very good last year, so I'd be pleasantly shocked if he'd improved enough from a year stashed on IR to make the final 53. I'm expecting him to start the season on the PS.

If Holland wins the starting spot Kuper could find himself the only reserve lineman dressed some Sundays.

[ward63]

I DEFINITLY do not see Hamilton getting cut...that's just insane. Personally, I think Meadows gets cut and only keep 3 tackles, b/c of Holland's ability to play tackle.

[TheSportsGuru]

I DEFINITLY do not see Hamilton getting cut...that's just insane. Personally, I think Meadows gets cut and only keep 3 tackles, b/c of Holland's ability to play tackle.

Did I miss something? WHo said Hamilton would get cut?

[Kaylore]

Greg Eslinger(6-3, 290) -- The first thing that strikes me about Eslinger is his similar body build to another late round draft pick from the past, Tom Nalen.

You overall analysis was good except that you were a little bit too praising. This comment, for example, makes me wonder if you've seen Eslinger at all. He is terribly undersized. He does not have very broad shoulders or a big torso at all. He is quick and technically sound, but I don't think he'll ever have the frame to be a starter in the pros. To compare his body to Nalen's is kind of silly. In fact I wouldn't be surprised to see Eslinger cut this year.

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

You overall analysis was good except that you were a little bit too praising. This comment, for example, makes me wonder if you've seen Eslinger at all. He is terribly undersized. He does not have very broad shoulders or a big torso at all. He is quick and technically sound, but I don't think he'll ever have the frame to be a starter in the pros. To compare his body to Nalen's is kind of silly. In fact I wouldn't be surprised to see Eslinger cut this year.

Agree. Now where are all of those folk who said the Broncs needed to draft Eslinger in the second round becuase he was perfect for the "system."

[Odysseus]

I sure miss Big Guy.

[thumpc]

The big shock will be how well Cutler works the bootleg this season. I bet they have him running like a dear in OTAs. Play-action off a topnotch running game, Jay will not be a standing target every down. This line will shine!

[fontaine]

Holland will get the start at RG and the team will phase in Kuper on a few series a game to see how he's coming along and I would expect Kuper to win out the job by game 4 or so.

Meadows job really depends on Lepsis. If Lepsis can show that he's back to full strength/mobility then Meadows is gone. But if there are any hiccups then we're forced to hang onto Meadows because we won't throw an undersized rookie (Harris) into the fire.

I hate to say it but it might come down to Myers/Eslinger battling it out for the final roster spot unless we can stash Eslinger to the PS.

[TheSportsGuru]

You overall analysis was good except that you were a little bit too praising. This comment, for example, makes me wonder if you've seen Eslinger at all. He is terribly undersized. He does not have very broad shoulders or a big torso at all. He is quick and technically sound, but I don't think he'll ever have the frame to be a starter in the pros. To compare his body to Nalen's is kind of silly. In fact I wouldn't be surprised to see Eslinger cut this year.

I have seen him, and while he is not as broad all Eslinger does is perform on the field. He played pretty well in Europa(not a true guage of course) and he was very good in a very good football conference in college.

Only time will tell, but we agree to disagree...

[Mediator12]

I have seen him, and while he is not as broad all Eslinger does is perform on the field. He played pretty well in Europa(not a true guage of course) and he was very good in a very good football conference in college.

Only time will tell, but we agree to disagree...

He was one of the worst OL in TC last year and was struggling with guys like Amon Gordon and Antwan Burton playing third team C. Also, he lacks the versatility to play G/C like Myers. He will have to really step it up to have a shot at making the 53 IMHO.

[Crushaholic]

Good read. A good offensive line will aid Cutler in his development.