Lammey: Hard to see Broncos ‘surprising’ NFL with o-line questions
Jun 4, 2018, 8:29 AM | Updated: 8:35 am
For the first time since his sophomore year in college, Denver Broncos center Matt Paradis can use the offseason to improve himself physical rather than rehab his injured hips.
Guard Ron Leary will move back to the position in which he had the most previous success, left guard.
Left tackle Garett Bolles has a full NFL season under his belt, and newly-acquired right tackle Jared Veldheer is a “mountain of a man.”
But even with a potential jump in production from the Broncos offensive line in 2018, “Pritchardoffensivecil” co-host Cecil Lammey said until he sees the unit together, fixed, on the field.
“I’d love to be the beacon of hope during OTAs and spread rays of sunshine all across the Mile High City, but until I see this offensive line fixed and until I see this offensive line out there as a unit, I can’t come around on this team surprising people in 2018,” Lammey said. “You need the line to do that. Hopefully, they can get out there and get that done ASAP”
While Veldheer has been seen working on the sidelines during practice, both he (ankle) and Leary (knee) have yet to participate in OTAs for the Broncos.
“He was on IR last year with a broken foot in Arizona, so we’re just being smart there. It’s OTAs obviously, and we want to be smart and get him totally healthy before he plays again,” head coach Vance Joseph said about Veldheer, offering up a similar answer with Leary as well.
Broncos offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave said a point of emphasis with Bolles this offseason is cleaning up his play. In 2017, the rookie drew 12 penalties for 106 yards, among the most in the NFL.
“We want Garett to clean up his level of play. We had number of penalties last year that we can get corrected. They’ve been addressed and we’re looking forward to him playing a cleaner style this year,” Musgrave said. “Also, just being better for us overall, both in the run and pass game.”
Musgrave also indicated that the Broncos want to find one guy to play right guard, and the offensive line work through the season as a full unit.
“Well we’d like to have five guys that start, get working together, and all five of them start the entire 16-game schedule,” Musgrave said. “That would be the aim.”
Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @johnnyhart7.
