Franklin: Broncos should lean on Munchak, not overspend on o-line
Feb 18, 2019, 4:08 PM | Updated: Feb 19, 2019, 7:10 am
Heading into the NFL Scouting Combine, free agency, and the draft, the general consensus surrounding the Denver Broncos is that the team needs an upgrade on the offensive line.
But, in hiring Mike Munchak as the team’s offensive line coach this offseason, Orlando Franklin said that the Broncos need not overspend at the position, either in free agency or in the draft.
“You’ve got to give Mike Munchak an opportunity to do what he’s done in every program that he’s coached in, and that is absolutely get his offensive line better as far as a production base,” Franklin said on Monday. “We have seen tons of guys’ games elevate underneath Mike Munchak, and there’s no reason to believe that he’s not going to be able to get the talent better that’s on this roster now.”
Franklin said that he would look for Denver to go defense heavy in this draft and look to some economical options in free agency to rebuild the offensive line.
“Don’t go overspending and direct all your resources … and tie it up into offensive linemen when you don’t know if Mike Munchak is going to improve the guys that you already have in the building because he’s done that in every program that he’s already been in,” Franklin said. “So, I’m going off of his history that he’s going to be able to do that with the Broncos here in 2019.”
“Stokley and Zach” co-host Brandon Stokley said that some of the burden of improving the offensive line production also rests on the shoulders of veteran quarterback Joe Flacco, whom the team has a deal in principle to acquire.
“Joe Flacco needs to make those offensive linemen play better. That’s why we’re paying him $20 million. He’s got to make them look better than what they are,” Stokley said Monday.
Flacco, Stokley said, knows when guys are coming free, when to slide protections, and the chaos of defenses.
“He’s seen it all. So, he’ll be able to help those offensive linemen out and make them better than what they are,” Stokley said. “And that’s what you want from your veteran quarterback, and I think that’s a big part of Joe Flacco here.”
Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @JohnnyHart7.
