Bronco o-line problems (1 Viewer)

[vichawkfan]

ok - Henry is now officially causing me some concern as a high draft pick.

From Denver Post :

Battered and bruised line requires time to get well

By Mike Klis Denver Post Staff Writer

Article Last Updated: 08/10/2007 12:55:22 AM MDT

Never mind the gimpy receivers. Save the pity for the banged-up group out beyond the hash marks.

A training camp problem just as significant for the Broncos' offense is scrummed near the ball.

Left guard Ben Hamilton has missed significant time with a concussion. Left tackle Matt Lepsis has been out with a pulled groin. Right guard Chris Kuper was replaced on the first-team Monday by Montrae Holland.

Lepsis' injury caused the Broncos to move Erik Pears from right tackle to left tackle one day, then back to right tackle the next. Adam Meadows has been playing whatever tackle position is opposite Pears, and Chris Myers has been filling in for Hamilton. Another backup left tackle, rookie Ryan Harris, hurt his back during the morning workout Thursday

The only player who lines up at the same position each day is the 14th-year center.

What would be the best way, Tom Nalen, to describe the current state of the Broncos' offensive line?

"We've got a few guys banged up, but it's still camp," Nalen said. "Eventually, we'll get those guys healed, and if not, some of other guys are getting good reps."

Bell promoted

After running with the No. 3 offense during the offseason minicamps and through the first 11 days of training camp, Mike Bell became the No. 2 running back Thursday. That leaves him behind starter Travis Henry, but ahead of Cecil Sapp, who had been running with the second unit. Andre Hall appeared to be splitting the third-team reps with Sapp.

Bell feels he is a much improved runner this year.

"The coaches are constantly harping that I have the skills, but I have to be patient," said Bell, who rushed for 677 yards and eight touchdowns as a rookie last season. "This year, I'm able to understand the concept of the offense and get in the flow. A lot of it has to do with watching Travis run amok. He's done such a great job at it, it's helping me and the other backs as well."

 

[rascal]

Shanny said that if it was a game situation both Lepsis and Hamilton would be playing. Hamilton is a vet so I'm not worried about him. lepsis is returning from a severe knee injury so I expected him to be given time off. Four weeks till the regular season start, so I'm not worried.

 

[Tubalcane]

If we are still hearing this king of stuff in two weeks I'll worry. Not until then

 

[Bob Henry]

I can see now how this is going to play out.. flip- flopping Bell and Sapp throughout the preseason on the depth charts.

As long as it's not a , I'm fine with it.

 

[Banger]

Ugh...it could be a looong season if these guys are getting MRI's and struggling to get starting lineup together less than 1/2 way through training camp.

 

[SSOG]

Ugh...it could be a looong season if these guys are getting MRI's and struggling to get starting lineup together less than 1/2 way through training camp.

Generally players are more likely to get nicked up and dinged in Training Camps than in real football games. They put their muscles and bodies through incredible stresses, and so injuries are inevitable as they try to get back into "game shape". Once they're in "game shape", the minor injuries like these should go way down.I'm not especially worried about the Denver O-Line yet. It's an incredibly deep unit this year (Reagor, the top backup at guard, has been good enough that Denver signed him to a multi-year extension before he took so much as a single preseason snap for them, Meadows was a very good Tackle a couple of years ago and is likely still a very good tackle today, and from what I hear, the coaching staff really loves Harris, the rookie LT). The only injury on the list that concerns me is Lepsis, since Lepsis is probably the best player on the line, but I think cascade injuries like this were to be expected as he works himself back.

 

[Gr00vus]

I'm not especially worried about the Denver O-Line yet. It's an incredibly deep unit this year (Reagor, the top backup at guard, has been good enough that Denver signed him to a multi-year extension before he took so much as a single preseason snap for them, Meadows was a very good Tackle a couple of years ago and is likely still a very good tackle today, and from what I hear, the coaching staff really loves Harris, the rookie LT). The only injury on the list that concerns me is Lepsis, since Lepsis is probably the best player on the line, but I think cascade injuries like this were to be expected as he works himself back.

These are minor injuries to vets, pulled groin is two weeks rest and some therapy, not much to be concerned about.

 

[BigSteelThrill]

I'm not especially worried about the Denver O-Line yet. It's an incredibly deep unit this year (Reagor, the top backup at guard, has been good enough that Denver signed him to a multi-year extension before he took so much as a single preseason snap for them, Meadows was a very good Tackle a couple of years ago and is likely still a very good tackle today, and from what I hear, the coaching staff really loves Harris, the rookie LT). The only injury on the list that concerns me is Lepsis, since Lepsis is probably the best player on the line, but I think cascade injuries like this were to be expected as he works himself back.

I have read several times this preseason that Denver lines is not looking/performing very well in practice. This does concern me (though I'd still take Henry in the top 13 at this point)... my question to you SSOG... is this pretty much what you have seen/read/heard as well? I know they have the make-up and potential to be fine, but that just isnt the current case from a performance standpoint according to what I have heard.

 

[SSOG]

I'm not especially worried about the Denver O-Line yet. It's an incredibly deep unit this year (Reagor, the top backup at guard, has been good enough that Denver signed him to a multi-year extension before he took so much as a single preseason snap for them, Meadows was a very good Tackle a couple of years ago and is likely still a very good tackle today, and from what I hear, the coaching staff really loves Harris, the rookie LT). The only injury on the list that concerns me is Lepsis, since Lepsis is probably the best player on the line, but I think cascade injuries like this were to be expected as he works himself back.

I have read several times this preseason that Denver lines is not looking/performing very well in practice. This does concern me (though I'd still take Henry in the top 13 at this point)... my question to you SSOG... is this pretty much what you have seen/read/heard as well? I know they have the make-up and potential to be fine, but that just isnt the current case from a performance standpoint according to what I have heard.

I've definitely heard the same things that you have, that the DLine is getting the better of them in practice. With that said, I tend to give Denver's offensive line a little bit of leeway, since they've just constantly proven themselves so much already. Besides, even if the line is only mediocre and the RB is pretty average on a per-play basis, Denver's commitment to the run means the running game is still almost certain to be top-10. I think back to the 2001 season, which was a complete and utter implosion of the Denver running game. Denver ranked 19th in the league in yards per attempt at 3.9, which is by far the worst showing of the Shanahan era. In the 12 years under Shanahan, Denver has had an average season-ending ypc of 4.50, and has only twice dipped below 4.37. Despite this complete collapse, Denver finished 10th in rushing yards just through sheer volume of attempts (481, 6th in the NFL).I'm legitimately worried about Matt Lepsis, but I'm of the opinion that they can live without him if they absolutely positively have to. Outside of that, I have enough trust in their system (not just their blocking scheme, but their scouting department and coaching staff) that it'll take more than a couple of bad weeks in training camp to shake my faith.