Denver Native (Carol)
05-06-2010, 06:00 PM
http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.php?id=334&storyID=10111
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- When the Broncos' 2009 campaign came to a close with an 8-8 record, the team knew what it needed to do to improve -- control the line of scrimmage.
Sure enough, within the first five days of free agency, the club had added 843 pounds of bulk on the defensive line.
But the overhaul didn't stop there. Next, the team moved on to the offensive line, snagging two linemen in the first three rounds of the draft, and closing out its crop of nine picks with three new linemen.
The addition of Zane Beadles, J.D. Walton and Eric Olsen -- all of whom can play multiple positions on the line -- did exactly what Head Coach Josh McDaniels and the front office set out to do after the season: increase competition.
"I think what we did that's really improved the competition at that spot is that we got bigger," McDaniels said. "I think that was a goal for us, both to assist us and protect us in the pocket, and then also being able to run the football."
The three new additions on the offensive line since the draft -- college free agents Paul Duncan and Chris Marinelli and 10th-year veteran free agent Maurice Williams -- fit the bill as well. Each of the new additions weighs at least 300 pounds, and the shortest of the group is Walton, who check in at 6-foot-3. The tallest -- Duncan and Marinelli -- are both 6-feet-7-inches.
They join Dustin Fry, a 6-foot-3, 326-pound center who also joined the team after the season, signing a future contract on January 7.
Having such a large group -- no pun intended -- of newcomers to the Broncos offensive line will help the transition for each player, according to Beadles.
"All offensive lineman are the same -- we always get along, no matter where we're at," said the second-round pick. "To be able to come in with these guys and build some camaraderie and work together and learn together (is great). Learning together is a huge thing. It's just better bouncing things off multiple guys and that's a definite advantage for us."
Another advantage the offensive linemen have is that each of them has the ability to play multiple positions along the line.
Olsen, McDaniels said, is a guard who can switch to center, Walton is a center who can switch to guard, Beadles is a tackle who can play guard and Duncan and Marinelli played both left and right tackle in college.
"We've got some versatility there that will help us," McDaniels said. "When you go to the game with seven linemen, obviously you need that to be present so that you can do what you need to do if you face an injury."
That's the approach the five rookie offensive linemen took when they took to the field for the first time as Broncos in last weekend's rookie minicamp.
McDaniels preaches that each player defines his own role on the team, and the linemen aren't taking that lightly. Each one has delved into the playbook not only for their position, but all of the slots along the offensive line.
"No matter if I'm playing one position or five positions, I think I'm a better player knowing what the guys next to me are doing," Beadles said. "I try to learn it as a whole. Maybe that's a little bit more difficult, but I think it's a better way to do it and makes me a better player."
Each player takes pride in their versatility, and each might be able to put it on display a little earlier than expected -- at least during the team's OTAs and minicamps in the coming months.
With Ryan Clady recovering from offseason surgery and Ryan Harris and Russ Hochstein working back from injuries that saw them placed on injured reserve in December last season, the young players have a chance to step up quickly.
Beadles said he and his teammates relish that opportunity.
"I think that's the biggest thing -- learning," he said. "The best way to learn is to go out and make mistakes, so I'm going to have plenty of opportunities to do that, I think. I hope I can get out there and learn from those mistakes and not make them over again."
For now, the newcomers to the line are taking it one day at a time, learning a new offense and new terminology and getting to know new teammates. Most importantly, they're doing it all together.
"While we're going to compete and try to get spots and earn our roles on this team, at the same time we're all in it together," Olsen said. "As offensive linemen, by nature that's what we do and that's what we're all about."
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- When the Broncos' 2009 campaign came to a close with an 8-8 record, the team knew what it needed to do to improve -- control the line of scrimmage.
Sure enough, within the first five days of free agency, the club had added 843 pounds of bulk on the defensive line.
But the overhaul didn't stop there. Next, the team moved on to the offensive line, snagging two linemen in the first three rounds of the draft, and closing out its crop of nine picks with three new linemen.
The addition of Zane Beadles, J.D. Walton and Eric Olsen -- all of whom can play multiple positions on the line -- did exactly what Head Coach Josh McDaniels and the front office set out to do after the season: increase competition.
"I think what we did that's really improved the competition at that spot is that we got bigger," McDaniels said. "I think that was a goal for us, both to assist us and protect us in the pocket, and then also being able to run the football."
The three new additions on the offensive line since the draft -- college free agents Paul Duncan and Chris Marinelli and 10th-year veteran free agent Maurice Williams -- fit the bill as well. Each of the new additions weighs at least 300 pounds, and the shortest of the group is Walton, who check in at 6-foot-3. The tallest -- Duncan and Marinelli -- are both 6-feet-7-inches.
They join Dustin Fry, a 6-foot-3, 326-pound center who also joined the team after the season, signing a future contract on January 7.
Having such a large group -- no pun intended -- of newcomers to the Broncos offensive line will help the transition for each player, according to Beadles.
"All offensive lineman are the same -- we always get along, no matter where we're at," said the second-round pick. "To be able to come in with these guys and build some camaraderie and work together and learn together (is great). Learning together is a huge thing. It's just better bouncing things off multiple guys and that's a definite advantage for us."
Another advantage the offensive linemen have is that each of them has the ability to play multiple positions along the line.
Olsen, McDaniels said, is a guard who can switch to center, Walton is a center who can switch to guard, Beadles is a tackle who can play guard and Duncan and Marinelli played both left and right tackle in college.
"We've got some versatility there that will help us," McDaniels said. "When you go to the game with seven linemen, obviously you need that to be present so that you can do what you need to do if you face an injury."
That's the approach the five rookie offensive linemen took when they took to the field for the first time as Broncos in last weekend's rookie minicamp.
McDaniels preaches that each player defines his own role on the team, and the linemen aren't taking that lightly. Each one has delved into the playbook not only for their position, but all of the slots along the offensive line.
"No matter if I'm playing one position or five positions, I think I'm a better player knowing what the guys next to me are doing," Beadles said. "I try to learn it as a whole. Maybe that's a little bit more difficult, but I think it's a better way to do it and makes me a better player."
Each player takes pride in their versatility, and each might be able to put it on display a little earlier than expected -- at least during the team's OTAs and minicamps in the coming months.
With Ryan Clady recovering from offseason surgery and Ryan Harris and Russ Hochstein working back from injuries that saw them placed on injured reserve in December last season, the young players have a chance to step up quickly.
Beadles said he and his teammates relish that opportunity.
"I think that's the biggest thing -- learning," he said. "The best way to learn is to go out and make mistakes, so I'm going to have plenty of opportunities to do that, I think. I hope I can get out there and learn from those mistakes and not make them over again."
For now, the newcomers to the line are taking it one day at a time, learning a new offense and new terminology and getting to know new teammates. Most importantly, they're doing it all together.
"While we're going to compete and try to get spots and earn our roles on this team, at the same time we're all in it together," Olsen said. "As offensive linemen, by nature that's what we do and that's what we're all about."