Thread: Where would the Broncos be this year with the 1997 O-Line?

I was pouring over some of the Broncos archives when I came back across
the 1997 team. That offensive line that year had to be one of the G.O.A.T.
lines. Tom Nalen, Neil Smith, Mark Schlereth, Tony Jones, and Gary
Zimmerman. Talk about top-level grunts!

Part (not all, of course) of he problem with the team's performances this year
composes the injuries, inexperience, and need to jell on the O-line. Let's face
it: They've been manhandled at times.

I believe if they had the 1997 line, they would be 5-1 right now. Y'all think?

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I have actually been very impressed with the o-line this year. We seem to have pretty good protection and we have had a good running game.

Then again, I could have just lowered my expectations of them knowing we have key injuries and such.

That o-line in 97 was great though. It would be awsome if we had that o-line today. It could have helped us in a couple of games as well. The red-zone run blocking has been bad, although that could be because the defenses knew those where going to be runs. Other than that, it is hard to say what would happen differently. Cutler may get an extra second or two to throw behind that line, and that could be a huge difference for him.

Yes, I believe we have some very good talent on today's line. Kuper promises
to be a good one, and Myers is far better than previous perceptions of him, at
least from what I have seen so far.

The problem hasn't been talent, but youth and not having played together.
Moreover, it doesn't appear that Lepsis is 100% yet. What they have done
in the situation they are in is amazing and admirable.

But that 1997 line . . .

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Now if only we could get Schlereth to stop telling everyone how he used to wet himself during games. That just makes me feel sorry for the rest of the huddle in those years. I guess it helped when there where pileups at the line though, I'm sure noone else wanted him ontop or below them. Fumbles must have been recovered so much easier when in his area.

Originally Posted by jhns

Now if only we could get Schlereth to stop telling everyone how he used to wet himself during games. That just makes me feel sorry for the rest of the huddle in those years. I guess it helped when there where pileups at the line though, I'm sure noone else wanted him ontop or below them. Fumbles must have been recovered so much easier when in his area.

Maybe that's why he was so effective at blocking.

They just passed out before he got there.

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well travis would definitley be the leagues leading rusher this year. Selvin might be numero dose, (probably not selvin, but travis for sure). And i mean by a couple hundred yards league leading.

Originally Posted by topscribe

I was pouring over some of the Broncos archives when I came back across
the 1997 team. That offensive line that year had to be one of the G.O.A.T.
lines. Tom Nalen, Neil Smith, Mark Schlereth, Tony Jones, and Gary
Zimmerman. Talk about top-level grunts!

Part (not all, of course) of he problem with the team's performances this year
composes the injuries, inexperience, and need to jell on the O-line. Let's face
it: They've been manhandled at times.

I believe if they had the 1997 line, they would be 5-1 right now. Y'all think?

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Even if we had that offensive line, our run defense the games before Pittsburgh would've brought down the team with it. We might've gotten an extra win against Jacksonville, but that's it, I think.

Originally Posted by omac

Even if we had that offensive line, our run defense the games before Pittsburgh would've brought down the team with it. We might've gotten an extra win against Jacksonville, but that's it, I think.

You're right, of course. We would have beaten Jax, but we needed defense to
beat Indy and SD. But I don't believe the latter would have been 41-3, though.

But, yeah, they would be 4-2 now, with the same defense.

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3-3 and Top.

As stated above, the defense has been ugly at best.

The added ability to run may have made a difference, but who is to say that the 97 o'line would fair any better in todays game?

I firmly believe the game has become much faster and stronger in just the last 5-10 years.

But thats just a couch potatoe's take.

Originally Posted by Krugan

3-3 and Top.

As stated above, the defense has been ugly at best.

The added ability to run may have made a difference, but who is to say that the 95 o'line would fair any better in todays game?

I firmly believe the game has become much faster and stronger in just the last 5-10 years.

But thats just a couch potatoe's take.

It was 1997.

And some of the people from that era haven't had much trouble keeping up:
Lynch, Nalen, Sam Adams, Trevor Pryce, Randy Moss, Rod Smith (until his
injury), among many others. You think Terrell Davis wouldn't tear it up
today?

Things haven't changed that much.

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You dont think the added speed of defenses such as San diego, Indy, Pittsburgh would make a difference at all.

I think TD would do well in todays game, but im just not sold that the smaller Oline from then would be any better.

Its not just the Oline, but the talent around those 5 guys was better than what we are fielding at this point in time.

I edited the post to 97, minor typo. Seems those become far to much of a focal point.

Originally Posted by Krugan

You dont think the added speed of defenses such as San diego, Indy, Pittsburgh would make a difference at all.

I think TD would do well in todays game, but im just not sold that the smaller Oline from then would be any better.

Its not just the Oline, but the talent around those 5 guys was better than what we are fielding at this point in time.

I edited the post to 97, minor typo. Seems those become far to much of a focal point.

Well, if you're working with a window of 10 years, then 2 years would seem
to make a difference.

Krug, it's only 10 years ago! 4.2 Champ Bailey and 4.2 Randy Moss came
into the league at that time. So did 4.5 Al Wilson, and 4.5 Junior Seau.
Nobody, then or now, was any faster at their positions than the likes of
Lawrence Taylor or Reggie White. Tom Nalen was still kicking butt this
year before he was injured. If I remember right, Lepsis was a backup then.
Nope, I don't see a striking difference.

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Originally Posted by topscribe

You're right, of course. We would have beaten Jax, but we needed defense to
beat Indy and SD. But I don't believe the latter would have been 41-3, though.

But, yeah, they would be 4-2 now, with the same defense.

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Honestly, the Indianapolis game is one that I think we would have won. We had the opportunity to go up 21-7 but couldnt get it done inside the 10...had to settle for FGs. Having that OLine could have made the game 21-7 and also dictated terms the rest of the way.

Originally Posted by topscribe

I was pouring over some of the Broncos archives when I came back across
the 1997 team. That offensive line that year had to be one of the G.O.A.T.
lines. Tom Nalen, Neil Smith, Mark Schlereth, Tony Jones, and Gary
Zimmerman. Talk about top-level grunts!

Part (not all, of course) of he problem with the team's performances this year
composes the injuries, inexperience, and need to jell on the O-line. Let's face
it: They've been manhandled at times.

I believe if they had the 1997 line, they would be 5-1 right now. Y'all think?

-----

I'm guessing you meant Dan Neil.

Actually if this OLINE would be playing they would need wheelchairs for the second half..

Originally Posted by topscribe

I was pouring over some of the Broncos archives when I came back across
the 1997 team. That offensive line that year had to be one of the G.O.A.T.
lines. Tom Nalen, Neil Smith, Mark Schlereth, Tony Jones, and Gary
Zimmerman. Talk about top-level grunts!

Part (not all, of course) of he problem with the team's performances this year
composes the injuries, inexperience, and need to jell on the O-line. Let's face
it: They've been manhandled at times.

I believe if they had the 1997 line, they would be 5-1 right now. Y'all think?

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Don't we wish top. . .

I beleive if we just had one man by himself we could be 5-1. With the O-lineman we have now possibly.

Alex Gibbs would do.

As we know, he was the driving force behind that O-line. The man taught a 6'1 280lb(soaking wet) Dan Neil to be a legit starting NFL GUARD! Neil was a mouse among elephants in the trenches. He saw enough potential in a 'replacement player' (87' strike season) in David Diaz-Infante to be a big contributor at multiple positions along the line, to help put 2 S.B. rings on his knuckles. Tom Nalen. . .

:sighs: