Denver Broncos: Is Peyton Manning Playing What’s My Line?

Ah, the irony of many ironies.

You will notice on the left side of the photo above guard Orlando Franklin (74) and tackle Ryan Clady (78). This past season, the duo made up the starting left side of the Denver Broncos offensive line.

Now due to free agency and a torn ACL, respectively, neither Franklin (now a member of the San Diego Chargers) nor Clady (on injured reserve and out for the season) are left to play for the team in 2015.

What is an all-time football legend and 39-year old quarterback to do?

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We won’t insult your intelligence here and say that it’s Peyton Manning so it doesn’t make a difference what linemen plays in front of him. In fact, that’s an insult to the talented performers who have paved the way for his 69,691 career passing yards and NFL record 530 touchdown tosses.

May 27, 2015; Englewood, CO, USA; Denver Broncos tackle Ryan Clady (78) and guard Ben Garland (63) during organized team activities at the Broncos training facility. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Meanwhile, James Merilatt of The Coloradoan has some very strong feelings about what he considers a less-than-strong unit that as of now is the group that will protect Manning as well as pave the way for running back C.J. Anderson and company. Both Merilatt as well as Mike Klis of 9News, (the former Broncos Insider for The Denver Post), reported that the team’s starting line for now reads as follows: Left tackle Ty Sambrailo, left guard Ben Garland, center Gino Gradkowski, right guard Louis Vasquez and right tackle Chris Clark.

After Clady went down, general manager John Elway quickly signed veteran tackle Ryan Harris, who began his career in Denver and spent 2014 with the Kansas City Chiefs. Earlier in free agency, Elway added veteran guard Shelley Smith after Franklin left for San Diego. In fact, the fine folks at Ourlads have Harris at left tackle and Smith at left guard on their depth chart.

This offseason, the Broncos have also seen the likes of center Will Montgomery (signed with the Chicago Bears) and guard/center Manny Ramirez (traded to the Detroit Lions) exit stage-left as well.

Jan 11, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos tackle Chris Clark (75) in the 2014 AFC Divisional playoff football game against the Indianapolis Colts at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

So let’s recap a bit. In this past season’s playoff loss to the Indianapolis Colts, the Broncos featured that revamped six-man offensive line, with Clark as a tight end, Clay and Vasquez as the tackles, Franklin and Ramirez at guard and Montgomery at center. Three of those six players are no longer with the organization and as mentioned, Clady is out of the upcoming season.

Meanwhile, Sambrailo is a 2015 second-round pick from nearby Colorado State while Garland just made the switch to the offensive side of the ball in 2013 (as documented in a fascinating piece by Nicki Jhabvala of The Denver Post). Gradkowski was a disappointment with the Baltimore Ravens before being dealt to Denver this offseason. Elway also used a fourth-round pick this year on University of Florida center Max Garcia and 2014 sixth-round selection Matt Paradis could be in the mix as well.

The Broncos have a new head coach in Gary Kubiak, new offensive (Rick Dennison) and defensive (Wade Phillips) – who all have ties to Elway after being with the organization in the past. The club also added some new faces via free agency and the draft such as veteran tight end Owen Daniels and 2015 first-round draft choice Shane Ray, who hopes to help the pass rush.

However, if the offensive doesn’t come together this summer at training camp and show that they can keep Manning out of harm’s way, the franchise may be looking at a different starting quarterback on the field for the first time since 2011.

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