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Published on 11/15/2010 at Mon Nov 15 00:00.
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Broncos’ turnaround starts in trenches

Posted Mon Nov 15th by

Quarterback Kyle Orton #8 of the Denver Broncos delivers a pass from his own endzone against the Kansas City Chiefs at INVESCO Field at Mile High on November 14, 2010 in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos defeated the Chiefs 49-29. (Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

Quarterback Kyle Orton #8 of the Denver Broncos delivers a pass from his own endzone against the Kansas City Chiefs at INVESCO Field at Mile High on November 14, 2010 in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos defeated the Chiefs 49-29. (Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

Some happily stupefied fans likely queried as they watched the Denver Broncos take a 21-0 first quarter lead against the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday: “Who are these Broncos, and where have they been all season?”

A partial answer: It took the Broncos ten weeks to get back to the starting offensive line formation in which they spent most of training camp.

After weeks of shuffling, and weeks more of ineffectiveness, the Broncos moved Zane Beadles to left guard Sunday, letting Ryan Harris resume his duties at right tackle. The result? The new old-look o-line sparked the Broncos to their best offensive performance of 2010.

“I thought getting back to the group that played most of training camp together was critical for us,” head coach Josh McDaniels said. “If we can build on that performance, I think that will be very helpful to us all as we head into November and December.”

It’s hard to quantify an offensive line’s performance, so let’s take inventory on what we can: the Broncos’ offensive line didn’t commit a penalty. They didn’t give up a sack on quarterbacks Kyle Orton or Tim Tebow. Running back Knowshon Moreno averaged nearly five yards per carry, set career rushing marks, and only had one run for negative yardage.

So, the only question left to be asked — why the wait?

Harris had been a healthy scratch for several weeks as the Broncos let Beadles continue his right tackle work and Russ Hochstein start at left guard. For weeks, Hochstein was dreadful while Harris wasn’t much better.

We implored Josh McDaniels — on multiple occasions — to return the offensive line to this very formation. It put the Broncos’ five best blockers on the field and put the weaker links (rookies Beadles and C J.D. Walton) next to its two strongest (LT Ryan Clady and RG Chris Kuper).

To us, the move was clear as day. Yet McDaniels decided, for whatever reason, that Harris wasn’t suitable to start anymore. The effects were felt across the entire o-line.

Now things are as they should be. Barring injury, they should stay that way. The Broncos’ offense will be better for it.

So, the only remaining question: at 3-6, is the move too late?

  • Noskills07

    Like I have said these past couple weeks, true bronco fans will notice McD isn't the problem and our team is very close. I am telling you now yet again… every game we get better on offense, defense can get better and will and guess what mark my words… the last game of the season at home against the Chargers will decide who is at the top of the AFC west to many times in the past even in Mike's era we seemed to never finish strong this year will be different.. this year we win 36 to the 35 afc west champs! peace

  • Noskills07

    Like I have said these past couple weeks, true bronco fans will notice McD isn't the problem and our team is very close. I am telling you now yet again… every game we get better on offense, defense can get better and will and guess what mark my words… the last game of the season at home against the Chargers will decide who is at the top of the AFC west to many times in the past even in Mike's era we seemed to never finish strong this year will be different.. this year we win 36 to the 35 afc west champs! peace

  • Noskills07

    Like I have said these past couple weeks, true bronco fans will notice McD isn't the problem and our team is very close. I am telling you now yet again… every game we get better on offense, defense can get better and will and guess what mark my words… the last game of the season at home against the Chargers will decide who is at the top of the AFC west to many times in the past even in Mike's era we seemed to never finish strong this year will be different.. this year we win 36 to the 35 afc west champs! peace

  • Noskills07

    Like I have said these past couple weeks, true bronco fans will notice McD isn't the problem and our team is very close. I am telling you now yet again… every game we get better on offense, defense can get better and will and guess what mark my words… the last game of the season at home against the Chargers will decide who is at the top of the AFC west to many times in the past even in Mike's era we seemed to never finish strong this year will be different.. this year we win 36 to the 35 afc west champs! peace

  • Noskills07

    Like I have said these past couple weeks, true bronco fans will notice McD isn't the problem and our team is very close. I am telling you now yet again… every game we get better on offense, defense can get better and will and guess what mark my words… the last game of the season at home against the Chargers will decide who is at the top of the AFC west to many times in the past even in Mike's era we seemed to never finish strong this year will be different.. this year we win 36 to the 35 afc west champs! peace

  • Noskills07

    Like I have said these past couple weeks, true bronco fans will notice McD isn't the problem and our team is very close. I am telling you now yet again… every game we get better on offense, defense can get better and will and guess what mark my words… the last game of the season at home against the Chargers will decide who is at the top of the AFC west to many times in the past even in Mike's era we seemed to never finish strong this year will be different.. this year we win 36 to the 35 afc west champs! peace

  • Noskills07

    Like I have said these past couple weeks, true bronco fans will notice McD isn't the problem and our team is very close. I am telling you now yet again… every game we get better on offense, defense can get better and will and guess what mark my words… the last game of the season at home against the Chargers will decide who is at the top of the AFC west to many times in the past even in Mike's era we seemed to never finish strong this year will be different.. this year we win 36 to the 35 afc west champs! peace

  • broncoman24

    I never felt any of our RBs were the problem, I just felt our o-line was horrible at run-blocking. Not to brag about, but just glad that that was the case. Of course it is just one game. Now lets see if we can run-block as well as we did consistently. I believe if we can, this will change how our offense produces in the future. No I am not talking SB, but at least win more than lose. And go out on a good note this season. Now if we can get our d-line playing consistently well, we might have something. Like I said in a previous post, I think they should continue to keep Mays at ILB and keep Haggan at OLB. It seems like our rush d and pass rushing was great when they did this again KC. Hopefully this game wasn't a fluke or that we had to weeks to prepare is the reason we played so well. I willing to be that it wasn't. Again… I am not looking to win a SB this, just want to see some progress. Go Broncos!!!

  • broncoman24

    That is what I get for not proofreading before posting lol. Is there anyway to edit on here? Thanks!

  • http://broncotalk.net Kyle

    If you register and login with a Disqus account you can edit comments. Although I am considering disabling that ability… a few times people have edited comments after people replied to them, making conversations incomprehensible.

  • broncoman24

    I never felt any of our RBs were the problem, I just felt our o-line was horrible at run-blocking. Not to brag about, but just glad that that was the case. Of course it is just one game. Now lets see if we can run-block as well as we did consistently. I believe if we can, this will change how our offense produces in the future. No I am not talking SB, but at least win more than lose. And go out on a good note this season. Now if we can get our d-line playing consistently well, we might have something. Like I said in a previous post, I think they should continue to keep Mays at ILB and keep Haggan at OLB. It seems like our rush d and pass rushing was great when they did this again KC. Hopefully this game wasn't a fluke or that we had to weeks to prepare is the reason we played so well. I willing to be that it wasn't. Again… I am not looking to win a SB this, just want to see some progress. Go Broncos!!!

  • broncoman24

    That is what I get for not proofreading before posting lol. Is there anyway to edit on here? Thanks!

  • http://broncotalk.net Kyle

    If you register and login with a Disqus account you can edit comments. Although I am considering disabling that ability… a few times people have edited comments after people replied to them, making conversations incomprehensible.