Shanahan and I Share a Brain – Clady to Start from Day One

Great news from Denver Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan – first round choice OT Ryan Clady has already locked up the left tackle position. It’s his to lose.

“He’ll start at left offensive tackle the day he comes in,” Mike Shanahan said Saturday. “Pretty simple, wasn’t it?”

“The thing that impresses you is his feet.  I haven’t been around a tackle that has that type of feet. . . . He’s got excellent, excellent feet. You don’t find that very often.”

Atypical for the Denver Broncos offense – usually, drafted offensive linemen sit the bench a year to learn the nuances of the zone blocking system. I’ve said many times though that if the Broncos take Clady, he could break the mold because of his experience in a zone blocking system, and his terrific footwork.

What does this mean for incumbent linemen Chris Kuper, Ryan Harris, and Erik Pears?

“We are going to have some competition with guys like Ryan Harris, who can play either way.  Ryan might be on the other side competing with Erik and Kuper.”

Shanahan said that Clady was the Broncos second rated tackle behind Jake Long, and that he expected the Boise State product to be selected between 5 and 8.

“It’s hard to get people in the later rounds and expect them to come in and play. Every once in a while you get lucky . . . but to get a guy like this, who we had as the top tackle after Long, we felt pretty lucky he was there.”

So do I, Shanny. So do I.

• Video: Shanahan’s Presser after Clady Pick [DenverBroncos.com]