When you play the offensive line, anonymity is part of the genetic mix that goes along with the job.
The television announcers and cameras naturally focus on the quarterback and other skill positions, and the defense gets its fair share of attention with sack masters in the line, hard hitting linebackers and ball hawking defensive backs.
Meanwhile, like Old Man River, the offensive line just keeps rolling along, and nobody notices anything until there is a sack or penalty.
We also hear all the time how offensive linemen have to be developed, that it takes two or three years for a draft choice to work his way into the lineup as a productive player.
We know this is true, because that’s how it almost always happens.
The “almost” part is the exception, we have is Ryan Clady.
Not only was the Broncos’ first-round draft choice from Boise State anointed as the starting left tackle on draft day by Head Coach Mike Shanahan, but he has not just performed to the Broncos’ lofty expectations.
He has exceeded them.
Clady is a pure rookie, and he has taken every snap at left tackle for the Broncos this year.
He has not allowed a quarterback sack.
He has picked up just one holding penalty.
The Denver line at this time is on pace to allow the fewest sacks per pass attempt in National Football League history.
Of course, it is a long season with most of it still to come, but that is a sobering reflection of just how good the line and Clady have been.
In addition, while down the last three weeks the offensive stats still are such that one might easily expect the Broncos to finish in the upper echelons of NFL total offense.
Jay Cutler and a bevy of star receivers legitimately get the lion’s share of attention, but let’s not overlook the guys in the trenches, and particularly the rookie at left tackle.
Clady’s position is widely understood as the key point of pass protection for a team with a right handed quarterback, and the Broncos this year celebrated the induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame of left tackle Gary Zimmerman.
The point is, it is a really important position, and the left tackle faces the best pass rushers in the game, week in and week out.
It is understandable that other guys get more attention, but when you think of who the top rookies in the NFL are this year, don’t forget the mild mannered young man from Boise State –who is protecting his quarterback better than any other left tackle in the game.
Tags: Denver Broncos, Ryan Clady
Agreed, Clady you have been outstanding.
I love Cutler too but someone needs to light a fire in him.
I know he has the talent and work ethic, now he needs the hunger to win.
O-line you deserve the love guys. well played.
Now if D would play as well
I can’t argue either with this. Alot of the talent we have goes unnoticed till something negative happens and that’s how we remember that player when we should focus on how well he’s done his job. Clady has been a great addition to this team, a genius move by Shanny – shocking I know!!
And its only natural, especially here (or there) in the Mile High City that we all put most of our attention on Cutler or any QB that comes through here. We had JOHN ELWAY as our QB for 16 years, he’s a living legend, he’s a Hall of Famer, how can any Bronco fan not be drawn to watching how any QB performs like #7 did from the moment he retired and on. That position especially to this team is crucial to our game and how we play it. But out the 3 we’ve had so far post-Elway, Cutler stands out more than anyone else. Griese… well snore zzzzzzzzz, and Plummer did much better but there was something about him that just didn’t click with me. Towards the end, when we had Cutler but we wasn’t getting any playing time, Plummer to me started playing like we wanted to get traded, that’s not the kind of QB I want for this team. I want someone just like Cutler who knows he’s good, hopefully he won’t get too cocky.
And we all know there will NEVER EVER EVER be another John Elway but Cutler comes thisclose to resembling him. He’s his own type of QB and that’s a good thing that he’s not an exact replica of #7. Don’t ask me questions on that.
So obviously I just proved the point that really talented players like Clady get overlooked real easily. I hope he’s with this team for a long time… he’s done a GREAT job.
Oh and I do believe Cutler has fire in him that’s why he’s trying a little too hard. He’s pushing and rushing himself when he doesn’t need to or have to. I believe individually they all have the hunger to win but the key to that door is working as a team. If they can grasp that, they’ll have all the W’s a team could possibly imagine.
GO BRONCOS!!!!!!!!!
I just read on NFL.com that Washington Redskins are trying to replace (due to injuries) Ledell Betts with Ex-MVP S. Alexander. That would be ok but how about this.
We should trade A. HAll to Redskins for the 2nd stream DE, Chris Wilson and 2nd Stream CB, Fred Smoot.
R. Torrain is coming back and we currently have Pittman, Young, Hillis. And of CBs and Safetys, well you already know how much help we need there.
What you guys think?????
I think we should move Josh Barret up from the practice squad and get him some PT. then, in the draft, we should try and get Taylor Mays from USC, because that would be a beasty duo of safties.
But about Clady, I am from Boise and i have friends who play for BSU, and i just remember saying to myself that clady was a big fish in a small pond over there. lol But to say he didn’t have much competition in college is wrong. They played Oklahoma, and won, Oregon state, and won, Oregon, and won, so we should have all seen this coming.
Thanks to Ryan and the rest of the unsung members of the broncos. You make the Broncos the best they can be, with out you they would never achieve the success they are capable of Thanks
Ive been saying this all along this year. I think Clady was as good a steal in the draft as Royal was. Keep up the good work. After monday, we’ll be 5-2.
i agreee with u both delux304 and masturch33f….we need DB help…
especially ur idea masturch33f….i’ve seen Mays out of USC and that guy is a machine…pair him up with Barrett and they’ll hawke the ball hit what ever/whoever is carrying it..lol….
Clady is awesome…no doubt….Ryan Harris as well…
Funny how the experts said he wasnt ready to start at left tackle. That we should turn him around and play right tackle. Ryan I am so pumped your on our team for many years to come.(Hopefully) …
delux304 and masturch33f, I agree with both of you. We have a lot of horses in the stable and should try and get some value for them. Torain is coming back soon and I think he is going to turn a lot of heads. Also are safties are not cutting it so why not give some reps to the kid. Just my opinion……
I’ve been waiting for Barrett to get his chance. But in all honesty, the coaches are smarter than any of us on these boards think we are. (i know they’re smarter than me. I thought Alex Smith was going to be the next great QB). Maybe Barrett just isn’t ready yet. When his time comes, he’ll be a beast like he was in 06 @ Arizona St.
want db help try not getting rid of lynch and foxworth
Lynch couldn’t cover anyone to save his life. I am just glad he was around in the offseason for Barrett to pick his brain for a few months.
Clady will PROVE to be the single BEST draftpick EVER by Broncos . Secondly, he will be THE greatest Left OT in history of the franchise. He might be in the top 3 in the NFL right now. Remember what the scouts said about him…He’s good with the pass, but not so much on the run D in college. But, they said he was the 2nd best draftpick behind Long, but had the greatest upside of any OL in the draft. We’ll they were almost right…he’s hand down the cream of the crop and thanks to shanahan and staff for seeing his value, even after the Foster debacle. Way to go with your gut Mike!
I agree that we should promote Barrett to safety and Larsen to 2nd string behind Webster, but start giving him some actual game reps. BTW…please put Hillis back where he belongs. He’s bigger, faster, more agile, and more of a threat than Larsen, and Larsen is NOT a FB. He’s a MLB!
CLADY IM FROM RIALTO THROW A COMING BACK EVENT WHEN YOU GET HOME AND LET ME KNOW WHERE ITS AT MAYBE THE CARL JOHNSON CENTER THE NFL BEST PLAYERS ON THE BRONCS #1 DRAFT PICK
I was worried about picking Clady in the draft, he sounded so much like George Foster. I’m glad I was wrong! He deserves consideration for rookie of the year if he keeps playing like a Pro bowl veteran. He should get some votes there too. Let’s not forget R. Harris , for all intent purposes this is his rookie season also. It’s great to watch the best o-line in the NFL every weekend playing for the Denver Broncos. Time for the rest of the team to raise thier level of play to that of the o-line. Salute! Go Broncos!
Clady, much like Zim before him and Randall McDaniel is one of the few offensive linemen that you can christen a surefire Hall of Famer. He’s excellent and already is the best member of an oustanding O-line. The Broncos will be 5-2 after smacking the Pats! Nice job, Saccomano on giving the offensive line some love!
Mr. Saccomano,
It’s good to hear some posetive reinforcement for the TEAM. R.Clady has proven to be a great Prospect in the BRONCOS organization I wish him the best, but what Olineman has ever gotten Rookie of the year honors?
Ryan you could be Great, protect your body, feed your mind, and make good choices in life and good things will come to you. GOD BLESS. i hope your here a long time…..
WHERE CAN I GET AN R.CLADY JERSEY!!!!!!!!!!!!
GO BRONCOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I agree with bailythebronco if you want db help you shouldn’t of gotten rid of Foxworth and Lynch. I know Lynch was having trouble in coverage but hay he could of helped out a defense that CAN’T STOP THE RUN.
Joe Thomas made the pro-bowl as a rook, and I don’t see why Ryan Clady can’t….he’s held down the left side all season so far and shut down some of the games best pass rushers. Derrick Burgess, Gaines Adams, and Charles Grant….I think he is an elite LT and he should be on that pro-bowl roster for sure….go vote for our weoples people!
Hey Bronco Country,
One quick thought on Fox & Lynch. I don’t think that we wanted to lose Lynch. My gut is John wanted to be the goto guy and the coaching staff knew he wasn’t the same during passing situations. Actually, I bet the coaching staff wanted what we did. Use him on stopping the run but get him out of there in passing situations.
Oh by the way, YES we’ll be 5 – 2 after Monday night.
GO GET EM’ BOYS!
Go broncos!!!!!
bronco-blaze you said that I was ridiculous,
broncos20 you said that I was hatin on Marshall,
Brandon Marshall today (Vows to change style in light of fumbles,) WOW!
cant wait to see both ryans on the field at the same time . this is a great young team mike has formed. jay needs to stay aggresive look deep everytime you get the chance. let jay play he will always make a mistake because he feels like theirs not athrow he cant make. thanks ryan for protecting our fransise for years to come . go broncos.
I remember starting to play football, it was instilled in me that each rb was only going to be as good as the line in front of him. It is as much true as the grass is green. NOW NO SMART CRACKS AT BSU’S FIELD BEING BLUE! Because I said grass, and that’s turf!
Any way I loved the pick of Clady, and was outraged in each mock draft that didn’t have us taking him! I think why the line never gets much love, is because if it was all over the place as to how important those positions were then those would be the highest paid players in the nfl, and who could afford a good line then? 1 over priced “specialty player” is enough for a team, imagine 5 linemen knowing they deserved 100 million dollar contracts. Well let me rephrase that, they know they deserve it, but they don’t ask for it. Probably the most humble guys on the field! Give it up for the o line of the future!
great article! Clady has been great!
As a former lineman in high school i love watching the big guys play on Sundays. I was so excited when the Broncos drafted Clady and knew he would do as good as predicted.
Ryan Clady? Best first round draft pick since Jay Cutler.. i mean considerin jarvis moss was highly recruited nd supposed to be a powerhouse de buh is only having a mediocre career thus far. (to say the least). I mean i did have my doubts about shanahan using tht high of a draft pick on an o-line. i mean in my opinion are defense is far away frm bein great nd about a hair shy of being terrible so i thought it would be in our best interest to go after a linebacker like saayyyy Jerod Mayo. but hey once again shanahan shows tht he knows wuh he is doin wen it comes to draft day. i mean this guy clady is a monster. nd he is an amazing asset to the denver bronco o-line. I mean lets be serious jay has only been sacked twice this whole year. includin the preseason. Im very happy about this pick nd excited about the career clady will have. Stay Healthy nd lets win some jewelry!! Go broncs
SACC R U 2 IMBERRASSED TO POST!
Clady is AWESOME – great addition to the team.
I was waiting for your post this week, but does not look like you will do one. Question I have is, what’s up with the groin injuries? The injury report as of the 20th listed 17 injured, seven of which are groin. This is certainly not my area of knowledge, but does anyone else see a trend? Is the organization reviewing the training procedures? Maybe backing off of something just a bit will help prevent future groin injuries.
Looking forward to a HEALTHY second half of the season! GO BRONCOS.
I think I need more long comments from you before I am going to just end with your little scavenger hunt. I’m starting to enjoy putting this together…..
You think maybe we could take a “look behind the scenes” together some time? Whether it’s a movie or a football game? Maybe just a closed door room huh?
I believe it would be our “DOOM” to not to!