DENVER --The tenor of questions, social-media discussion and radio chatter this week was more pointed than at any point since Peyton Manning's arrival as Broncos quarterback in March 2012. And no group had to deal with more criticism than the reshuffled offensive line.
All five starters of the unit spoke to the media Thursday. It was unusual, but that reflected the week leading into the Broncos' Sunday afternoon clash with the Miami Dolphins (2:25 p.m. MST, coverage on CBS and the Broncos Radio Network).
Louis Vasquez will be tested at his new tackle spot against Cameron Wake, while DeMarcus Ware will face off with a rookie first-round pick.
After a slow start, Demaryius Thomas has been nothing short of spectacular, starting with his record-setting day in Week 5. A 100-yard game against the Dolphins would tie him with Calvin Johnson for an NFL-record eight consecutive such games. Grimes should be an interesting matchup for the league's hottest receiver, particularly because of the size difference between the two. Grimes' measurements on the Dolphins' website (5-10, 190) may actually be a little generous, as the 31-year-old corner often looks dwarfed by the man opposite him. But that's no reason to doubt him. Grimes brings more competitiveness and feistiness to the position than perhaps anyone else in the league besides the Broncos' own Chris Harris Jr. After allowing a touchdown to Calvin Johnson (who hasn't?) in Week 10, Grimes came back and made a right-handed interception that's among the best plays in the league this season. How Grimes tries to handle Thomas' blend of size and speed will be fascinating.
A guard by trade – and an All Pro at that position last season — Vasquez was moved to right tackle in Week 10 as the coaches look to find the best offensive line configuration to stick with moving forward. "We wanted to do what was going to be best for us for the rest of year and that is what we're trying to do," Adam Gase said Thursday of the O-line shuffling. "We felt that was our best five on the field." "We moved Louis out there and I've not even thought twice about it. I feel really comfortable with him out there." Vasquez's comfort on the outside will be tested this week when he faces Wake, who has one of the fastest bursts off the line of scrimmage of any pass rusher in the NFL. Wake doesn't have a wide repertoire of moves, but his speed rush has been effective enough to pick up nine sacks so far this season. Vasquez will need to be quick to the outside to keep Peyton Manning clean.
Ryan Tannehill has had much improved protection behind a rebuilt offensive line this year, which was anchored by free-agent signee Branden Albert. Unfortunately, Albert was lost for the season to a knee injury against the Lions in Week 10, which has forced James, the team's rookie right tackle, to the left side. The results haven't been pretty thus far, with James and his replacement on the right side, Dallas Thomas, combining to allow two sacks and 18 hits and hurries in his last two games (according to Pro Football Focus). Last Thursday night, the Bills picked up five sacks of Tannehill, the most the Dolphins have allowed in any game this season. Ware had a potentially game-changing strip sack of Shaun Hill last week and will have a good chance to get to Tannehill in this game. If he can exploit James' protection the way he did Joe Staley's in Week 7, the Dolphins' offense could be forced into some turnovers.
Marshall has been a tackling machine lately, picking up 28 in the last two weeks and sitting seventh in the NFL with 88 this year. That ability will be key against Lamar Miller and a strong Miami running game, but Marshall will also have to be very disciplined against the Dolphins' QB. A former wide receiver in college, Tannehill has shown off his mobility on the read-option this year, keeping the ball for runs of 40, 30, 30, 22 and 15 yards in the last six games. New offensive coordinator Bill Lazor brought the Chip Kelly-style of offense to Miami, requiring opposing defenses to remain assignment sound or give up big gains. If Marshall can remain disciplined and read Tannehill's run fakes quickly, the space the Dolphins' offense has to operate will shrink.
With Ronnie Hillman and Montee Ball ruled out for Sunday's game, Anderson will certainly be the lead dog against the Dolphins, with Juwan Thompson as his primary backup. Anderson broke out with a huge performance against the Raiders two weeks ago and despite a slow day on the ground last week (nine carries, 29 yards), he continues to make an impact as a receiver. He has 192 receiving yards on 15 catches in the last three games, including a catch-and-run of at least 21 yards in each game. The pressure will be on Jelani Jenkins, Koa Misi and Phillip Wheeler to rally and tackle well after Anderson gets the ball. Additionally, Anderson will play a key role in pass protection against a defense that likes to send its linebackers and even safeties on blitzes with relative frequency. Jenkins has 2.5 sacks this year, while Misi and safeties Louis Delmas and Reshad Jones have combined for two sacks and four quarterback hits. Anderson will need to identify and pick up blitzes effectively for Peyton Manning to make the defense pay.
No one expected the Broncos' explosive offense to score just seven points in a game, its fewest since Jan. 1, 2012, or to never run a play from inside the St. Louis Rams' 25-yard-line during last week's 22-7 loss.
All five talked, presenting a united front, emphasizing the need for patience in developing cohesion with a personnel grouping first put together in Week 10. But their teammates didn't want to put too much at their feet.
"At the end of the day, they (critics) go, 'Man, the O-line,' but at the end of the day, there's a hole somewhere," said running back C.J. Anderson. "They're not going to have everything perfect, not every time."
Perfection won't happen, but if this unit can locate chemistry, reduce the penalties and prevent pass rushers bursting through the A-gap, the unit should be good enough, and then the Broncos would be back to the title-worthy level they expect.
"Most definitely. There's no doubt at all," said Anderson. "We know we're a good football team, and we know what we can do, and we know that when we bring our A-plus game, every game, we'll give teams hell."
But that must start with a win against Miami. Here are the three keys to making that happen.
1. PROTECT PEYTON MANNING.
Few defenses get more consistent pressure than Miami's. The Dolphins rank sixth in the league in sack rate (one every 13.27 pass plays) and fourth in quarterback-hurry rate, based on ProFootballFocus.com's measurements (one every 2.93 pass plays).
The Dolphins have the across-the-line quality to use the same variety of tactics employed by the Rams last week, from straight-up, one-on-one edge rushes with Cameron Wake and Olivier Vernon against Denver's offensive tackles to stunts and twists designed to steer the edge rushers inside.
How the Broncos protect Manning could depend on personnel, with tight ends Julius Thomas and Virgil Green both questionable with ankle and calf injuries, respectively.
But protecting Manning also involves finding balance and forcing Miami's pass rushers to think about more than attacking the quarterback.
"We want to get balance. We also want to be a team that can run the ball," said Anderson. "When you're running the ball efficiently, it just makes the game that much easier -- especially on (Peyton Manning). It's already dangerous if there's six or seven in the box. We can spring long runs. And then if you decide to bring that eighth man down there for whatever reason, you've got to deal with one of the best quarterbacks ever to play this game throwing over the top to the weapons that we have.
"When we make it that more balanced, it's attack everywhere. That's something we're emphasizing, and what we're trying to do this week."
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- DISRUPT MIAMI'S OFFENSIVE RHYTHM.**
The Dolphins have struggled at generating explosive plays, but are proficient at piecing together long, drawn-out scoring possessions. Fourteen of the last 18 touchdown drives by the offense covered at least 61 yards, and during the Dolphins' 5-2 run, they have 11 touchdown drives of at least 72 yards, including eight of at least 80.
Miami's offensive line has a new combination of its own, caused by Branden Albert's season-ending knee injury in Detroit on Nov. 9. That forced rookie Ja'Wuan James to move to left tackle. This will be James' first start at left tackle, and between a noisy home crowd and the Broncos' front seven, the Broncos would like to force some timing penalties, put the Dolphins in some long-yardage down-and-distance situations and force Miami's offense out of its comfort zone.
3. ESTABLISH THE RUN.
After last week, this was going to be crucial regardless of any other outside factors. But with gusty winds and raw conditions expected at Sports Authority Field, generating offensive balance could be more crucial than at any previous point this season.
Anderson, the expected starter with Ronnie Hillman and Montee Ball ruled out for the game, has 17 touches in each of the last two games. But 12 of them were on receptions, including a team-leading eight for 86 yards last week.
To Anderson, it will be crucial to find yards when holes aren't readily apparent.
"When they don't, you can still make something happen," he said. "We have to find that spot -- wherever that spot is, and be decisive, make that cut, and still make it happen."
And if the Broncos can run, that provides more time for Manning, opens up the play-action game for deep shots to receivers like Demaryius Thomas and Wes Welker, and returns the offense to its expected overall production.
