Broncos exploring several options to fill open right guard position
The Broncos know Garett Bolles, Ron Leary (if healthy), Matt Paradis and Jared Veldheer (if healthy) will start at left tackle, left guard, center and right tackle, respectively, against Seattle in September’s season opener.
Unknown is the right guard spot.
During Monday’s organized team activity, Menelik Watson and Connor McGovern rotated with the first-team offense. And Max Garcia, the left guard starter in 2016-17, could make it a three player race in training camp.
Leary (knee soreness) and Veldheer (recovering from last December’s broken foot) haven’t participated in OTAs. Because of Leary’s injury, the Broncos have equal parts been unable to see him at left guard and start their right guard competition.
The Broncos waited until the sixth round to draft guard Sam Jones, a signal they feel their right guard solution was already on the roster.
Garcia, 26, has 37 starts at left guard in his three-year career. McGovern, 25, started the final five games at right guard last year. And Watson, 27, has 24 career starts but none at guard.
Based on their NFL interior line experience, it could be Garcia or McGovern against the Seahawks.
Garcia has the most pro guard experience but has worked at left guard during OTAs because of Leary’s injury, although he said he took snaps at right guard during Tuesday’s practice.
“I’ve just been focusing on myself and focusing on my craft and just getting better,” Garcia said.
McGovern, a left tackle at Missouri in 2015, replaced an injured Leary (back) last year.
“It’s huge,” McGovern said of the opportunity. “It’s nice to have the opportunity to actually have a chance to start.”
Continuity at guard isn’t a requirement for making the playoffs, but it doesn’t hurt the cause.
Last year, the Broncos went 5-11 and started one left guard (Garcia) and two right guards (Leary and McGovern). But among the 12 playoff teams in 2017:
• Three teams started one left guard: New England, Buffalo and Carolina. Pittsburgh and the Los Angeles Rams started the same left guard for the first 15 games before sitting them out of a meaningless finale. Philadelphia and Minnesota started three apiece.
• Six teams started one right guard: New England, Pittsburgh, Tennessee, Philadelphia, the Rams and Atlanta. • Kansas City used four players. The road to stabilization starts in training camp.
If players stay healthy, juggling does not need to happen and educated decisions — not forced ones — can be made after the third preseason game.
The Broncos’ right guard spot opened this offseason when it was floated that Leary would move back to the left guard post he previously held with the Cowboys. And that decision to move Leary over left Garcia without a spot.
“It’s part of the game,” Garcia said. “I felt like I’ve had to overcome some type of adversity every season I’ve played football since high school. I can control only my attitude and focus on my details.”
One detail above all is a part of Garcia’s focus this offseason.
“Definitely pass protection,” he said. “I felt like I got out of position a lot of times and didn’t have my eyes in the right place. I’ve really been working on that, and it’s showed the last few weeks practicing out there.”
Garcia just wants a chance and a fair one, and that means getting practice snaps to make the left-toright transition.
“I don’t think it’s essential for me to be there on Day 1, but I definitely want my fair chance to be a starter,” he said. “I feel I deserve at least a chance and if they don’t like what they see at the end of preseason, I’ll let destiny ride its course.”
McGovern, a fifth-round pick in 2016, did not play as a rookie and spent last offseason and most of training camp as the starting center while Paradis recovered from two hip surgeries. McGovern became a backup player until Leary was shut down in December. He played 418 snaps and was called for three penalties.
“That experience helps with everything — just overall football knowledge and technique,” McGovern said. “It really was valuable how much those last five games meant.”
A wild card would be Watson, but tackle-to-guard transitions aren’t totally uncommon. Just last year, left tackle Luke Joeckel, a former second overall draft pick, left Jacksonville and signed with Seattle to play guard.