Left guard Zane Beadles and the rest of his colleagues on the Denver Broncos’ offensive line deserve a great deal of credit for the Broncos’ 4-game win streak (Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE).

Let’s heap some praise, shall we?

Start with Peyton Manning, who has been every bit of the future Hall-of-Famer that flipped the script on the Denver Broncos‘ 2012 season back in March.

Move to the other side of the ball and give some to the defense.  For having its seventh coordinator in as many years, this Broncos’ defense is leading the NFL with 31 sacks and tied for second in the league with 4 turnovers returned for touchdowns.  Contrast that to 2010 when the Broncos had 1 fumble return for a score and 23 sacks the entire season.

Certainly give credit as well to rejuvenated special teams play.  With the addition of the slippery Trindon Holliday, the Broncos have as many returns in two weeks as they did all of last year.

But please do not neglect to honor the fantastic play of the offensive line this year.  Manning’s success has hinged on this group’s stonewall performance.

It’s sort of a tired argument to question the health of Manning’s neck.  I’ll admit though, every time he is under pressure I find myself silently pleading with opposing defenses, “DON’T HURT PEYTON MANNING!!!”  He’s fine and Broncos fans are delightfully tantalized each time he shuffles out of the pocket.  Still, he’s a far cry from a running quarterback and because of that the Broncos’ offensive line was and is going to be the quiet key to Manning’s success.

Oh, do the numbers ever bear that out…and in order to give them proper credit, I’ll name each one of them so they aren’t caught in some generic amalgamation.  Ryan Clady, Zane Beadles, Dan Koppen, Manny Ramirez/Chris Kuper, and Orlando Franklin have been playing fantastic football

First of all, Manning has been hit a league-low 24 times through 9 games.  That’s right, opposing defenses are laying a hand on Manning less than three times per game.  To put that in perspective, there are nine o-lines that have allowed 24 or more sacks.  Speaking of sacks, Manning has been sacked all of 11 times in 9 games.  That is tied with the Houston Texans for the fewest in the league.  Sure, much of that has to do with the fact that Manning knows where his receivers will be and when they will be there, but it all starts with the offensive line.  When you give Manning time he is able to have the highest quarterback rating (108.0) among all quarterbacks.

There are multiple factors that are contributing to Manning remaining upright, so to go deeper into the success of this group of linemen, simply look to their discipline.  In nine games, the offensive line has been penalized for false starts just 6 times, making them the second best in the league in that category.  What about offensive holding, the other common misdemeanor for a lineman?  Clady has been dinged three times, but otherwise only Ramirez and Koppen have been called for the foul just one time each.

For a position that is so traditionally unheralded, it’s time to start singing the praises of the Denver Broncos’ offensive line.

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Orlando Franklin lifts Eric Decker in the air after a score against the Chiefs. (Charlie Riedel/AP Photo)

The offensive line in football is arguably the most under appreciated position in sports. All they do is block, right? Wrong.

The Denver Broncos offensive line has been as important to the team as their quarterback, running back, and defense have been. They don’t get the accolades that they deserve when the orange and blue make it into the painted area, and they are rarely given credit for the team winning their last four games.

Against the Chargers, they allowed just one sack, and they helped the team to 208 yards on the ground. In their past four wins, they’ve given up just four sacks and the rushing game is averaging 219.0 yards per game.

Tim Tebow knows that the O-line is vital to his success.

“The offensive line is doing a great job,” Tebow said. “Sometimes they’ve probably got to play a little bit slower because of the option threats to both sides so it’s tough to necessarily get up field extremely fast.”

Just as is the case with Tebow, Willis McGahee is having a career year because of the team’s line. He’s averaging 77.5 yards per game and he had 117 yards on 23 carries against San Diego.

Offensive linemen typically like to block run plays better than pass plays because they can move forward rather than just holding their stance. However, when the team has blocked pass plays, they have done a tremendous job. Tebow has all the time in the world in the pocket and they’ve helped him achieve a statistic that shows why the Broncos are able to put themselves in a position to win at the end week in and week out. The team has just one turnover (a McGahee fumble) in their last four wins.

“He’s been protecting the ball very well, not turning it over, and that always gives you a chance,” John Fox said of Tebow’s play.

While the reporters circle Tebow and Von Miller in the locker room, and national television covers the “sexy” positions on the field, let us tip our predominantly orange hats and give the Mile High Salute to the O-line.

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With one of their two picks in the second round, the Denver Broncos selected a defensive tackle, Orlando Franklin. While Franklin is in fact an offensive tackle going to a team with what is seen now as a desperate need at DT, I personally like the pick. At 6’6″ 315, I have no problem describing this guy as a tree with feet. He’s huge and although labeled a guard in college Franklin played all 13 games last season as the left tackle for the Hurricanes. He is projected to play opposite Ryan Clady as a tackle in the NFL. (more…)