Ben Garland: Broncos 2015 training camp profile
By Tylor Walden
Jan 20, 2015; Englewood, CO, USA; Denver Broncos offensive guard Ben Garland (63) listens to head coach Gary Kubiak (not pictured) speak to the media at the Broncos training facility. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Ben Garland is one of those players that not a whole lot of individuals outside of Broncos Country know about. Although, to be fair to everyone, he was out of the NFL for two years after being signed as an undrafted free agent to serve his military service. Now having completed it, Ben Garland could be ready to become a starter for the Denver Broncos.
From now until the end of training camp, I will be hosting a series of articles on player profiles on members of the Denver Broncos. The articles will supply basic information on the player in question, how the player can impact the team and how much of a shot the player has at making the final roster. The first segment of this series will feature Ben Garland.
Ben Garland went undrafted in 2010 from the Air Force Academy. He originally signed with the Denver Broncos as a defensive lineman, where he recorded 115 tackles and 11.5 sacks during his time with the Air Force Falcons. During the 2012 season, while on the team’s practice squad, he converted to offensive guard. Now in his second year with the Broncos, Ben Garland looks to make an impact on the offensive line set to protect Peyton Manning.
How can Ben Garland impact the Denver Broncos on the offensive line? Under Gary Kubiak’s new(old) zone blocking scheme offense, Ben Garland can succeed because of his quickness. His intelligence and football I.Q. also provides his impact on the Denver Broncos offensive line. He is quick to the punch and while still raw can be a solid contributor to the offensive line.
I would be surprised if Ben Garland was not the opening day starter for the Denver Broncos when they play the Baltimore Ravens. I think his skill set gives him an edge over Shelley Smith for the starting left guard position. His intelligence, hard work, and determination gives him an edge. Even though he still has quite a bit to learn, I believe that he will be a solid player and could be a candidate to break out for the Broncos in 2015.