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Denver Broncos: 7 players from the past that would improve 2020 team

By Graham Tiedtke

OAKLAND, CA - OCTOBER 4: Randy Gradishar #52 and Larry Riley #26 of the Denver Broncos tackles the runner of the Oakland Raiders during an NFL football game October 4, 1981 at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California. Gradishar played for the Broncos from 1974-83. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - OCTOBER 4: Randy Gradishar #52 and Larry Riley #26 of the Denver Broncos tackles the runner of the Oakland Raiders during an NFL football game October 4, 1981 at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California. Gradishar played for the Broncos from 1974-83. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /
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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – SEPTEMBER 5: Gary Zimmerman #65 of the Denver Broncos warms up before a football game against the New York Jets on September 5, 1996, at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Broncos won 26-20. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – SEPTEMBER 5: Gary Zimmerman #65 of the Denver Broncos warms up before a football game against the New York Jets on September 5, 1996, at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Broncos won 26-20. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

Gary Zimmerman, offensive lineman

Gary Zimmerman was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2008. There is not a lot of film on Zimmerman to go by, so it would have been difficult to form an assessment of him.

However, I reached out to Thomas Hall—who is a Denver Broncos analyst and writer, as well as Mile High Huddle and SINow and host of Convincing Numbers—about former Broncos offensive lineman Gary Zimmerman because Zimmerman played during a time that I was not introduced to football. Heck, I wasn’t even born.

"“The reasons why Gary Zimmerman is in the argument for being in the Top 5 OTs all time: He was incredibly durable. Played through pain and missed very few games to injury. Ironman type status. Players loved playing with him. Quiet leader. Made everyone around him better. He could block anyone with no help. Team never worried about him handling the opposing player lined up on him.  No chipping, no sliding lineman over to help him. He was quick and his footwork was excellent. This was probably the biggest reason for his success. He was a technician on the line. Just flat out incredible technique. For his size, which was a lighter than the maulers at OT, he was incredibly strong.  Surprisingly so. These are the biggest reasons I could think of that made him so great. The combination of all of them is why he was one of the few players on two NFL All decade teams.“ — Thomas Hall"

The Denver Broncos could use a player such as Zimmerman in today’s game. They have a player who has struggled throughout his career at left tackle in Garett Bolles. While Bolles had improved throughout the 2019 season with Mike Munchak coaching him, an upgrade there with Zimmerman would be a lot of fun and very necessary.

If you can improve a position, do it.

The Broncos drafted a player described as nasty in 2019 second-round pick Dalton Risner. It is clear what type of mentality the Broncos want on the offensive line.

Zimmerman would absolutely fit this mold.

— Graham Tiedtke

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