Jeff Legwold, ESPN Senior Writer 9y

Gary Kubiak offers clean slate, big challenge to Broncos' linemen

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- With the official opening of the Denver Broncos’ offseason program still three weeks away, coach Gary Kubiak can’t say how the team’s offensive line will look, but he can guarantee one thing awaits all those involved.

And that’s a clean slate.

Kubiak said Tuesday at the NFL owners meetings in Phoenix that strengthening the team’s offensive front is still a priority and the returning players from last year’s group will get a fresh start.

Asked Tuesday where things stood in the offensive line at the moment, Kubiak quickly said Ryan Clady is the team’s left tackle, Louis Vasquez is, as expected, going back to right guard where he was a first-team All-Pro in 2013 and that Manny Ramirez could be in the competition at center.

“Obviously our left tackle [Clady], Manny Ramirez and … Vasquez -- those guys have been pretty much staples of what’s going on,’’ Kubiak said to the media at the AFC coaches’ breakfast. “ … I would say those three guys have been anchors in what they’ve been doing and then from there we’re going to have to have a very competitive situation.’’

In early November, as their struggles up front continued to grow, the Broncos moved Vasquez from right guard to right tackle, moved Ramirez from center to right guard, and moved Will Montgomery from a backup role to center. The lineup stayed that way for the remainder of the season, but at times the Broncos simply could not repair their issues in pass protection, particularly in the middle of the formation.

The Broncos also saw their running backs being hit at or behind the line of scrimmage on a third of their carries, and Kubiak said the Broncos will have an eye on the position in the draft and free agency, including Montgomery.

“Obviously we have to get better up front,’’ Kubiak said. “ … But we think a lot of the young guys, we really do.’’

Kubiak has also consistently said with offensive coordinator Rick Dennison and offensive line coach Clancy Barone in teaching roles, the Broncos were fully prepared to toss the younger players on the roster into the developmental mix, but a returning veteran like Chris Clark will start on even ground with the new staff.

“I told Chris, ‘We’re going to let last year go and we’re going to start over,’ and he’s done some good things,’’ Kubiak said. “I think it’s a fresh start for everybody. Obviously we’re not done trying to improve up front … the keys is going to be these young guys we have.’’

While Ramirez has started games at center for the Broncos in the past, including in the Super Bowl season in 2013, Kubiak said he believes Matt Paradis, a 2014 draft pick who spent last season on the practice squad, is an option and Tuesday Kubiak added that Dennison and Barone believe Ben Garland might eventually be a center prospect as well. It would be the third position move for Garland, who started his career with the Broncos in 2010, before his active duty stint in the Air Force, as a defensive lineman before being moved to guard.

Kubiak wants free-agent signee Shelley Smith, who has played guard and center in Kubiak’s offense with the Houston Texans, to concentrate on playing guard. With Vasquez moving back to right guard and Orlando Franklin having left in free agency, the Broncos could give Garland a look at left guard along with Smith and a likely draft pick.

Michael Schofield, a ’14 draft pick who was inactive for every game last season, will get a look at right tackle, as will Clark.

“We like the Schofield kid, too, so we’ll see," Kubiak said. "We think he’s got some flexibility. But those three older guys will continue to go [Clady, Vasquez and Ramirez], but after that it will just be very competitive.’’

Kubiak said he’d like to have things settled by the time the Broncos close out all of their OTA workouts and minicamps by mid-June in order to take a new starting offensive front into training camp.

“We’re going to kind of take it a step at a time and see how much progress we can make this offseason,’’ Kubiak said.

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