Broncos lineman Orlando Franklin (74). (The Denver Post)
Today's question about the Broncos comes from Anthony Marshall in Atlanta:
Q: I've read the Broncos were considering moving Orlando Franklin inside to guard. Who would he replace, Chris Kuper or Zane Beadles? In my fantasy world, my wish would be the Broncos could select D.J. Fluker and insert him at right tackle. As much as the passing game progressed this past season, the Broncos run game regressed badly.
A: Anthony, the Broncos will address some things on the offensive line this offseason because they want to protect Peyton Manning better when they open up the formation ? their preferred set in a three-wide receiver look.
And Denver's needs to run the ball far better.
As much attention as the passing game gets these days, the Ravens wouldn't have gotten the ball back late in a playoff victory over the Broncos had Denver been able to grind the clock with better efficiency in the run game and play-action passing game.
The Broncos also have two starters ? center J.D. Walton and right guard Chris Kuper ? coming off lower leg surgeries. Kuper's long-term ability to stay on the field is at least a bit of a question given the severity of his ankle injury in the 2011 regular-season finale and the multiple surgical procedures he's had since, including following the 2012 season.
They will again look at moving Orlando Franklin to guard. He started 25 games at the University of Miami at left guard and lined up at right guard sparingly in last summer's training camp. Many personnel folks have always felt guard would be his more natural position. But to move him the Broncos would need a better option at right tackle.
Initially, if they did it as soon as offseason workouts, it would likely be in place of Kuper, depending on Kuper's recovery from his most recent surgery.
Fluker, who was one of two juniors allowed to participate in the Senior Bowl this year because he already had his degree, is a massive power player. He started 36 games at right tackle for Alabama and consistently overwhelmed defenders in the run game and routinely handled the bull rush in pass protection.
He measured in at 6-feet-4 7/8 at the Senior Bowl ? he was listed at 6-6 throughout his career with the Crimson Tide ? and weighed 355 pounds. Many teams have him as the top, or second-rated, right tackle on the board. But some also believe he could play some guard.
His dilemma as an NFL lineman will be handling the speed rushers on the outside. Especially those rushers who have top-shelf secondary moves ? moves they go to when the initial move doesn't work.
Fluker routinely stone-walls a rusher's first move, especially those who attack him head on, but he does lose the more athletic rushers at times who have the ability to counter. Scouts call this getting beat "across the chest" and it's a potential problem against some of the more active pass rushers on the defensive left, like the Broncos' Von Miller.
Warford's status is going to rise as the draft gets closer and teams' personnel directors continue to break down the information they have on him. He's a classic example of a quality pro prospect who was camouflaged to many on a bad team - the Wildcats were 2-10 this season. But Warford, at 6-3 ?, 333 pounds, dominated at the Senior Bowl practices, even against some of the draft's best defensive tackles like Georgia's John Jenkins and Missouri's Sheldon Richardson.
The Lions staff, which coached the South team at the Senior Bowl, even tweaked Warford's footwork in pass protection a bit and the results were almost immediate so he showed he's a quick learner and can turn direction into action. He may not be there by the time the Broncos pick in the second round next April, depending how things fall at the position, but if he is, he's worth a long look.
Broncos coach John Fox likes power players up front and both Fluker and Warford fit that mold, but the team, with first-year offensive coordinator Adam Gase, has promised to speed up their no-huddle attack.
So, the Broncos are going to need guys up front with some movement skills and who can protect the passer in formations with three, four or five players in the pass pattern. That takes some footwork and Fluker and Warford would have to show they have those skills.
Jeff Legwold: jlegwold@denverpost.com or twitter.com/jeff_legwold
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