Ryan Lilja Brings More Versatility

By Ryan Ebert | Ryan@nflen.com

Wednesday, the Denver Broncos signed a one-year deal with nine-year veteran Ryan Lilja, bringing him out of retirement.  Lilja was with the Colts from 2004-2009 and with the Chiefs from 2010-2012.  While in Indianapolis he held his ground at left guard; in Kansas City he moved to right guard and then shifted to center last year.

Lilja's numbers are better than most people think, even without Peyton Manning behind him.  When he started twelve games for Kansas City he was 14th among 36 centers according to ProFootballFocus.com.  Also he only committed one penalty and allowed just one sack after his transition to center.  Steve Vallos, who was signed when Koppen went down, has three less starts than Lilja and Ramirez never started at the position.  Another interesting tidbit over his career is that he has started 104 games, allowing an average of 0.139 sacks per start, or one every seven games,

With the thirty-one year old lineman playing all inside offensive line positions that brings much needed versatility to the line.  The line now consists of Ryan Clady at left tackle, Zane Beadles at left guard, Ryan Lilja at center, Louis Vasquez at right guard, and Orlando Franklin at right tackle.  Ramirez and Lilja will be fighting for the starting center position throughout the preseason, and veteran Chris Kuper will be competing with Vaquez for the right guard spot as Kuper is currently at the latter end of recovering from his ankle injury suffered last season.  Third-year lineman Philip Blake is capable of playing center and guard as well as C.J. Davis who's in his fourth year and Manny Ramirez who's entering his seventh year.

Now the team can only keep so many lineman.  The usual number of lineman carried throughout the season is eight - the starting lineman and three backups.  I believe the best way to be ready for the backups is to have two versatile players such as Blake and Ramirez, then have offensive tackle Chris Clark be prepared for game-time backing up Clady and Franklin.

Barring anymore injuries and setbacks the Broncos should hold up quite well.  Good starting players and good quality depth are one key to a championship team.  At the end of the season Lilja just might get his second ring!