Fact or Fiction for Denver Broncos' Biggest Offseason Question Marks

The Denver Broncos are still in a Super Bowl window in 2015, but things haven’t been easy this year. They have had an offseason filled with an almost complete overhaul of the coaching staff, salary-cap constraints, injury to key players and there’s a potential contract holdout coming up with one of their superstars.

There are several issues up in the air right now, and we may not get answers until we’re nearly through training camp.

Let’s examine the biggest offseason question marks for the Broncos and determine whether or not they’re fact or fiction.

FACT: The Offensive Line Is a Work in Progress

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The Broncos offensive line has question marks at almost every position. Only right guard Louis Vasquez can be considered a “lock” to start at his position.

At right tackle, we should see veteran Chris Clark as the starter. Last year, Clark began the season as the starter at that spot, but he was ineffective and soon replaced. This season, the Broncos are hoping that a move to the zone-blocking system will help Clark perform at a higher level. If Clark struggles, the team could always turn to veteran Ryan Harris as the starting right tackle.

Earlier this year, the Broncos traded with the Baltimore Ravens to acquire center Gino Gradkowski. He started every game at center for the Ravens in 2013, but Gradkowski lost his job last year and barely played. He’s not a sure thing to win the starting job, as he’ll have to beat out second-year pro Matt Paradis in training camp.

Last year’s starting left guard, Orlando Franklin, left the Broncos in free agency so he could play for the San Diego Chargers. Denver added veteran Shelley Smith in free agency earlier this year, and his experience working under head coach Gary Kubiak (from their days together with the Houston Texans) was supposed to make him likely to start at left guard. However, Ben Garland has been working with the first-team offense and will enter training camp above Smith on the depth chart.

Left tackle was supposed to be locked down by All-Pro Ryan Clady. However, a minicamp knee injury knocked Clady out for the season earlier this year. The Broncos were left scrambling, but it didn’t take them long to plug rookie Ty Sambrailo into Clady’s spot.

Sambrailo was selected in the second round of the 2015 NFL draft with the idea that he could compete to start at right tackle. He played left tackle for most of his career at Colorado State, and he worked in a zone-blocking system. Now, Sambrailo is tasked with protecting Peyton Manning’s blind side.

This offensive line needs to come together quickly if the Broncos want to avoid early-season struggles in 2015.

FICTION: Ty Sambrailo Is Not Ready to Be Left Tackle

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There are some Broncos fans out there who think the team is in serious trouble at left tackle this season. Ryan Clady went down with a season-ending knee injury earlier this year in minicamp. Sure, plugging in a rookie at left tackle is a concern, but the Broncos seem to feel that Ty Sambrailo is ready for that responsibility.

Sambrailo has the athleticism to mirror pass-rushers on the edge. He does a good job of getting off the line of scrimmage quickly and sets up with a wide base. Sambrailo has a swift initial kick step after the snap, and he keeps his hands at the ready to shield his quarterback from defenders.

The rookie from Colorado State plays with a nasty disposition, and this helps him as a run-blocker. He loves to block his man to the echo of the whistle, and Sambrailo has a mean streak that just doesn’t quit.

In the zone-blocking system, offensive linemen need to be able to execute combo blocks, and Sambrailo has no problem doing just that. He can get to the second level of the defense when asked, and he’s got the athleticism to be a “sticky blocker” on opposing linebackers.

The biggest concern with Sambrailo is his ability to counter secondary (mostly inside) moves from pass-rushers. He understands the footwork required in the zone-blocking system, having started most of his career in college at left tackle.

Sambrailo has been thrown into the fire. Some fans may not have liked the pick, and those fans are now panicking about Sambrailo at left tackle.

The Broncos had no problem putting the rookie into the left tackle spot almost immediately after it was determined that Clady was out for the season. He’ll need to prove himself in training camp and the preseason, but the Broncos seem to have little doubt about Sambrailo’s readiness.

FACT: Owen Daniels Is the Top Tight End

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Earlier this year, the Broncos decided to let tight end Julius Thomas test the waters in free agency. Thomas broke out in the 2013 season, but his price tag on the open market was too rich for the Broncos' budget. With salary-cap restraints, the Broncos had to go out and find bargain-priced veterans to fill roster spots.

Owen Daniels was brought on board to replace Thomas in the lineup as the top tight end.

There haven’t been too many games where Daniels has not played under Gary Kubiak during his time in the NFL. Daniels was originally drafted in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL draft by the Kubiak-led Houston Texans. When Kubiak was fired and moved on to be the offensive coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens in 2014, Daniels followed him to the East Coast. Now, Daniels has followed Kubiak once again.

Daniels knows the offense like the back of his hand, and he can almost be like a coach on the field for the players in the passing game learning the new offense. A sure-handed target, Daniels is sure to become a favorite of Peyton Manning this season.

He’s the lead tight end and Virgil Green is the secondary (blocking) tight end.

Under Kubiak, we should see the Broncos use two-tight end sets early and often. Daniels is not a seam-ripper, but he can create mismatches with linebackers at the second level. His ability to get open and move the chains regularly is a great asset for this offense.

Green is an underrated receiver, but with so many questions on the offensive line, his blocking prowess is much-needed up front. Daniels can work out of the slot as the primary pass-catcher in this tight end duo.

Fiction: Peyton Manning Will Struggle in Gary Kubiak's Offense

Jack Dempsey/Associated Press

Perhaps the biggest question on the minds of Broncos fans has to do with Peyton Manning fitting into Gary Kubiak’s system. Manning has worked primarily out of the shotgun formation since signing with Denver in 2012. Kubiak’s offense usually has the quarterback operate from under center. In addition, quarterbacks under Kubiak are asked to bootleg at times and throw on the run to execute play-action passes properly.

So which system wins out? The answer is simple; both of them.

Manning is healthy now after a late-season quad injury caused him to look hobbled last year. He may not be a scrambler, but Manning can drop back from under center with proper quickness and footwork.

The team may not ask him to roll outside of the tackles that often this year, but Manning could easily have a shorter rollout to the tackles before he passes. Instead of working out of the shotgun or under center, we might see a happy medium—the pistol formation.

Instead of being seven yards back like in a shotgun, the pistol formation stands the quarterback about four yards back from the center. Instead of a running back lining up next to the quarterback, the running back lines up behind the quarterback in the pistol. This still allows the quarterback to play-action fake in order to open things up in the passing game.

Manning might have the best handoff fake of any quarterback in the history of the NFL. With the Broncos sure to have a strong rushing attack, Manning will be able to toy with defenses that try to creep closer to the line of scrimmage.

Kubiak and Manning are two of the best professionals in the game today. It’s foolish to think they won’t be able to work something out that is mutually beneficial.

FACT: There Will Be Competition in the Backfield

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Last year, the Broncos discovered they had a star in running back C.J. Anderson. An undrafted free agent in 2013, Anderson had to wait for his opportunity to showcase his talent. He began last season as a reserve runner—he was even inactive for a game early in 2014—but after both Montee Ball and Ronnie Hillman went down with injuries, Anderson was able to thrive.

Anderson didn’t only thrive—he excelled as the starter for the Broncos. Over the final six weeks of the 2014 season, Anderson led the NFL in rushing yards. He also finished third in all-purpose yards (rushing and receiving) during that time. Anderson proved that he could not only be an effective starter, but also that he didn’t need to come off the field often due to his all-purpose skill set.

This season, Anderson enters training camp as the starting running back for the Broncos—but he will be challenged for that spot.

Ball was the starter last year in training camp and at the start of the 2014 regular season. An appendectomy in training camp last year sapped him of his true ability to start the season. Ball then went down with a groin injury in Week 5 against the Arizona Cardinals, and that pretty much ended his season.

This offseason, Ball is back at full strength and shows great energy on the field as he tries to win his job back. Ball is familiar with the zone-blocking system from his days in college at Wisconsin, and he can be an effective rusher in this scheme. He’s not as powerful as Anderson, but Ball’s fresh legs could make him worthy competition in camp.

At OTAs and minicamp, Anderson has stood out with his play on the field and his new physique. Gone is the bad weight that made former OC Adam Gase describe Anderson as “chubby” last year. Instead, Anderson has a stronger upper body and a trimmer waist. He still has his powerful lower body, low center of gravity and elusiveness in tight spaces.

The battle between Anderson and Ball will be one of the most hotly contested competitions in training camp. The Broncos will find the best starter through the dog days of August.

All quotes and injury/practice observations obtained firsthand. Record/statistical information provided via the Broncos' media department unless otherwise noted.

Contract and salary-cap information provided by Spotrac. Transaction history provided by Pro Sports Transactions.