5 Biggest Takeaways from Denver Broncos' Initial Depth Chart

The Denver Broncos players were off on Monday, but the staff was at UCHealth Training Center putting together the team’s first depth chart of training camp.

This team moves into a new era under head coach Gary Kubiak, and the Broncos want to end this season with a Super Bowl championship. They’ve worked diligently this offseason adding talent via free agency, trades and the NFL draft. The team has also been harvesting talent already on the roster with the idea that a few players could play larger roles than they did in previous seasons.

On both sides of the ball, the Broncos have a lot of talent. There may not be a lot of surprises on this first depth chart based on what we’ve seen out at training camp. However, there have already been changes on the depth chart from what we saw at the beginning of camp.

Kubiak advised to not read too much into the initial depth chart.

“I would say not very much," Kubiak said. "I mean, we’ll put one out there, but nobody—I’m sure that there are a few guys on this team that you all know are going to be OK. They’re going to play, but don’t read too much into what’s going on up front or anywhere.”

Kubiak continued: “It’s going to be very competitive. They’re going to win and lose jobs in these preseason games and going against good players. I shouldn’t say lose jobs, but they’re going to win jobs playing against good players. ... We’ll put one out, but like I said, everybody needs to keep their antennas up and keep going.”

Here are the five biggest takeaways from the Broncos' first official depth chart.

Youth Movement on the Offensive Line

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The first depth chart revealed quite a bit of inexperience on the left side of the offensive line. No player is under the spotlight more than second-round pick Ty Sambrailo.

After Ryan Clady went down with a season-ending knee injury in minicamp, the Broncos inserted Sambrailo into the lineup as the first-team left tackle. He’s worked there ever since, so it should come as no surprise that he’s at the top of the depth chart at his position.

Kubiak likes what he’s seen from Sambrailo.

“I think he's doing a hell of a job for as young as he is," Kubiak said. "He has to come a long way. He has to get much better. He's not really going to have a chance to be a rookie for long, you know what I mean? That's tough expectations, but he's handled himself like a pro."

Kubiak continued praising the rookie left tackle: “He's very bright, it's not too big for him and he's a worker, so he's got all those things going for him. He just needs to continue to work against good people.”

Next to Sambrailo is another rookie in left guard Max Garcia. The Broncos added Garcia out of Florida (Maryland transfer) in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL draft, and he was an attractive option because of his versatility. In his two college stops, Garcia started multiple games at every position on the offensive line. He’s strong, has good short-area quickness and can recognize stunts and twists before they happen.

In the middle of the offensive line is a virtual rookie in second-year pro Matt Paradis. A sixth-round pick in the 2014 draft, Paradis spent his rookie season developing on the team’s practice squad. Paradis has good lateral agility, and he does a good job of holding his own at the point of attack.

This is just the initial depth chart, so any of these young players could be replaced if they don’t continue to shine in practice.

Marvin Austin Fourth at Nose Tackle

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The old saying goes, “You can’t make the club in the tub,” and that may be fitting for where Marvin Austin is right now—and where he’s been pretty much ever since training camp started.

At the beginning of camp, Austin had to leave the practice field early. After practice, Kubiak explained that Austin just overheated a bit and needed a break.

Austin returned to the field only to injure his groin. It’s been about a week since he has been able to participate in training camp. If he doesn’t get back out there soon, there’s a chance the Broncos could move in a different direction.

Coming out of North Carolina in 2011, Austin was a second-round pick of the New York Giants. They took him with a premium pick even though Austin missed his entire senior season due to a suspension. During the week of practice for the East-West Shrine Game in 2011, I watched as Austin looked like the most dominant player on the field each day. He used that performance to propel himself back onto the draft radar.

Austin’s time with the Giants was short-lived due to (you guessed it) injury. He bounced to the Miami Dolphins and the Dallas Cowboys, but he failed to stay healthy and make a positive impression.

He was picked up in free agency by the Broncos last year in what ended up being a quality addition. Austin was able to work as a part-time player for the Broncos, and he showed that natural talent he once flashed in college.

Now, it seems like the injury bug has bitten Austin again. The veteran needs time to heal, but he may run out of time to make the final roster if he can’t show well in practice.

Omar Bolden the Top Returner

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The Broncos have been looking for a quality kick/punt returner for quite some time. The team wants a player who can provide field-flipping plays. The Broncos will use special teams and field position to help put their offense in a better place to start drives.

Drafted as a cornerback, the Broncos have moved Omar Bolden to safety, where he works as a reserve player. Bolden is listed as the second-string free safety behind starter Darian Stewart, but he’s atop the depth chart at both kick and punt returner.

Special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis is interested to see what Bolden can do with more opportunity.

“We had the one day of punt return this week in the team setting," DeCamillis said. "He was just catching on the field after practice. He’s progressing. We just have to see what he does in that first game against Seattle. That’s going to be the big telltale sign for him. He’s done a good job so far.”

Bolden should make a strong case for the final roster. Not only can he play safety and contribute as the top punt returner, but Bolden could even be moved to cornerback in an emergency.

That type of versatility could end up saving a roster spot for another player on the team. If Bolden can be the team’s return man, then perhaps a player like UDFA wide receiver Jordan Taylor could find his way to the 53-man roster.

Owen Daniels the Top Tight End

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When the Broncos had to make a move to add a tight end in free agency, it’s no surprise they reached out to veteran Owen Daniels. He’s rarely played a down in the NFL without Kubiak as his head coach or offensive coordinator.

A fourth-round pick in the 2006 NFL draft, Kubiak selected Daniels when he was the head coach of the Houston Texans. After Kubiak was fired by Houston with a few games left in the 2013 season then hired as the offensive coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens, Daniels followed to play under Kubiak in 2014. Now, Daniels and Kubiak are together with the Broncos.

It’s not a shock to see Daniels as the top tight end on the depth chart. He knows this offense like the back of his hand, and Daniels has been guiding other players in this offense during practice.

Some thought Virgil Green would be atop the initial depth chart, but that didn’t happen. Green is an underrated receiver, but he’s developed into a world-class blocker. With so many questions on the offensive line, Green will be asked to stay in and block more than run routes.

Like other players, Green looks to Daniels for guidance.

“I ask him questions a lot," Green said. "He doesn't say it, but I know he probably gets sick of me. Because I'm a guy, if I don't know something, I will ask. I won't hesitate to ask. I know I'm probably getting on his nerves, but he's doing a good job of hiding it.”

Daniels has not played a full 16-game season since 2008, so there’s a chance we could see Green with a larger receiving role. However, at this time, things are moving forward with Daniels as the No. 1 tight end on the depth chart.

Montee Ball the Primary Backup

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There has been some buzz about the backup running back battle going on at UCHealth Training Center. C.J. Anderson is clearly in the lead as the top back for the Broncos, but there is a heated competition behind him on the depth chart.

Right now, Montee Ball is listed as the second-team back with Ronnie Hillman listed as the third-string back and Juwan Thompson as the fourth-string back. Ball entered the 2014 season as the starter, but he wasn’t himself after an appendectomy he had during training camp. A groin injury later in the year ended his season and opened the door for Anderson to eventually showcase his talent as the starter.

Now, Ball is healthy and trying to prove that he should at least be used with Anderson in a running back by committee. So far in camp, he’s had to fight off Hillman for the second-string spot.

Hillman has recently drawn praise from Kubiak for his performance in practice.

“I think the thing I'm most impressed with Ronnie on is I know that when people blitz us, I can leave him on the field," Kubiak said. "He'll pick up a blitz. ... For his size, [he] reminds me of [Ravens RB] Justin [Forsett] a little bit, who I had in Baltimore and I had in Houston. A little bit the same type of player.”

This is the same collection of backs the team had last year in camp. Ball likes this group on the roster.

“It's great," Ball said. "It's the same plays and same coach [running backs coach Eric Studesville], so we have great chemistry cracking jokes at each other. There's healthy competition. We understand that we're fighting for the No. 1 spot. [Running back] C.J. [Anderson] has it, but there is definitely competition back there.”

Ball is more talented than the player he showed last year. He may not be able to beat out Anderson for the top spot, but Ball should be able to hold off Hillman and give the Broncos valuable depth as the second-team back.

All quotes and injury/practice observations obtained firsthand. Record/statistical information provided via the Broncos' media department unless otherwise noted. Advanced stats via ESPN's employees-only database.

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