John Fox

08/08/2013 12:01:00 AM MDT

With little argument, and zero choice now that linebacker Von Miller is facing a four-game suspension, quarterback Peyton Manning would have to be considered the Broncos’ most indispensable player.

Yet, in recent days the blockers responsible for protecting Manning have gone Abbott and Costello with their alignment.

Who’s at left tackle? What’s with Ryan Lilja going from living room sofa to playing center, right guard and left guard in his first three days of practice? Oh, and by the way, the Broncos’ first-team offense will line up for a series or two Thursday night against Aldon Smith and the defending NFC champion San Francisco 49ers in the teams’ preseason opener at soon-to-be demolished Candlestick Park.

So long as it’s Candlestick and not Manning.

“Hey, I like that it turned out where we’re having guys playing different positions,” said Broncos coach John Fox. “If we weren’t forced to do it, we might do it. It’s a blessing. You can get too comfortable. Doing this, you don’t get comfortable.”

As of early June, here’s the way the Broncos hoped to set their offensive line, left tackle to right tackle, for their Sept. 5 season opener against the defending Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens: Ryan Clady, Zane Beadles, J.D. Walton, Louis Vasquez, Orlando Franklin.

Here’s how the Broncos lined up at practice Monday: Chris Clark, Beadles, Manny Ramirez, Lilja, Vasquez.

Here’s how they lined up Tuesday: Beadles, Lilja, Ramirez, Vasquez, Clark.

It’s a wonder Manning, a noted comedy skit performer, didn’t look at the guys in front of him and shout, “Hey, ABB-OTT!”

Seriously, the injuries to the Broncos’ offensive line haven’t been funny. Walton suffered an infection that set back his recovery from ankle surgery. His replacement at center, Dan Koppen, suffered a season-ending knee injury early in training camp. That caused front- office boss John Elway to ask Manning if he would place a call to Lilja, who retired after last season.

“It happened quick,” Lilja said. “I came here to try to compete for the center position. And that’s all I knew. Obviously as an offensive lineman, you have to be able to play at least two positions. That’s why you see guards going out to tackles, you see centers moving to guard.”

Besides the run of injuries at center, the Broncos found themselves in a crisis at tackle this week. Clady has missed the entire offseason to recover from right shoulder surgery. Franklin went down Monday with a hip injury.

Franklin’s injury served as a fallen domino. Clark, who had been playing left tackle throughout the offseason and training camp, switched to right tackle. Beadles, a Pro Bowler at left guard last season, moved to left tackle for the first time since college. Lilja has been at all three points in the middle of the line this week.

This is about more than asking one blocker to play a different position. NFL offensive lines are trained to work in unison. It’s five guys forming a wall in pass protection; five guys moving in one direction on a run play.

“It’s a little bit of a challenge that way,” Beadles said. “But the good thing is we’ve got guys who played a lot of football and we’ve got smart guys. And when you have that combination, it makes it easier to jell quicker.”

Franklin wasn’t seriously hurt. He is expected to start at right tackle against the 49ers, which brings a greater degree of normalcy to the offensive line. If Franklin can go at right tackle, it would allow for Clark to go back to left tackle, Beadles to left guard, Vasquez to right guard and Ramirez trying to fend off Lilja at center.

from: http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_23818558/john-fox-likes-having-guys-playing-different-positions

———————————————————————————————————

John Fox was born on February 8th, 1955 (time of birth unknown) in Virginia Beach, Virginia according to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Fox_(American_football)

February 8th, 1955

2 + 8 +1+9+5+5 = 30 = his life lesson = Having a lot to be thankful for. Living a life of luxury.

Four of Wands Tarot card

———————————————————————————————————

February 8th, 1955

February 8th

2 + 8 +2+0+1+3 = 16 = Shocks. Surprises. Stunning. Unpredictable. Expect the unexpected. Shocking revelations.

The Tower Tarot card

16 year + 10 (October) = 26 = his personal month (from October 8th, 2013 to November 7th, 2013) = Fans. Photos. E-mails. Messages. Reporters. Media attention. In the news. Making headlines. In the spotlight.

———————————————————————————————————

using the number/letter grid:

1      2    3       4       5       6     7    8     9
A      B   C      D      E       F      G     H      I
J   K    L      M      N     O   P    Q R
S     T      U      V     W     X      Y    Z

Where:

A = 1 J = 1 S = 1

B = 2 K = 2 T = 2

C = 3 L = 3 U = 3

D = 4 M = 4 V = 4

E = 5 N = 5 W = 5

F = 6 O = 6 X = 6

G = 7 P = 7 Y = 7

H = 8 Q = 8 Z = 8

I = 9 R = 9

John Fox

1685 666 38