Finding Broncos: Two Versatile Offensive Linemen to Bolster Depth
The Denver Broncos have made a significant effort to bolster their offensive line, which has been one of the weaker units across the league going back as far as 2014. With a lack of investment in quality depth players throughout the draft, Denver’s offensive line has been one injury away from being an abject disaster, if it already wasn’t one heading in the season. Position and scheme versatility is incredibly valuable in the trenches, especially in the case of injury.
Cody Mauch | OL | North Dakota State
Pros:
- Plays with reckless abandonment and disdain for human life.
- Former tight end that moved to tackle, showing incredible amounts of athleticism.
- Incredibly physical, looking to punish defenders, especially out in open space.
- A powerful player that finishes a lot of plays driving defenders to the turf.
- Smooth, quick feet in the kick slide with a solid base after contact.
- He moves incredibly well, easily climbing to the second level and pulling and extending on screen plays.
- He passes off and receives defenders well as a pass protector on stunts and blitzes.
- Mirrors well with plus-level athleticism going around the arc.
- Contact balance in pass protection is a plus.
- He showed well playing guard at the Senior Bowl
- Loads of experience at left tackle in college.
Cons:
- That reckless abandonment can get him in trouble in space as he misses defenders often.
- Wall-and-stall blocker that needs refinement with his hand placement, especially in the running game.
- He lacks the arm length desired for a tackle at the next level.
- Will likely get flagged for holding at the next level fairly frequently.
- Initial punch strength is lacking, but the power to finish makes it a minimal concern.
- Footwork in pass protection is sloppy at times.
- Allows defenders into his chest plate due to lesser active hands and lack of length.
- He will be moved inside in the NFL, where he has played only 16 snaps in college.
Overview:
Cody Mauch is a hyperactive athlete for the position that moves incredibly well. With light and smooth feet, Mauch can get quality depth as a pass protector and easily get to the second level in the running game. A thinner player with short arms, Mauch will probably slide inside and play guard as a plug-and-play offensive lineman in a zone scheme. He plays with a nasty demeanor and frequently drives players to the turf to end the rep.
A six-year player for the Bison, Mauch has tons of experience and success at the collegiate level. He showed he could handle an NFL workload at the Senior Bowl, shining in his opportunities against future NFL players despite coming from an FCS school. He has some serious hand placement deficiencies at times, but the physicality he plays with allows him to win frequently at the first and second levels despite showing poor technique and inconsistent pad level.
Fit with the Broncos:
Mauch shows the grit and aggressiveness that Sean Payton loves in his offensive linemen, making Mauch a nice fit for the style of offense the Broncos will feature moving forward. Despite not being a jarring opener in the rep, Mauch flashes immense physicality and finishing power, which could mesh well with the inside zone schemes Payton likes to sprinkle in his offensive approach. Though some technical flaws poison his tape sometimes, quality NFL coaching should turn Mauch into a high-quality guard at the next level. Should the Broncos look to add Mauch to the fold, he would challenge Quinn Meinerz for a spot at guard or potentially move one of them to the center position, which needs to be upgraded.
© Mickey Welsh / USA TODAY NETWORK
Emil Ekiyor | OL | Alabama
Pros:
- Strong and consistent hands that work to the chest plate frequently.
- Thick build with unlockable power in the lower half.
- He has enough power to move defenders when he gets off the snap quickly.
- He moves better than expected, given the thickness of his build.
- Works well bumper to bumper in pass protection.
- Constantly looking for work, specifically to help the tackle.
- Adjusts well to lateral opponents, shocking with a strong inside punch.
- Pad level and footwork are consistent and sound.
- He pulls nicely and leverages inside to blow defenders to the outside to create running lanes.
- Three-year starter with more than 40 games played.
- He did well working as a center at the Senior Bowl.
Cons:
- A top heavy blocker that over-extends frequently, allowing defenders to separate easily to his sides.
- Lateral agility is lacking in pass protection.
- Can struggle with interior pass rushers with upper body strength due to balance issues.
- Footwork can get clunky at times.
- Sight adjustment on the second level gets narrowed, and he misses defenders frequently.
- He will vacate his assignment too early to help the tackle rather than shore up the interior.
- He doesn't play to his length as often as you would like.
- His overall power in the run game is lacking, and he can struggle to displace bigger defenders.
Overview:
Emil Ekiyor Jr. is a savvy and experienced guard with better movement skills than expected, given the thickness of his frame. His best trait is his active and accurate hands that show nuance in striking and re-placement against counters from defenders, constantly being able to hit the chest plate and keep square to his opponent. He makes up for what he lacks in initial power with a gritty demeanor and technique.
Though he gets out over his feet too often and doesn’t tie his feet to his hands, he possesses enough power in the lower half to correct the rep and carry defenders to move them out of the hole. While he may not have enough lateral movement ability to succeed in outside zone running schemes, he has enough movement ability to fit in inside zone and as a puller in gap schemes, if needed. In pass protection, Ekiyor relies on close-quarters combat and does well passing off and receiving twists and stunts, but isn’t mobile enough to handle twitchy pass rushers in open space.
Fit with the Broncos:
Though he didn’t show it on tape at Alabama, Emil Ekiyor could be a prime candidate to move to the center position at the next level. With a lack of lateral agility and some issues handling twitchy defenders in open space, Ekiyor would do well handling pass-blocking duties in close quarters and using his strong lower half to anchor the interior. His active hands can be projected to a player that has to snap the ball and react accurately, returning to the chest plate quickly. The Broncos have a need at the center position, and despite needing to develop at the position, Ekiyor could step in and succeed in the future. In terms of playing guard, Ekiyor would help bolster the unit's depth and provide a solid option that could turn into a starter in Sean Payton’s power scheme moving forward.
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