Ty Sambrailo Has to Step up For the Denver Broncos in 2015

Sep 27, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Colorado State Rams offensive linesman Ty Sambrailo (51) prepares to block against Boston College during the first half at Alumni Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

Uh-oh, Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning is going into the 2015 season with All-Pro left tackle Ryan Clady. Clady just sustained a torn ACL in Wednesday’s OTA practice and will be out for the season. That’s all franchise quarterback Peyton Manning and this four neck surgeries need.

The four-time Pro Bowler has been Denver’s best lineman since they drafted him No. 12 overall in 2008. It was pointed out on NFL Network that the Broncos’ offense averages two more yards per play when he is in there. And this happens just two weeks after his brother Eli (Manning) lost his left tackle, Will Beatty, for at least five months with a torn pectoral.

Former first-round pick Jake Long is visiting the New York Giants so it may be too late for that. But they drafted Ty Sambrailo in the second round so he could play right tackle and eventually replace one day. One day just so happened to come sooner than expectd and the Broncos just have to hope Sambrailo is ready.

The Broncos are already transitioning to new coach Gary Kubiak’s zone-blocking scheme and now the offensive line is transitioning to another player. And like no one around the NFL likes, that player they’re transitioning to is a rookie. Chris Clark, a former Broncos left tackle was brought back in but Sambrailo was at left tackle Thursday, with Clark remaining on the right side.

Not that he has a choice right now but Kubiak sounds like he believes in the rookie, telling NFL.com, “Ty’s a very athletic young man. That’s a lot to ask of a very young player, but we’ve got a good month here of work. We felt like, when we drafted Ty, he was athletic enough to play on both sides.”

He has one side to play now, the left side and he has to step up.