Surprise: Schlereth Not So Concerned About This Year's Broncos Offensive Line

CENTENNIAL, Colo. (CBS4) - Former Broncos offensive lineman Mark Schlereth is now a television veteran.

He's on his 15th year at ESPN, and last year Schlereth was highly critical of the Broncos offensive line on that network.

"It was hard to watch, and I let them know about it," Schlereth told Vic Lombardi on Xfinity Monday Live.

When it comes to his thoughts on this year's group -- a line with a lot less experience under their belt -- he's surprisingly not so concerned.

"The difference here is, under Gary Kubiak's system you're going to get a lot of help. You're going to get a lot of slide protection. You're going to get a lot of help from three step drop situations, five step drops, where you can be aggressive and you can dictate," Schlereth said.

When he was a player, Schlereth had the Broncos new head coach as an offensive coordinator, and he liked the system that was being run.

"For the first 15 plays we were going to run (in a game) we'd do a walkthrough Saturday morning. And if there was more than two seven step drops in the first seven of those first 15 plays, he'd hear about it from me," he said. "I'd be in his ear about not letting us get out and get after people. And so he understands the importance of letting your guys up front come off the ball."

Only one player - Louis Vasquez -- is a returning starter from last season, but Schlereth thinks the Broncos still could have a successful line if "everyone is completely tied together and sells out for one another."