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Mathis: If Offensive Line Keeps Its Focus, 'The Sky's The Limit'

CENTENNIAL, Colo. (CBS4) - Since he arrived in Denver in August, Pro Bowl left guard Evan Mathis has seen seen a left tackle next to him go down with a season-ending injury and then a rotation of linemen subbing in.

Months before the Mathis arrived, Ryan Clady went down in the offseason with a torn ACL. Then Ty Sambrailo became the starter at left tackle, but he hurt his shoulder in Week 3. How hard has it been for Mathis to adjust to players being shuffled in next to him on the offensive line?

"We have some very smart dudes and some savvy vets in there, so it hasn't been hard at all," Mathis said on Xfinity Monday Live. "We've been working on our communication in the meeting room, repping everything in walk throughs and then getting the reps in practice and it's really interchangeable right now. I really feel comfortable playing next to whoever's in there."

After a rough first few outings, the Broncos running game started to show signs of life right before the bye week. And on Sunday against the Packers? Almost everything was working for Mathis and the other run blockers on the line. (Running backs C.J. Anderson and Ronnie Hillman combined for 101 yards and three touchdowns in the 29-10 win.)

"How much of it is scheme and how much is attitude?" CBS4's Vic Lombardi asked Mathis in a discussion about blocking on the CBS4 Sports show.

"It's a delicate balance. There's a lot of scheme, and when you're talking about scheme you have to also keep in mind that the technique aspect to it is very, very critical to what you're doing. And if you don't have the right technique, attitude's not going to get you very far."

"But if you're doing the right technique with the proper attitude, then the sky's the limit."

So has the Broncos offense found its groove again, or do they still have some work to do on their game planning?

"You have to prove it week after week," Mathis said. "Just because you've done it one week does not mean you're going to do it every week. You have to stay focused on what you did to get where you are, and you need to stay focused on improving every single day."

"Does confidence carry over?" Lombardi asked.

"Confidence helps. But you can't get so confident that you get relaxed," Mathis said.

On Monday Denver traded for veteran tight end Vernon Davis, who Mathis described as "uber talented and a physical specimen." However, based on his own experience after joining the Broncos, Mathis doesn't expect to see Davis throwing blocks on the line for a few weeks.

"I was probably here ... two weeks and it was somewhat of a slow start for me. I wasn't playing to the level that I was used to. There were some things I had to get used to, and for him there are probably going to be some nuances that he'll have to figure out and get comfortable doing," Mathis said.

"But for running routes and things like that, if he can learn the route trees ... I'm sure that kind of stuff carries over a little easier than specific blocking techniques."

Broncos Colts

The Broncos next opponent is the Colts. They meet at 2:25 p.m. at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Watch the game on CBS4!
 

 

 

 

 

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