Every week, the press has the opportunity to hear from each NFL teams’ “divas”, most of the time a quarterback.  More often than not, the men who protect the quarterback do not get the publicity they deserve.

And they would not have it any other way.

In his first organized team activity in 2008, rookie left tackle Ryan Clady showed that he is a very soft-spoken guy, one who is humbled by the NFL experience as a whole.

Due to his soft-spokenness, and the fact that offensive linemen stay away from the press more often than not, it would be an honor to sit one-on-one with the Denver Broncos’ only All-Pro performer.

 

1.  What does it mean to you to be the only rookie named to either All-Pro team?

I would anticipate Clady to respond with a statement of how he is honored, but there is always room for improvement.  Offensive linemen are never satisfied. 

 

2.  Do you feel, as an All-Pro, that you were snubbed of a trip to Hawaii for the Pro Bowl?

Being the only rookie selected to the All-Pro team is honor enough, but given his performance Clady easily should have been selected to the Pro Bowl.  The Denver Broncos attempted 620 passes in 2008, and Clady only allowed 0.5 sacks.

 

3.  You should have been drafted much higher than 12th overall, do you carry that as a chip on your shoulder?

Clady entered the 2008 NFL Draft as a junior out of Boise State, and was projected by some to be the best offensive lineman in the draft.  The fact that he slipped all the way to No. 12 overall is astounding, but it was a blessing for Clady and the Broncos.

 

4.  Since you had such a great rookie season, do you feel the pressure of avoiding the sophomore slump?

I think every second year player feels the heat of their first year performance.  Clady is transitioning from a zone blocking, run oriented offense, to Josh McDaniels’ pass heavy offense.  It will not be an easy transition, but he seemed to make the transition from college to the pros fairly easily.

 

5.  Will you miss Jay Cutler?

The NFL is a business, and Clady realizes that.  Even though many NFL observers feel it is ridiculous to even suggest that a 25 year old, Pro Bowl quarterback should be traded, maybe it is for the best.  Kyle Orton will be a great teammate and he will get the job done for the Broncos.

 

6.  You received a few votes for the NFL’s Rookie of the Year.  Do you feel like offensive linemen are far too underrated due to the fact that they don’t throw, run or catch?

Matt Ryan is a great player, and so are Chris Johnson and Steve Slaton.  How good would they be without a strong offensive line?  It is unfortunate that the only stats kept for the big boys up front are pancakes and sacks allowed. 

It is hard to judge their performance based on statistics alone, so they do not get the recognition they deserve.  However, Clady probably does not care too much about personal accolades or recognition.  That is not how linemen are.  Linemen lead by example, and they keep their mouths shut.

 

7.  How big of an advantage is it having played tight end early in your football career?

For an offensive lineman in a pass-heavy scheme, it is crucial to have good feet and to be extremely athletic.  In addition to his great size (6’6″ 320 lbs.), Clady has some of the quickest feet in the NFL at his position.  In fact, he was given the nickname “Sweet Feet” by his peers after the team’s first mini-camp in 2008.

 

8.  The Class of 2008 featured many key contributors to last year’s Denver Broncos team.  What was it like playing on the youngest team in the NFL, or did you even notice?

It is kind of hard not to notice the second most injuries in the NFL, and there were a ton of fresh faces in Denver in 2008.  As a player, you still have to go about your business and become a chameleon of sorts; adapting to any and all surroundings.

 

9.  It’s easy for a rookie’s ego to inflate like a balloon, what has kept you so humble?

From what I have seen and heard, offensive linemen in the NFL are highly ridiculed if they become divas of any sort.  Being the best offensive lineman on the team does not give Clady any bragging rights over those on the team with seniority. 

 

10.  Who, if anyone, was the toughest player you faced throughout the course of your first season in the NFL?

Clady had the opportunity to go up against some of the league’s top pass rush specialists, including Carolina Panthers’ defensive end Julius Peppers.  Despite Peppers’ prowess as a pass rusher, Clady was able to mystify him.

In fact, Clady was so dominant against Peppers, they had to move him to the other side of the field to have any sort of success.

 

11.  Another testament to your dominance is the fact that you had only three penalties (one holding) in over 1,000 snaps. Those are numbers some veterans can not even claim to have recorded. How were you able to stay so mistake free?

In my mind, the easiest way to keep a streak alive is to not know it’s going on in the first place. You have to be disciplined and make every rep in practice count. Go through the quarterback’s cadences in your head.

 

It would be interesting to say the very least to get into the head of an offensive lineman.  I have always wondered what they are thinking, which is why I chose to do my “mock” interview with All-Pro Ryan Clady.

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