ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Quarterback is the only position with more on its plate than center on the offensive side of the ball. Despite that, the Broncos are handing the keys of center to a rookie.
On Monday, the Broncos released their first depth chart of the season which confirmed that third-round pick Lloyd Cushenberry will be Denver’s starting center, ending the battle he had with Austin Schlottmann.
“He just kept improving. It was a close battle all through camp,” Vic Fangio said on Tuesday, explaining why Cushenberry landed the starting spot. “We just think that he’s ready for it and he’ll keep improving and learn by playing. A little bit of this is crystal ball. We think he’ll keep improving and develop into a good center. That’s part of it.”
Fortunately for the 22-year old, he’ll be surrounded by Denver’s two most trusted offensive lineman in Dalton Risner and Graham Glasgow. While Cushenberry knows Glasgow and Risner are two excellent resources to have by his side, he wants it to be known he doesn’t need their help, despite being a rookie.
“From a mental standpoint, obviously there are some things they help me out with, but I kind of just try to take it upon myself so they don’t have to hold my hand and help me out a lot because they have a job to do so I don’t want to take away from their game,” Denver’s starting center said on Tuesday. “I want them to be able to know and trust me that I’m going to do my job each and every day and each and every week.”
Grasping the mental side of the game has never been a concern for Cushenberry. In fact, throughout the virtual offseason and training camp, teammates and coaches have praised the rookie for his grasp of the mental aspect of the game.
By earning the starting job, Cushenberry clearly proved he’s picked up the offense and the additional responsibility that comes with making checks and calls at the line of scrimmage.
“Just me being the person I am, I don’t really want to depend on anyone to help me out too much,” Cushenberry said, emphasizing that he won’t be leaning on his teammates for help making calls at the line of scrimmage even though he’s a rookie. “I feel like it’s my job and my responsibility to know all my calls and know exactly what I have to do. Obviously, we’re all going to help each other out on the field. They’re going to help me out a lot because they’ve played, they’re experienced. But as far as mentally and making calls, I feel like that’s on me as a center to know what I have to do.”
The 6-foot-4, 315-pound center entered training camp wanting to show the coaching staff that he had what it took physically and mentally. After camp, Cushenberry stated “there wasn’t really too much that I couldn’t handle” despite going up against a stout defensive line and learning an NFL offense. The rookie added he’s made good strides and got better each day in both the physical and mental side of the game.
With COVID-19 making the offseason virtual and canceling the preseason, Cushenberry, and all of the Broncos’ rookies, had plenty of built-in excuses for if they didn’t land starting jobs. But the LSU grad doesn’t want anything to do with excuses.
“It’s my job to be responsible, put in the work — not just inside the building but when I get home — so when I get on the field I can be as prepared as I can be and play at a high level,” the soft-spoken center said with a purpose. “There’s really no excuse.”
The battle to be Drew Lock’s starting center is over. Unsurprisingly, Cushenberry joins Jerry Jeudy as the two Broncos’ rookies to start on the offensive side of the ball.
“Winning the starting the job was obviously a goal of mine coming in. But it’s not the end. It’s just the beginning. The work is just starting. I’ve got to work 10 times harder to keep the starting job and show that I belong here,” Cushenberry stated. “This is only the beginning. I need to go out there and prove that I belong.”
The last time Cushenberry played in a football game he was crowned a national champion in front of the entire country. On Monday night, he’ll again be on national television as the Broncos’ starting center.
