Facing mammoth Dallas line, Broncos need see-food diet

ENGLEWOOD • Realizing the average Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman outweighs him by 79 pounds, Denver Broncos outside linebacker Elvis Dumervil hatched a plan for himself and his fellow defensive teammates this week.
“Steak and potatoes,” Dumervil joked.

Knowing his contradictory twist on “The Biggest Loser” won’t have much effect by Sunday, Dumervil and the Broncos will need other plans to combat the Cowboys’ massive offensive line. Dallas’ linemen average 327 pounds, give or take a T-bone and fries. They range from 307 pounds (left guard Kyle Kosier) to 353 pounds (right guard Leonard Davis).

Last week Dallas played without starting tailback Marion Barber, and backup Felix Jones hurt his knee during the game. The Cowboys still rushed for 212 yards. Dallas is deep at tailback, but it’s the behemoths up front who make the NFL’s top-ranked rushing game go.

“Some of the holes that are open, I’m not sure I’ll see the rest of the year,” Broncos coach Josh McDaniels said. “There’s plays where the back doesn’t get touched and he’s 25 yards into the secondary.”

This will be the biggest test for the Broncos’ defensive line, which has been a big reason the team is leading the NFL in yards allowed. Denver has given up 214.7 yards per game, almost 31 yards better than any other team. The Broncos’ defensive line is bigger this season and has won the line of scrimmage, allowing the linebackers to accumulate tackles. The Cowboys’ line not only is physical at the line, it does well getting to the linebackers, too.

“There’s no finesse in them at all,” McDaniels said. “You have to do a good job of trying to disrupt them at the line of scrimmage in some way, shape or form or it could be a long day.”