Clady is Broncos' answer to foes' sack attacks

ENGLEWOOD • Denver Broncos left tackle Ryan Clady is riding a historically impressive streak, albeit with little recognition.

Clady has played 18 games in his career and has not allowed a full sack. That is the longest current streak among NFL tackles, according to Stats Inc. Since 1994, when Stats Inc. began to track sacks allowed, only 16 tackles have had longer streaks.

Clady can tie the longest known streak to begin a career without a sack if he doesn’t allow one Sunday. Ryan Young didn’t allow a sack for 19 straight games, starting with his first career start with the Jets in 1999.

“I don’t want to jinx him or anything, so we don’t want to talk about that too much,” offensive coordinator Mike McCoy said.

For perspective on Clady’s streak, there were 1,036 sacks in the NFL last year, or about 6.5 for every starting offensive lineman in the league. So the average NFL lineman gives up one sack roughly every 10 quarters. Clady has played every snap for the Broncos, who have dropped back to pass 685 times over the past 72 quarters. Still, he has given up only a half-sack, to then-Patriots end Richard Seymour. Clady will face off again with Seymour on Sunday at Oakland.

While Clady’s athletic gifts are apparent, coach Josh McDaniels offered some unique insight on his intelligence. He said what impressed him about Clady was how he changes his approach from play-to-play. He said he will attack the end on one play, then sit back and ride him away from the quarterback the next.

“He’s a smart player,” McDaniels said. “He understands what the guy has seen from him already and what he hasn’t and he mixes it up pretty well. A lot of people might ask, how much can a left tackle mix up his protection? You can and it’s effective.”

Injury update

The Broncos had a surprise addition to the injury report when running back Knowshon Moreno (groin) was listed as questionable. He practiced Wednesday and Thursday but didn’t participate Friday.

Receiver Brandon Stokley (thigh) who practiced Thursday on a limited basis, also did not practice Friday and is listed as questionable. 

Guard Ben Hamilton, who missed practice Thursday because of a hamstring injury, returned Friday and is listed as probable.