Youth will be served Sunday.

The portion on the Broncos' offensive line will be huge.

Three players who have never taken a regular-season snap in the NFL could be in the starting lineup in the trenches in Jacksonville against the Jaguars. It's believed to be the first time in franchise history that will have occurred, should the first team align in that manner.

The only thing that would prevent it from happening that way is if right tackle Ryan Harris' left ankle sprain heals sufficiently to allow him to play in the opener. Harris had his leg rolled up on by running back Lance Ball during the preseason finale during a first-quarter rush. Harris missed practice Tuesday and Wednesday.

He would be replaced by rookie second-round pick Zane Beadles, who spent training camp nearly exclusively at left guard but played tackle his final three years in college and has been working there on both sides of the line the last couple weeks.

The other two neophytes are more set for the weekend.

Rookie J.D. Walton, a third-round pick out of Baylor, was inserted with the first team in OTAs at center and has remained there. Stanley Daniels, cut four times since 2007 and an addition to Denver's roster in mid-May after stints on the Packers and Jets practice squads, will be the left guard. Daniels' physical play in the preseason won him the job over Beadles.

To compound matters, left tackle Ryan Clady only recently returned to the starting lineup coming off a serious knee injury and looked a step slow in a brief trial in that Minnesota game.

So Denver's not only going to be inexperienced, but this particular group hasn't had time to play together much during the preseason, either, and will be going against a physical, aggressive Jacksonville front seven.

The Broncos, who had trouble finding continuity in the running game in the preseason, may have to compensate some because of the uncertainty up front.

Denver likes to employ frequent three wide formations but may have to use more two tight end sets with Daniel Graham, Richard Quinn and newcomer Dan Gronkowski helping provide a push while protecting the flanks.

Jacksonville could test the middle of Denver's line with blitzes to test the communication within the group and try to create confusion.

Quarterback Kyle Orton wasn't going to be taking seven-step drops consistently and firing away from the pocket anyway, but he may have to get the ball out quicker with short passes and try to methodically drive Denver downfield until the line gets its feet wet, then perhaps take a shot or two downfield.

SERIES HISTORY
8th regular-season meeting. Jaguars lead series, 4-3. Jaguars have won two straight games. Most historic meeting between these two teams came in a 1996 AFC Divisional Playoff Game, when the second-year Jaguars ended Denver's most successful season since 1991 in a 30-27 stunner at old Mile High Stadium.

--The game plan is set. The roster has been tweaked. The players have been through rigorous conditioning through the offseason program and training camp.

But there's one item that the Broncos can't control that may impact their season-opener in Jacksonville just as much as those factors: oppressive heat.

The forecast for Jacksonville is for 91-degree temperatures, which would be a record for a Jaguars home game. But as the old saying goes, it's not the heat, it's the humidity, and there should be plenty of that, too. Denver is used to thin air but not the heavy Florida air it will encounter.

Nose tackle Jamal Williams joked that he should go to a local health club this week, enter the sauna and start running around to simulate conditions, but that the other workout warriors might find that "weird."

Actually, it's no joking matter.

Coach Josh McDaniels has downplayed the searing sun this week. He doesn't want to provide any built-in excuses or mental blocks. The staff and the medical personnel all have issued not-so-subtle reminders that hydration will be paramount this week.

Yet there will be some tangible on-field concessions to Mother Nature.

Denver likely will liberally use its reserves. The Broncos are in a unique position there not only because of the anticipated conditions, but August circumstances. Tight ends Daniel Graham and Richard Quinn; running backs Knowshon Moreno and Correll Buckhalter ; wide receiver Demaryius Thomas; and left tackle Ryan Clady are among the players who missed significant portions of practice last month and may have needed a breather anyway.

McDaniels, though, indicated he won't institute an "abnormal" substitution pattern.

That's because many of the reserves are significantly involved in special teams and will have worked up a lather anyway, so they will be dealing with many of the same heat-related issues as the starters.

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