Michael Schofield tries his best not to think about that chilly Sunday afternoon in Denver last December when he gave up four second-half sacks to Raiders outside linebacker Khalil Mack. It’s the game that smeared Schofield’s image among fans and media.

In the locker room after that 15-12 loss to Oakland, then-Broncos offensive tackle Tyler Polumbus embraced Schofield and told him, “I love you, man.” Despite heavy criticism in the aftermath, Denver teammates and coaches stayed supportive of Schofield, who admitted he was having a tough time. But memories of such days fueled his desire to improve in the offseason.

Schofield is off to an impressive start this season, having earned a starting job at right guard on the Denver offensive line. It’s a position switch that better utilizes his strengths and limits his weaknesses. And he may be the most important offensive lineman on a 3-0 team because of his versatility.

Schofield has moved out to right tackle for 63 plays and to left tackle for 13 plays because of injuries on the offensive line the past two games. And he is regaining believers among those who doubted him.

“It’s hard. You try to not listen to the media. You try to not read the papers. But we’re all on social media and it’s near impossible to not hear the outside noise,” Polumbus said. “He’s a human being. You could see it. It hurt him. It hurt him to have some poor games. It hurt to know what other people are saying, but I can’t stress enough how impressive his mental toughness and resolve is to be able to go through all that and come back this year and really be the glue that’s holding everything together.”

That sentiment is being echoed throughout the Denver coaching staff and among Schofield’s teammates. Schofield used the spring and summer to work on his versatility while also competing with Ty Sambrailo, Darrion Weems and Connor McGovern for the starting job at right guard. He played guard and tackle while many of the starters went in and out with injuries. He was the constant.

“It really made me get back in the playbook to really know the offense,” Schofield, a third-round pick in the 2014 draft, said of his struggles. “I think last year I was thinking too much about what do I do on this play and who’s my assignment instead of just playing.”

His experience starting 13 games at right tackle last season proved valuable for a team that suits up only seven offensive linemen each game, one being backup center James Ferentz. At his current primary position, right guard, Schofield is transitioning into a comfort zone facing bigger, stronger defensive linemen in a phone booth-sized area rather than the smaller, quicker defenders in limitless space when he plays tackle.

“Things happen a lot quicker (at guard) in short range,” said Broncos offensive line coach Clancy Barone. “But Michael has picked that up very quickly. Michael’s best football is still out there ahead of him.”

Barone said a big key for Schofield was keeping on weight, which had been a problem for him because of his lean frame. Barone said Schofield came to training camp this summer weighing 310 pounds. More mass has helped Schofield do a better job battling stronger defenders inside.

Through three games, Schofield hasn’t allowed a sack or been called for a penalty. And he has been a key blocker opening lanes in the Denver running game.

“He’s killing it,” said center Matt Paradis. “I’ve been proud of him. It’s impressive. It’s very hard to do. Even one position switch is really hard to do, and he’s doing everything at a high level. People don’t do that.”

Said Polumbus: “Most NFL starters would have a small panic attack if you asked them to switch positions in the middle of the game to a position they haven’t practiced all week.”

Denver offensive coordinator Rick Dennison said he has coached only two players who have the versatility of Schofield on the offensive line — former Broncos Cooper Carlisle and Chris Kuper.

Schofield knows his struggles last season, when he gave up a total of 10 sacks, make it difficult to change the perception of him among fans. But he is doing his best to reshape his image.

“I hope I am,” he said. “That’s what I’m trying to do.”

Slow start to fast track

A look at where starting right guard Michael Schofield has played on the Broncos’ offensive line since coming to the NFL from the University of Michigan:

2014: Did not suit up

2015: Started 13 games at right tackle

2016: Started first three games at right guard; also played left tackle and right tackle

Critical comments

During his rough stretch last season, Michael Schofield received a large amount of criticism from media, fans and former players — most notably from former Broncos guard Mark Schlereth. Here is some of what was said about Schofield:

Mark Schlereth, on Denver radio station 104.3 The Fan in January

“You’re saying Schofield might start? Lord have mercy. You have got to be kidding me. He doesn’t belong in the NFL. He’s not a backup in the NFL at this point in time.”

“Confidence in this game is one of the greatest things you could have. When you lack confidence, man, it’s miserable. When you lose your swag, it is hard to play. There is no possible way that that kid, as an offensive lineman, can walk out there and feel confident that he can get the job done.”

“I’m not trying to bash the kid, because I know that he’s trying hard. He’s overmatched. There’s some people that can’t play at this level. At this point in his career, he doesn’t belong in the game.”

Cameron Wolfe, The Denver Post