Ben Garland couldn’t be more prepared. The former Air Force defensive tackle spent three seasons on the other side of the line, absorbing the blows in practice from an offense known for its rushing attack and cut blocks.

“Every single day,” he recalled. “I loved it. I remember days we had no pads on and they would still cut. It’s just helmets out there. I told them, ‘This would be like a game. That’s what I want to see.’ “

Now it is Garland’s turn.

Signed as an undrafted rookie in 2010 and shuffled around the Broncos’ practice squad for a couple of seasons after serving his two-year military commitment, Garland, 27, is now an offensive lineman through and through.

Despite not playing a game until last season, Garland is entering his sixth year in the NFL. He is vying for the Broncos’ starting job at left guard. And in coach Gary Kubiak’s zone-blocking scheme, it’s a job that seems tailor-made for the former cadet.

“I love the zone scheme,” Garland said. “It’s more lateral movement, quick, being smart and being able to move quickly and get out on blocks.”

After playing on the defensive line throughout college, Garland moved to the other side of the ball in 2013 and says he has “totally embraced” his role. It’s a role that requires quickness, smarts and finely tuned technique — tenets of an Air Force Falcon.

And Garland, who still works in public affairs for the Colorado Air National Guard during the offseason, has spent the better part of his career absorbing the advice of others to prepare him for this chance.

“I’ve talked to Will Montgomery, he played here last year,” Garland said. “I think he taught me a lot because he used to be in the zone scheme for a long time. To be able to pick his brain about what’s helped him and different techniques and what to work on, that’s really helped me.”

Thorough in his research, Garland has pored over past offenses to see how they compared to the zone scheme. He’s watched film of similar offenses to learn the footwork and technique of the offensive linemen. And he’s learned from the father of zone-blocking himself, Alex Gibbs, who was a consultant to the Broncos.

“I’d go into his office and just pick his brain,” Garland said. “To be able to learn from the guy who essentially created the zone scheme, that’s really helped my progress.”

Garland made his NFL debut in Week 10 last season, on, fittingly, Military Appreciation Day. He played only eight games and 47 offensive snaps but hopes to shed the “inexperienced” label this season as he battles Colorado State product Shelley Smith for the starting job.

“Every single day I’m going to work as hard as I can to get better,” Garland said, “and hopefully I can make this team better because of it.”

Nicki Jhabvala: njhabvala@denverpost.com or twitter.com/nickijhabvala

Ben Garland file

Position: Guard; Age: 27; Height: 6-foot-5; Weight: 308 pounds

College

Air Force Academy, 2006-09; recorded 115 tackles (52 solo), 11½ sacks and three forced fumbles, two blocked kicks in 39 career games

NFL

• Signed with Broncos as college free agent in April 2010

• Served two-year military commitment, from 2010-12

• Released by Broncos in August 2012, re-signed to practice squad a day later as defensive lineman

• Switched to offensive line in 2013

• Released by Broncos August 2013, re-signed to practice squad five days later

• Made NFL debut Nov. 9, 2014, on Military Appreciation Day, vs. Oakland Raiders; played eight games in 2014

• Named Broncos’ 2014 Walter Payton man of the year

• Signed one-year contract with Broncos as exclusive-rights free agent in March 2015

Other job

Public affairs officer for Colorado Air National Guard