September 21st 2024.
Last week served as a harsh reminder for all of us that the Broncos are facing some serious challenges this season. It was another game filled with interceptions, penalties, failed runs, and frustrated players. It's a wake-up call that can't be ignored.
The biggest concern lies in the team's offensive statistics, which are not only bad, but also difficult to comprehend. It's almost as if we're watching a team from a different era, one that played with leather helmets and black-and-white TVs with rabbit ears. No one can deny that the Broncos' offense is struggling, but the question is, who is to blame?
There are certainly a number of factors at play here, but many are pointing fingers at the offensive line. In the past two games, the Broncos have recorded 14 three-and-outs and only scored one touchdown. This is a far cry from what was expected of this promising group, and it's been a major disappointment for the team.
During a humid training session in August, left guard Ben Powers sat down on a bench and set the standard for his team. "We all know how important it is for this organization to have a dominant offensive line," he said. "We take a lot of pride in that and we know we have to do our job to help this team reach its goals."
Sadly, the offensive line has failed to live up to expectations and has instead dragged the entire offense down. In the first two weeks of the season, we've seen countless mistakes and missed blocks from this group. According to Pro Football Focus, which may not have all the answers but provides a good gauge, the Broncos rank 31st in run blocking and 30th in pass protection.
This comes as no surprise to former Pro Bowl guard Mark Schlereth and Super Bowl 50 champion tackles Tyler Polumbus and Ryan Harris. They have a wealth of knowledge on the inner workings of the trenches, so I turned to them for their analysis after watching game footage.
Polumbus, who now works as a midday talk show host at Altitude Radio, didn't hold back in his assessment. "Last week was just terrible all around. We've seen some bad football in the past eight years, but that might have been the worst," he said. "I'm glad I wasn't on the field against the Steelers because they are a really good team. But our O-line was just terrible."
When asked why, Schlereth, who hosts both national and local talk shows and calls NFL games for Fox Sports, didn't mince words. "There's a physical breakdown on every play, but more importantly, there's a mental breakdown," he explained. "It's one thing to get beaten physically, it happens to all of us. But to not know what to do when a safety enters the box or to let go of blocks and chase ghosts, that shows a lack of understanding of the game plan as a whole."
Harris echoed this sentiment, saying, "In general, they seem to be tired, there are too many players on the ground, and they're not maintaining blocks."
The Broncos currently rank 27th in rushing yards, but 60 of those yards have come from quarterback Bo Nix on scrambles. In terms of passing yards, they rank 30th in yards per attempt and are tied for the most interceptions in the league with four.
We knew Nix would have some growing pains, but we never expected the offensive line to play like rookies. According to PFF, the group (excluding Mike McGlinchey) has been underwhelming, with Quinn Meinerz ranked 60th and Ben Powers ranked 63rd out of 65 qualifying guards. Luke Wattenberg is last among centers, and Garett Bolles, who has been dealing with a lower leg injury, ranks 63rd out of 68 tackles. However, ESPN's win rate percentage paints a slightly better picture, with Powers ranked 9th in run blocking and McGlinchey ranked 20th in pass blocking. Unfortunately, McGlinchey injured his knee in the game against the Steelers and will be out for four weeks, with first-time starter Alex Palczewski taking his place.
Meinerz, who received a $45 million contract extension this offseason, has been the most surprising disappointment. He hasn't played at the level of a Pro Bowl alternate like he did in 2023.
"During the first three run plays against the Steelers, Quinn made mistakes in all of them. He was just bad, there were too many plays where he missed his blocks or got beaten. Maybe he feels like he has to block three guys on one play or something, but that's what can happen when you get paid and try to do too much," Schlereth remarked. "He's a big, strong guy who can move people, we've seen him do it before. But he needs to play a lot better than he has been."
Harris pointed out that Meinerz is still young, at just 25 years old, and is still learning and developing as a player. "He needs to get to a point where he anticipates the movement instead of just reacting to what's happening in front of him," he explained. "Anticipation is key in the trenches."
Overall, the Broncos' offensive line needs to step up and execute better if they want to see any success this season. As Meinerz said, they need to continue working as a unit and fix their mistakes. It's not an easy task, but with hard work and determination, they can turn things around and help lead their team to victory.
Last week was a rough one for the Broncos, serving as a reminder that they are facing some serious challenges this season. Once again, there were interceptions thrown, penalties called, and plays that were just not executed to their fullest potential. It was enough to make anyone wring their hands in frustration.
The glaring issue that has been plaguing the team is their offensive performance, or lack thereof. Looking at the statistics alone, it's clear that things are not going well for the Broncos. In fact, it's almost impossible to comprehend how a team playing in the modern era of football, with all the advanced technology and resources at their disposal, could struggle so much. It almost feels like they are playing in a different era, with leather helmets and black-and-white TVs with rabbit ears.
No one can deny that the Broncos' offense has been underperforming, but the question is, who is to blame for this lackluster performance? There are certainly a number of factors at play, but the biggest finger seems to be pointing at the offensive line. In the past two games, the Broncos have had 14 three-and-outs and only managed to score one touchdown. That's a far cry from what was expected of this team at the start of the season.
During a particularly humid practice in August, left guard Ben Powers sat on a bench and set the standard for the team. He made it clear that they all understood the importance of having a dominant offensive line and that they took pride in their role in carrying the team to success. Unfortunately, it seems like the promising five-man line has been dragging the rest of the offense down, with their subpar performances resulting in a series of costly mistakes and missed blocks. According to Pro Football Focus, the Broncos are currently ranked 31st in run blocking and 30th in pass protection. These numbers do not bode well for the team's future.
Former Pro Bowl guard Mark Schlereth and Super Bowl 50 champion tackles Tyler Polumbus and Ryan Harris know a thing or two about the trenches, so their opinions on the matter carry a lot of weight. After watching game footage, they were less than impressed with the Broncos' offensive line.
Polumbus, who now works as a midday talk show host, didn't mince words when he said, "Well, obviously this past week was atrocious for everyone. We've seen a lot of bad football over the last eight years, but that might have been the worst I've seen. I'm just glad I wasn't going up against those guys on the Steelers. They're really good. But the Broncos' offensive line was terrible."
When asked for his assessment, Schlereth, who hosts both national and local talk shows and calls NFL games for Fox Sports, gave a blunt response. "It seems like on every play, there's a breakdown. And it's not just physical, it's also mental. I understand that sometimes you'll get outplayed physically, but not knowing what to do when a safety enters the box, or coming off a block and chasing ghosts, that shows a lack of understanding of the bigger picture."
Harris, on the other hand, pointed out that the offensive line is choosing to be tired, which leads to more players being on the ground and not effectively sustaining blocks. It's a frustrating situation for the team as they struggle to find their footing and put together a solid performance.
In terms of rushing, the Broncos are currently ranked 27th with only 163 yards. However, 60 of those yards came from quarterback Bo Nix's scrambles, with only one designed run. This lack of success in the running game is compounded by the fact that the team is also ranked 30th in passing yards per attempt and has thrown the most interceptions in the league so far.
While it was expected that Nix would experience some growing pains in his first season as a starter, no one expected the offensive line to play like rookies. According to PFF's rankings, the only player on the line who is performing well is Mike McGlinchey. The rest of the group, including Quinn Meinerz and Ben Powers, are ranked near the bottom of their positions. Luke Wattenberg is even ranked last among centers, and Garett Bolles, who has been dealing with a lower left leg injury, is ranked 63rd out of 68 tackles.
Despite these less-than-ideal rankings, ESPN's win rate percentage paints a slightly more positive picture, with Powers ranked ninth in run blocking and McGlinchey ranked 20th in pass blocking. However, McGlinchey's recent knee injury will sideline him for four weeks, leaving first-time starter Alex Palczewski to take his place.
Meinerz, who signed a big contract extension in the offseason, has been the most surprising disappointment on the offensive line. He has not lived up to his potential and has yet to replicate the success he had in 2023 when he earned Pro Bowl alternate honors. Schlereth believes that Meinerz may be feeling the pressure of his new contract, causing him to try to do too much on the field.
Harris, however, believes that Meinerz's struggles may also be due to his age and lack of experience. At just 25 years old, he still has a lot to learn and may be reacting more to what is happening in front of him rather than anticipating and making proactive decisions.
The Broncos' offensive line is clearly a work in progress, and they have a lot of room for improvement. With the right mindset and a focus on execution, they have the potential to turn things around and lead the team to success. As Meinerz put it, "We have to continue to work together as a unit and fix this. As offensive linemen, we take pride in our role in the team's success, and we have to do everything in our power to make that happen."
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