September 21st 2024.
Last week served as a stark reminder that the Broncos are facing some major challenges this season. Once again, we saw interceptions being thrown, penalties being called, runs being stuffed, and a general sense of frustration and anxiety among players and fans alike.
The biggest cause for concern is the offensive statistics, which not only look bad, but are bad. It almost seems impossible to comprehend how a team that doesn't wear leather helmets and play on old-fashioned black-and-white TVs with rabbit ears could perform so poorly. It's safe to say that everyone agrees on one thing: the Broncos' offense stinks. But who is to blame for this mess?
There are plenty of people who could be held accountable, but the biggest finger-pointing starts with the offensive line. In the past two games, where the Broncos have suffered back-to-back losses while only managing one touchdown and 14 three-and-outs, the offensive line has been the most disappointing group when compared to their high expectations.
During a particularly hot and humid practice in August, left guard Ben Powers sat down on a bench and set a high standard for himself and his teammates. "We all know how much this organization values having a dominant offensive line," Powers said. "We take a lot of pride in that and we have to do everything in our power to carry this team to where it wants to go."
Unfortunately, instead of being a driving force for the offense, the offensive line has dragged the team down into the dumpster. In the first two weeks of the season, they have made numerous elementary mistakes and missed crucial blocks, leading to their low rankings in both run blocking (31st) and pass protection (30th) according to Pro Football Focus.
This comes as no surprise to former Pro Bowl guard Mark Schlereth and Super Bowl 50 champion tackles Tyler Polumbus and Ryan Harris. As experts on the inner workings of the offensive line, they were asked for their assessment after reviewing game footage. "Well, there's no denying that this past week was atrocious for everyone. We've seen a lot of bad football in the last eight years, but this might have been the worst," Polumbus, who now works as a midday talk show host at Altitude Radio, shared. "I'm just glad I didn't have to go up against those guys on the Steelers. They're really good. But our offensive line was terrible."
When asked why, Schlereth, who hosts national and local talk shows and also calls NFL games for Fox Sports, didn't mince words. "It seems like every play, there's a physical breakdown, but more importantly, a mental breakdown," he explained. "I get it, sometimes you'll get beat physically. We've all been there. But to not know what to do when a safety enters the box, to abandon blocks and chase ghosts, it shows a lack of understanding of the overall game plan."
Harris echoed these sentiments, stating, "Overall, it seems like they're choosing to be tired, there are too many players on the ground, and they're not sustaining blocks."
Not only has the offensive line struggled, but so has quarterback Bo Nix, who was expected to experience some growing pains as he adjusts to the professional level. However, no one expected the offensive line to play like rookies, leaving Nix with little time to make plays.
According to PFF, the offensive line, with the exception of Mike McGlinchey, has been graded poorly. Quinn Meinerz, who received a four-year contract extension with $45 million in guaranteed money this offseason, is ranked 60th out of 65 qualifying guards. Additionally, Luke Wattenberg is ranked last among centers, and Garett Bolles, who has been dealing with a lower left leg injury, is ranked 63rd out of 68 tackles. While ESPN's win rate percentage is a bit more forgiving, grading Powers ninth in run blocking and McGlinchey 20th in pass blocking, McGlinchey recently injured his knee and will be out for four weeks. In his absence, Alex Palczewski will make his first start.
"It all comes down to execution," Meinerz shared. "When we watch the film, we can see where things go wrong, whether it's a missed block or someone not moving as they should. We, as the front five, need to take responsibility and fix this."
One of the most surprising players on the offensive line has been Meinerz. After his impressive performance in 2023 earned him Pro Bowl alternate honors, the Broncos invested heavily in him. However, he hasn't lived up to expectations so far this season. "In the first three run plays against the Steelers, Quinn made mistakes on all of them. He just wasn't good, he whiffed on too many plays or got beat. It almost seemed like he was trying to block three guys at once. Sometimes, when you get paid a lot of money, you feel like you have to do too much," Schlereth commented. "But he's a big, physical guy who can move people. We've seen him do it before. He just needs to step up and play way better."
Harris also noted that Meinerz is still young, only 25 years old, and is still learning. "He needs to get to a point where he anticipates movements rather than just reacting to what's happening in front of him," he advised. "You have to anticipate where the defenders are going to go."
It's clear that the Broncos' offensive line needs to improve if they want to have any chance of success this season. With the next game approaching, it's crucial for them to focus on execution and teamwork to turn things around. The season is still young and there is time for them to make a comeback, but it all starts with the offensive line.
Last week served as a stark reminder that the Broncos are facing some serious challenges this season. Once again, we saw interceptions being thrown, penalties being called, runs being stuffed, and hands being wrung in frustration. The offensive statistics are like a blaring alarm, signaling the struggles that the team is facing. It's almost impossible to wrap our heads around these numbers, especially for a team that isn't playing in leather helmets and black-and-white TVs with rabbit ears.
It's no secret that the Broncos' offense has been lackluster. But where exactly does the blame lie? There are many factors at play, but it's safe to say that it all starts with the offensive line. In the past two games, the Broncos have recorded 14 three-and-outs and only one touchdown. This is a disappointing performance, especially when compared to the high expectations set for this group.
During a sweaty practice in August, left guard Ben Powers sat on a bench and set a high standard for the team. He stated that the organization takes great pride in having a dominant offensive line and that they need to do their part in carrying the team to success. Unfortunately, this promising group has failed to live up to expectations and has instead dragged the offense down. The first two weeks have been filled with elementary mistakes and missed blocks, resulting in the Broncos ranking 31st in run blocking and 30th in pass protection according to Pro Football Focus.
This comes as no surprise to former Pro Bowl guard Mark Schlereth and Super Bowl 50 champion tackles Tyler Polumbus and Ryan Harris. These experts have a wealth of knowledge and experience when it comes to the trenches, so I turned to them for their insights after watching the game film. Polumbus, who now works as a midday talk show host at Altitude Radio, was quick to point out the atrocious performance of the Broncos' offensive line in the past week. He was relieved that he didn't have to face the Steelers' formidable defense himself, but he didn't hold back in criticizing the O-line's performance.
So, why is the offensive line struggling so much? Schelerth, who hosts national and local talk shows and calls NFL games for Fox Sports, didn't mince his words. He pointed out that there seems to be a physical breakdown on every play, but more importantly, a mental breakdown. He acknowledged that it's natural to get physically beaten at times, but not knowing what to do when a safety enters the box or chasing after non-existent opponents shows a lack of understanding of the game plan.
Harris echoed this sentiment, stating that the offensive line is choosing to be tired, frequently ending up on the ground, and failing to sustain blocks. This has been evident in the Broncos' low ranking in rushing yards and passing yards per attempt. We knew that quarterback Bo Nix would experience some growing pains, but we didn't expect the offensive line to play like rookies.
According to PFF, the group, with the exception of Mike McGlinchey, has been performing poorly. Quinn Meinerz, who received a four-year contract extension this offseason with $45 million in guaranteed money, is ranked 60th out of 65 qualifying guards. Ben Powers ranks just below him at 63rd, while Luke Wattenberg is at the bottom of the list for centers. Even Garett Bolles, who has been dealing with a lower left leg injury, is struggling and is ranked 63rd out of 68 tackles.
However, ESPN's win rate percentage paints a slightly kinder picture, with Powers being ranked ninth 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, leaving first-time starter Alex Palczewski to take his place.
Meinerz, who was one of the most surprising players on the roster, has also been struggling. He was named a Pro Bowl alternate in 2023, but his performance this year has been far from impressive. Schlereth pointed out that in the first three run plays against the Steelers, Meinerz made mistakes in all of them. He also mentioned that Meinerz seems to be trying to do too much since he received his contract extension, which is a common mistake made by players after they receive a significant pay raise. Schlereth believes that Meinerz has the physical ability to dominate on the field, but he needs to play better.
Harris reminded us that Meinerz is still young, at just 25 years old, and is still learning and developing. He believes that Meinerz needs to anticipate the movement on the field instead of just reacting to what's in front of him. It's an essential skill that all successful offensive linemen possess.
In conclusion, it's clear that the offensive line is the root of the Broncos' struggles on offense. While there are multiple factors at play, the O-line must improve if the Broncos hope to turn their season around. The players and coaches need to work together to fix the issues and get the team back on track. It's a tough road ahead, but with hard work and determination, the Broncos can overcome this rough start to the season.
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