Last week reminded us that the Broncos are in deep trouble this season. Once again, interceptions were thrown, penalties called, runs stuffed and hands wrung.
The blaring alarm comes from offensive statistics that look bad, are bad, and seem impossible to comprehend for a team not wearing leather helmets and playing on black-and-white TVs with rabbit ears.
No one disputes the premise that the Broncos offense stinks. Where does the blame lie?
Quinn Meinerz (77) of the Denver Broncos prepares to take the field before the first quarter against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington on Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
There are plenty of accomplices, but the line starts behind the offensive line. As the Broncos logged 14 three-and-outs and one touchdown in back-to-back losses, no group has been more disappointing when framed against expectations.
After a muggy practice in August, left guard Ben Powers sat on a bench and set the standard.
“We know this organization cares about having a dominant offensive line,” Powers said. “We take a lot of pride in that. We have to do every bit of our job to carry this team where it wants to go.”
Instead, the promising five has dragged the offense into the dumpster, the first two weeks a series of elementary mistakes and missed blocks. According to Pro Football Focus — its grades are not foolproof but provide a fair barometer — 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 know way more than I do about the trenches, so I asked them for their assessment after watching the film.
“Well, obviously this past week was atrocious for everyone. We have seen a lot of bad football the last eight years and that might have been the worst,” said Polumbus, who works as a midday talk show host at Altitude Radio. “I am glad I didn’t have to go against those dudes on the Steelers. They are really good. But the O-line was terrible.”
Why?
Schelerth, who hosts national and local talk shows and calls NFL games for Fox Sports, was blunt.
“Every play seems to have a physical breakdown, but more importantly a mental breakdown,” he said. “I know you will get your butt kicked physically sometimes. We have all been there. But to not know what to do when a safety enters the box, to come off blocks and chase ghosts, it shows a lack of understanding of what they are trying to do globally.”
Or, as Harris put it, “In general they are choosing to be tired, people are on the ground too much, and they are not sustaining blocks.”
Alex Highsmith (56) of the Pittsburgh Steelers sacks Bo Nix (10) of the Denver Broncos during the first quarter at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
The Broncos rank 27th with 163 rushing …read more
Source:: The Denver Post – Sports
