Mile High Report
There’s no question the Denver Broncos are the Belle of the ball.
Just about everywhere you look, Bo Nix, Sean Payton, and the Broncos are talked about as the team to watch. The team that could make a deep run in the playoffs. The team that will finally dethrone Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West.
A lot must go right for all of this to happen. Nix must avoid the blasted sophomore slump. The offensive line must hold up and be as good, if not better, than last season. The defense must remain dominant. The special teams can’t lose games. And, of course, that word everyone in sports detests – health.
But for the Broncos to have success this season, it comes down to the running game — on both sides of the ball. Denver’s offense must be able to run the ball consistently and stop the run on defense. The Broncos struggled in both areas last season. For them to take the next step this season, both must be better.
The pieces are there for Denver’s running game and the run defense to do just that.
“I can’t speak for other teams,” Payton told the local media this week after practice. “I just remember always being taught that the offensive line will permeate the building. In other words, if the offensive line is where you want it, very quickly, that defensive line has to bow up, defend, or get replaced. It’s the first line of attack. It’s the first contact. When that group is right, your protection, your run game, all of those things have a chance. All the schemes that you like in the running game and the passing game, without that room being right, become much more difficult.”
The Broncos finished last season 16th in the NFL with 112.2 yards per game on the ground. Honestly, I was surprised it was that high. The problem last season was that Denver couldn’t get consistency. The offense would get flashes, but none of the running backs were able to carry the load. Enter rookie RJ Harvey and J.K. Dobbins, who will likely be the tandem to get the brunt of the action this season.
If the running game improves like Payton and the Broncos expect, that opens up the whole offense. Nix will have play-action at his disposal. The run-pass-option and Nix’s running ability become more dangerous. Basically, the offense will look completely different from last season if Denver can consistently and effectively run the ball.
What certainly helps is having one of the best offensive lines in football.
“Certainly, my position group, we’ve had a lot of continuity, “ right tackle Mike McGlinchey said. ”I think I spoke about it earlier this spring of how rare it is to be returning almost everybody from the two-deep plus to a roster. I’ve very rarely have seen that, and I think that’s what we’re doing at a lot of different positions groups, not just the...
