Offensive Line Issues Stalling Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos Offense: The Denver Broncos offense has been stalling so bad, you would think it was an old Chevy pickup truck and not a Ferrari. Quarterback Peyton Manning has now thrown two interceptions in three straight games for the first time as a Bronco. After a 22-7 loss to the St. Louis Rams last Sunday, the Broncos’ brain trust is no doubt searching for answers. It was the team’s second loss in the last three games and the only two regular season losses by more than 14 points since the team signed Manning in 2012. Sandwiched between the two losses was a win over the winless Oakland Raiders in which the team was trailing 10-6 before scoring 14 points in the final three minutes of the first half. There is more than enough blame to go around for the team’s struggles, but the root cause has been the offensive line play. No quarterback is more capable of hiding offensive line deficiencies than Manning, so the fact that the problems are so apparent has to be a major concern for the team going forward. “We’ve moved the ball fairly well all season,” Manning said Wednesday via denverbroncos. “For whatever reason we’ve gotten down to the 30-yard line, not even in the red zone last week, we’ve just got to finish them well.” Part of the issue is that the whole offensive line is playing poorly. When so many are struggling, it’s going to have a negative affect the quarterback and the running game. Teams can scheme around one or two ill-performing offensive linemen or replace them with backups, but the Broncos have already gone that route as well as shuffled a few of them around to little avail. Its worse than bad — its horrendous, said ex-Broncos offensive lineman turned ESPN analyst Mark Schlereth on ESPN 102.3 Denver via Benjamin Hochman of the Denver Post. I watch every game of every team every week. Its bad technique-wise, athleticism-wise, toughness-wise. If I was grading, giving an F would be kind. It may seem like Schlereth is being harsh, but he’s not that far off based on how the offensive line has played recently. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) has given every Broncos offensive lineman a negative grade this season except center Will Montgomery, who took over for Manny Ramirez just two games ago. “If theres a we-have-to-run-it situation, if theres a third-and-2, we might as well punt, because were going to get shoved in the backfield,” Schlereth went on to say. “They have to be more talented with schemes and getting guys open, because at this point, they cant block their way out of a wet paper sack. Never mind the fact that the Broncos converted a 3rd-and-1 last week against the Rams on the ground. Never mind the fact that they ran the ball just nine times last week—none of which were negative runs. Of the nine runs, five either were four yards or resulted in a first down—just a bit under what you would typically expect. In their three losses this season, the Broncos have rushed for just 107 yards combined and that’s just not good enough. In the passing game, the offensive line isn’t doing a bad job, but Manning’s interceptions have been the difference. The offensive line has been inconsistent more than it has been bad. Just over a month ago that the Broncos had 138 yards rushing on a 4.3 yards-per-carry average against the New York Jets, the No. 4 rush defense in the league. The personnel is shuffled around, but four of the five players are still the same. Schlereth said the Broncos need to fire them all and start over, but virtually the same personnel has been able to get the job done. Schlereth knows this—the former Broncos lineman who still uses the pronoun “we” when discussing the team as an NFL analyst is just trying to give the offensive line some external motivation. Its not easy forming chemistry in just two weeks. Whats that, just a handful of practices together?” Manning said Tuesday noting the changes the team already made to the offensive line via Tony E. Renck of the Denver Post. “There is a lot of communication that goes into playing offensive line in the NFL, especially in this offense. They are working hard at it. Manning does have a point. On Manning’s first interception last week against the Rams, the offensive line failed to block a blitzing defensive back, but otherwise the five players up front did an adequate job. Perhaps Manning himself made the wrong protection call, leaving the right guard Ramirez out to dry. In any case, this is a mental problem more than a physical problem. The offensive line and Manning can sort out these problems with practice reps. Manning had to rush the throw into tight coverage, didn’t throw it as accurately as he may have liked and it was intercepted. One of Manning’s two interceptions against the Raiders was a tipped pass on a backside screen out of play action that had nothing to do with the offensive line and the other was simply a bad throw by Manning with perfect protection. One of Manning’s two interceptions against the Patriots bounced off wide receiver Wes Welker’s chest, but the offensive line did a fine job giving him protection. What touched off this whole thing was Manning’s first interception against the Patriots in which linebacker Jamie Collins came right up the middle and made him uncomfortable in the pocket. Running back Ronnie Hillman had to block him while Ramirez and Louis Vasquez were left standing around. Every offensive line is going to have a few lapses and they are hurting the Broncos right now, but things can change quickly in the NFL. With renewed emphasis in practice and a little external pressure thanks to Schlereth, Denver’s offensive line can turn things around starting in Week 12 against a solid Miami Dolphins defense. Read more NFL news on BleacherReport #Football #NFL #AFCWest #DenverBroncos
Posted on: Thu, 20 Nov 2014 13:44:23 +0000