Mile High Sports

Broncos offensive line becoming a punchline

Casey Light

It sounds like the start of a bad joke.

“How bad is the Denver Broncos offensive line?”

“I don’t know, Mr. Comedian. How bad is it?”

The Denver Broncos offensive line is so bad, or at least the perception is that it’s so bad, that most analysts have stopped trying to give real evaluation and criticism and have resorted to one-liners and barbs to try and bring levity to a situation that – at least for the first half in Sunday night’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs – has Broncos Country doubled over (and not with laughter).

And the barbs aren’t just coming from scribes and talking heads. Even guys who have played the game at the highest level – and won championships there – can’t help but poke fun at how things are unfolding on Denver’s o-line.

But first, a disclaimer.

The Broncos offensive line is not as bad as it’s being made out to be on the whole. In fact, it boasts some very solid players – even one of the best at his position.

Matt Paradis, last year’s NFL iron man, has become one of the best centers in the league. Yes, he missed an assignment last night and let his running back get bulldozed for a loss, but it was one of the few missed plays he’s accumulated all season. Paradis earned a midseason All-Pro nod from Pro Football Focus and was (again) Denver’s top-graded offensive player against Kansas City.

Second-year guard Max Garcia has established himself on the left side, and while he’s had down games, he’s been a mostly consistent presence in both the run and pass block. Michael Schofield, who flanks Paradis at right guard, was last year’s pariah at right tackle. Schofield was routinely overmatched against elite pass rushers, hitting a low against Oakland when Khalil Mack recorded five sacks in one half. At guard this year he’s been surprisingly consistent – although not great.

Ty Sambrailo nearly outdid Schofield’s terrible half on Sunday, however, as Justin Houston made a human turnstile out of the Colorado State product. Sambrailo had to be benched in favor of Donald Stephenson, who had only recently lost his starting job to Sambrailo. Give Donald Stephenson credit, though. He played much better in relief of Sambrailo last night.

On the left side, Russell Okung has experienced more than his share of struggles this year. He and Max Garcia shared responsibility for the safety Houston caused in the second quarter against Kansas City. It was the second time Okung’s play resulted in a safety this year (the other was on a holding penalty in the end zone).

Yes, Denver’s offensive line has struggled. But the bulk of their collapse has been on the edges. All five of Kansas City’s sacks came off the edge, or as a result of edge pressure.

Gary Kubiak still refuses to play six linemen against elite pass rushers (even though Kansas City and Oakland have done it against Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware this season), and John Elway wasn’t willing (or able) to make a move at the trade deadline to bolster the struggling unit. We’ve now reached the point where the Denver media (and beyond) is no longer offering ideas to solve the problem and has resorted to comedy to salve the wounds the offensive line creates week after week.

The jokes won’t heal Trevor Siemian, who is finally getting healthy after a shoulder injury caused by – you guessed it – a sack, but they might lighten your mood a little after a loss.

Here’s a few of the best quips about the offensive line that were making the rounds on Twitter during last night’s loss…

The jokes started a bit tongue in cheek, with hashtag mentions…

Matt McChesney, who runs one of the top high school and college training facilities in the state, was probably quite serious about offering his services – but the fact that he needed to make the offer is good for a chuckle…

https://twitter.com/SixZeroStrength/status/803053254116573188

Shannon Sharpe offered this quip in response to a question about whether or not Tony Romo makes sense in Denver…

Eric Goodman offered this analysis of Sambrailo’s play, which was fitting for the change in seasons….

Shawn Drotar took a more contemplative, 21st century look at things…

Ryan Green wasn’t content with Drotar’s Swiss cheese comparison…

McChesney chimed in with his own emoji take on replacing Sambrailo with Stephenson, who spent four years trying to guard the KC rushers in practice…

https://twitter.com/SixZeroStrength/status/803064381793714176

Mark Schlereth returned to the high school theme, tossing this barb that suggests one of Colorado’s top prep schools would be disappointed with Denver’s o-line play…

Chad Brown found another modern form of derision, noting that Stephenson and Sambrailo were popular in all the wrong ways on Twitter.

Gary Kubiak and Trevor Siemian probably aren’t finding much humor in the o-line’s play, but there’s little the rest of us can do at this point but try and laugh.

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