Broncos OL Quinn Meinerz Highlighted in ESPN Poll of NFL Personnel
The Denver Broncos' 2022 season is one that should be forgotten. It was characterized by incompetent coaching, a cavalcade of injuries, horrendous quarterback play, and a lack of execution on the offensive line.
Despite the unfavorable circumstances from last season, there are a few bright spots on the Broncos' roster. One player garnering some notice is right guard Quinn Meinerz.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler conducted a poll of over 80 NFL executives, coaches, scouts, and players to provide a ranking of the best players at each position in the league. Meinerz received an honorable mention at his position, and rightfully so.
With a height of 6-foot-3, and a weight of 320 lbs, the 24-year-old Meinerz started 13 games for the Broncos last year. He was only penalized twice and allowed 3.5 sacks.
In addition, Meinerz's run-blocking acumen was sharp. According to Pro Football Focus, he earned an overall grade of 77.7 — good enough to be considered the sixth-best guard in the NFL.
There were situations where Meinerz was used in a combo block — either with a tackle or center to post or seal the block. Most of the time, he was able to block his defensive lineman successfully and get to the second level.
However, the center or tackle used in tandem with Meinerz did not hold up at the point of attack. Such lapses cause the entire offensive line to fail.
One of the keys for Meinerz to take the next step is to also be a force in pass protection. It's encouraging that he allowed just 16 pressures on approximately 500 pass-blocking snaps last year.
With the addition of offensive line coach Zack Strief, right tackle Mike McGlinchey, and left guard Ben Powers, Meinerz will improve. His contribution should lead to more successful execution of the Broncos’ O-line and allow such a unit to live up to the hype of PFF’s top-5 ranking in the AFC.
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