What to look for from the Broncos' O-line in preseason Game 2

One preseason game in, and the Denver Broncos' starters along the offensive line passed.

While it might have been a low stakes preseason game in which almost none of the opponent’s starting pass rushers were playing, the likes of Garett Bolles, Dalton Risner, and Connor McGovern played well in their few series going up against the Atlanta Falcons in the Hall of Fame Game.

Nobody was really worried about the Broncos’ second-round pick Dalton Risner heading into the preseason. Sure, he may not possess the power and bullying mentality of a Quenton Nelson or the athletic upside of a Brandon Scherff, but Risner did about as well as anyone could have hoped.

Honestly, in the first viewing of the game, he didn’t stand out in any real way. Typically, if an offensive lineman goes unnoticed, he’s doing his job. From solid run blocking in which the first offensive units out there ran the ball quite effectively, to the pass blocking in which there was little to no interior pressure, Risner is off to a stable start, a much needed sigh of relief for at least one position along the Broncos’ offensive line.

While Risner, even being a rookie, was steady in the game as he has been throughout camp, Bolles and McGovern were the real concerns along the offensive line and a big reason the trio started the team’s ‘bonus’ preseason game for extra reps in an attempt to build chemistry and confidence.

The former first-round pick Garett Bolles has had a tumultuous start to his career from mental gaffes, a propensity to draw flags, and inconsistencies in pass protection.

For the most part, Bolles did his job delivering some nice blows in run game when moving. Bolles does not possess heavy hands, and has a tendency to lean and not establish leverage due to this, but he did okay using his superb feet to counteract this trait.

Furthermore, Bolles and Risner did a solid job passing off pass rushers and reading pressure in all but essentially one rep where he did get to the edge rusher a tad late and get his shoulders perpendicular to the line of scrimmage, often a sign of a tackle being ‘beat’ in the NFL.

As Yahoo Sports Senior NFL Reporter Charles Robinson reported, Risner is already having a positive impact on Bolles’ game and mentality this early in camp. If Risner can continue to push and stabilize Bolles, along with the helpful hand of Mike Munchak, perhaps the Bolles pick can be salvaged yet. Even if he ends up an ‘average’ tackle, given the scarcity of the position, that should be good enough for Bolles’ rookie contract.

Bolles has been the bigger concern so far in his career given he is a former first-rounder playing the all-important left tackle position, but the real fear coming out of camp has been the inconsistencies snapping the football to the QB in shotgun from McGovern.

McGovern played guard for the most part last season, doing well in the run game but was up and down in pass protection. However, after Matt Paradis went down, McGovern slid over to center and his play dropped.

Despite having a full offseason to prepare for the duties of the center position, McGovern’s struggles snapping the ball have been widely reported. Previously, OC Rich Scangarello said he wasn’t concerned with the snapping issues given how long the team has until Week 1 is here, but the snaps must be cleaned up as soon as possible so the offense can get in their work and not waste reps during practice and preseason.

Luckily for the Broncos, McGovern snapped the ball ‘fine’ with no mishaps against the Falcons, while also generating some push against the Falcons on the ground game. True, the Falcons were not playing star pass rushers such as defensive tackle Grady Jarrett to test the center, but McGovern snapping the ball and blocking well (along with Risner and Bolles) is exactly what one should expect from first-team offensive linemen going up against second and third-string opponents.

The Broncos now move on to play the Seattle Seahawks, a team once highly formidable on defense. While the Legion of Boom was the unit that received the most publicity, the depth and specialization of Seattle’s defensive line was equally important for their Super Bowl run and dismantling of the Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII.

The likes of Cliff Avril, Brandon Mebane, Michael Bennett, Chris Clemons, Red Bryant, and Bruce Irvin are now gone, as well as the dominance that once was that Seattle Seahawks' defense.

Not only has the defense regressed to the mean for the Seahawks, but the 2019 defensive line has taken multiple hits early on. From trading far and away their best pass rusher in Frank Clark to the Kansas City Chiefs, to the suspension of Jarran Reed, to the injury of L.J. Collier, Seattle’s defensive line has lost not only quality, but depth.

This should help the Broncos’ offensive line throughout the entirety of the preseason game. Even veteran starter Ziggy Ansah, who had one great season but has been injured and inconsistent since, might not play. The likes of Cassius Marsh, Nazair Jones, Rasheem Green, Poona Ford, and Earl Mitchell should scare no one.

With the left side of the line getting another chance to put out uneventful tape against a somewhat decimated defensive line (not good news for Seattle before they even play a single preseason game), Ronald Leary and Ja'Wuan James may get a chance to join the fun and get their feet wet in what should be the equivalent of batting in a slow-pitch beer league softball game.

It would not be surprising given the veteran status and injury history of both Leary and James if both barely played, if at all, but this is a good chance for the entire starting five to go out, get some action, and gain some confidence.

As I noted in my piece last week focusing on the offense's unanswered questions, entering the season, the offensive line’s ability to pass block will be highly indicative on the success of the Broncos in 2019. Joe Flacco, despite some players complimenting his athleticism, is very much a pocket-dependent quarterback.

When afforded time and the ability to throw the football cleanly, Flacco can make the right read and put the ball in the right spot. However, when asked to make plays out of the pocket or under duress, Flacco’s athleticism — or lack thereof — shows and his efficiency drops.

Furthermore, while the Broncos’ offensive line was one of the best run-blocking units in the league in 2018, there is no guarantee the unit will be so effective opening lanes in this year, given the new scheme, new players, and new coaches. The unit showing they can blast open holes for the backs would be a calming and welcome site against a hobbled Seattle defensive line.

The Broncos' offensive line has been one of the team’s main Achilles heel for years now, but early signs point to a possible turnaround. How the unit does against Seattle will be another indicator if the line is improving, or still stuck in mediocrity.

Follow Nick on Twitter @NickKendellMHH.

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