The Denver Broncos’ rushing problems have been easy to pin on the backs, but the bigger issue may be sitting right in front of them.
With Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline set for 2 p.m. MT, most of the chatter around Denver has centered on a possible running back addition.
That makes sense on the surface. J.K.
Dobbins has been part of the age concern, R.J. Harvey has dealt with injury, and Jonah Coleman is still young and unproven.
Together, that group has left the Broncos with a ground game that simply hasn’t produced.
Through nine games, Denver ranks 23rd in rushing yards with 823, 27th in yards per game at 91.4, and is tied for 28th in yards per carry at 3.7. The ball security has been shaky too, with the Broncos tied for fifth in fumbles at 14. Their rushing offense has an expected points contributed figure of -20.45, sixth-worst in the league.
For perspective, the Buffalo Bills lead that category at 32.12. The stat is designed to show how much each run changes a team’s expected scoring chances by factoring in things like down, distance, and field position.
Still, the issue may not be the runner as much as the road in front of him.
After Denver’s 26-21 win over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, Erick Trickel of Denver Broncos On SI pointed to a broader problem with the blocking and the way the run game is being called. As he wrote, "The Broncos have a systemic issue with their blockers, though it isn’t all on the offensive line.
The issue is everywhere, from the O-line to the tight ends to the wideouts....[ And] it's not just the blocking; this run game is suffering from a convoluted scheme and inconsistent play calls.
A single running back won't be a miracle solution."
That game offered another snapshot of the same frustration. Against a Carolina defense that entered Sunday ranked in the bottom third of most traditional run-defense metrics, Denver carried the ball 27 times for 82 yards, just over 3.0 yards per attempt. That output landed slightly below the Broncos’ season average.
Trickel also noted that center Luke Wattenberg has graded out as the league’s worst run-blocking center so far this season. Quinn Meinerz and Ben Powers, usually a dependable guard duo, have also struggled when matched with larger defensive tackles.
What makes that especially notable is the continuity. Wattenberg, Meinerz, Powers, Mike McGlinchey and Garrett Bolles have all been trusted veterans, and none has missed a game this season. So unlike many teams around the league, Denver’s issues haven’t been driven by injuries reshuffling the line.
The tight ends haven’t helped much either. According to Trickel, both Evan Engram and Adam Trautman have graded out among the league’s worst-blocking tight ends this season, which only adds to the picture of a run game getting little help from anywhere.
That leaves George Paton with a difficult question as the deadline approaches: does he make a move, and if so, where? The Broncos do not have the draft capital to chase a major splash, which makes the long-discussed idea of trading for Jonathan Taylor of the Indianapolis Colts look more like wishful thinking than a realistic plan.
An interior offensive line upgrade could be the more plausible route, but the market is thin. The biggest name mentioned, Colts Pro Bowl guard Quenton Nelson, has already been traded to the Seattle Seahawks, where he is already sidelined with a knee injury.
Landon Dickerson of the Philadelphia Eagles has also been floated in rumors, though he has spent most of the season on injured reserve with an ankle injury. Jackson Powers-Johnson has reportedly fallen out of favor with the Las Vegas Raiders, but a deal with a division rival would be a tough sell.
Denver is on its bye week now, which gives the team a little time to decide whether to stay put or try to fix a problem that looks bigger than one running back. The Broncos return Nov. 22 against the Raiders.
In Other News...
Broncos Deadline Push Reveals How Far They Wanted To Go
The Broncos were active right up to the trade deadline, and their pursuit of Tennessee running back Tony Pollard showed they were willing to keep pressing for help even after making one move already. Denver did land linebacker Daiyan Henley from the Chargers for future draft picks, but the interest in Pollard pointed to a front office still looking for ways to add more juice to the roster.
Pollard, in the final year of his contract, has remained productive despite Tennessees rough season, which helps explain why the Titans were not eager to let him go. For Denver, the failed push leaves a clearer picture of how aggressive it wanted to be, and how close it came to adding another proven piece before the deadline passed. [Read more 🡒]
Bo Nix Is Rising As One Broncos Concern Finally Eases
Bo Nixs recent run has given the Broncos a little more breathing room, and it has come at a time when the offense badly needed it. Over the past three games, Denver has strung together three straight wins, with Nix completing 60 of 98 passes for 681 yards, five touchdowns and one interception while the overall operation has looked steadier around him.
Just as important, the pocket has started to calm down after Sean Payton spent time acknowledging the protection and technique issues that helped fuel the earlier turbulence. Denver now heads into its bye with a clearer sense that the quarterback situation is settling, but the real test will be whether that improvement holds once the schedule picks back up. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Just Made Jonah Coleman's Role Much More Important
The Broncos only move at the trade deadline was a deal with the Chargers for linebacker Daiyan Henley, a move that cost Denver two draft picks and addressed the defense rather than the backfield. For the offense, the more telling decision was what did not happen, since the team passed on adding a running back even as the position has become a little more fragile in recent weeks.
That puts a brighter spotlight on Jonah Coleman, who has been seeing more carries since coming back from injured reserve. J.K. Dobbins workload has trended down lately, and RJ Harvey is still on injured reserve until early December, so Denver is leaning into Colemans role at a time when the depth chart could have used another veteran option. [Read more 🡒]