Offensive Line Grade: C
In Thursday’s game against the San Diego Chargers, the offensive line received good news as Donald Stephenson returned back to the lineup. Stephenson played poorly facing Joey Bosa most of the night. A young quarterback makes any defender lick its chops. It is up to the “hog mollies” upfront to not let any pressure hit the quarterback.
Problems continued on Sunday as Stephenson, Garcia and Schofield failed to maintain any sort of good hand placement in blocking. This allowed Bosa and Melvin Ingram clean Siemian’s clock every chance they were given. Russell Okung became a hot target in the penalty department, but the Broncos’ best offensive linemen played well all told.
The identity crisis of the offensive line needs to be figured out, since we are now in the mid-season of the NFL. When the Broncos face the Oakland Raiders on Sunday Night Football, they must do what all linemen love and run the ball at the teeth of the Raiders. This gives the offensive more time to gel during the game in both passing and running. John Elway and the rest of the front office gave the group a boost by not acquiring Joe Thomas or Joe Staley from the Browns and 49ers, respectively.