How good can the Denver Broncos OL be in 2022?

With four of five starters returning for the Denver Broncos offensive line in 2022, how good can this unit be under new OL coach Butch Barry and a new offensive scheme?

There are big changes in store for the Denver Broncos offense this upcoming season, as former Packers offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett takes the reins, 49ers assistant OL coach Butch Barry steps in to replace Mike Munchak as the Broncos OL coach, and QB Russell Wilson replaces Drew Lock and Teddy Bridgewater at the most important position on the field.

With all that change, however, one of the areas that will look quite similarly for Denver is its starting offensive line, which is currently set to return four starters from its 2021 unit with Billy Turner as a new addition. 

The question becomes though, how good can this unit be? Can the Broncos’ offensive line keep Russell Wilson upright and protected? Can they clear rushing lanes for Javonte Williams and Melvin Gordon? And how much will the new offensive schemes change their production?

Denver Broncos Run Blocking

Last season, the Broncos finished 12th in the league in rushing yards per game, averaging just under 120 yards per contest.

With a ridiculously even split in carries and yards between veteran Melvin Gordon III and rookie Javonte Williams, the Broncos were able to pick up yards on the ground with some frequency.

With Nathaniel Hackett and offensive coordinator Justin Outten taking over, the expectation is that the Broncos will employ a more zone-based rushing attack, after Pat Shurmur’s more varied approach in 2021.

This is a very common theme throughout the league, with offensive masterminds such as Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay finding a lot of sense with their zone-oriented attacks, and building complex but efficient passing attacks around their run scheme.

Thankfully, the Broncos’ offense is well suited to make these changes. One of the main features of zone rushing is an emphasis on an athletic offensive line that can scoop and reach blockers to their playside zones.

Left tackle Garett Bolles, for example, is a terrific athlete, testing exceptionally well coming out of college, and continuing to put that athleticism on display as he’s developed in the NFL.

And using the Relative Athletic Score system as a gauge of athleticism, every single one of Denver’s current starters tested above 7.00 all-time, indicating a high focus from the previous regime on bringing in an athletic line.

And not only is the offensive line well suited to this type of system but it should not be discounted that a significant upgrade in quarterback play can help open things up for the run game.

With more limited passers like Drew Lock and Teddy Bridgewater running the offense last year, defenses were able to stack the box with additional defenders more frequently, leading to tougher assignments for the offensive line and tight ends in the run game.

With QB Russell Wilson stepping, defenses will need to respect the Broncos’ passing attack much more in 2022, leading to lighter boxes when the Broncos choose to put the ball on the ground.