Broncos 2022 Training Camp Preview: Interior offensive line

The Denver Broncos could be in a Super Bowl window in 2022. They have moved on from head coach Vic Fangio and replaced him with an innovative offensive mind in Nathaniel Hackett. Gone is the out-of-date offense of Pat Shurmur, replaced by West Coast concepts and a Shanahan-type system all Broncos fans should be familiar with.

With Fangio’s defense gone, the Broncos went out and got a future head coach in new defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero. We should see a more aggressive Broncos defense, and a better Broncos defense because of better coaching and a better understanding of the modern game.

It’s not just the coaching changes that puts the Broncos in a Super Bowl window, it was the blockbuster trade for a superstar quarterback that general manager George Paton was able to execute. Paton traded with the Seattle Seahawks to secure the services of Russell Wilson. With Wilson under center, the Broncos offense should be one of the best in the league. With a high-powered offense led by Wilson, the defense will be playing with a lead – which means they’ll be able to get after the opposing quarterback in ways we haven’t seen since the team won Super Bowl 50.

This is the second year under the guidance of Paton, and the team has done a good job of adding quality players via free agency and the NFL Draft – even though they didn’t have a first-round pick due to the Wilson trade. However, there are questions that need answers before the start of the regular season. In this series at DenverFan.com, we will go through each position group searching for those answers during training camp.

This is the latest part in our Training Camp Preview. Today, we’ll take a deep dive into the interior offensive line.

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Starters: Dalton Risner (LG), Lloyd Cushenberry (OC), Quinn Meinerz (RG)

Dalton Risner is in a contract year, and this system implemented by Hackett should help him play up to his potential. A second-round pick in the 2019 NFL draft, Risner had a great rookie year and looked like a player who would soon go to multiple Pro Bowls. That hasn’t happened. Instead, over the last two years we’ve seen Risner’s game kind of level off. He’s been in a bad system, trying to make up for poor quarterback play, and trying to teach two players around him what to do. This year, Risner is back to the movement and power combination that can make him a star at the guard position. The skill is certainly there, and with Wilson at quarterback it should greatly help what Risner does up front. If you’re looking for a leader on the offensive line, look no further than Risner. He could earn a lot of money in this contract year, and hopefully the Broncos are still able to afford him after this season.

Lloyd Cushenberry has taken some time to get going in the NFL, just like most centers do. Now is the time for the third-year pro to round out his game and play like the Broncos expected when they selected him in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Cushenberry is smart, and he certainly has the prerequisite athleticism for this wide zone system. He’s not mean, and even though teammates have told me he’s getting better in that department, I just don’t think that’s going to be a part of his game. Cushenberry is not going to “out physical” an opponent. Instead, he’s going to use his knowledge and understanding of leverage (and angles) to best his man time and time again. If Cushenberry does not play well this season, after two seasons of average (at best) play, then the Broncos should be looking for an upgrade at the position. In 2022, it’s now or never for Cushenberry.

It’s not in pen, but it’s okay to pencil in Quinn Meinerz as the starter at right guard. He’s going to get competition for the starting job, but I fully expect him to win the position. Meinerz has trimmed down and no longer boasts the huge belly that he was known for in college at tiny Wisconsin-Whitewater. He’s still big, but Meinerz looks like he’s more capable of moving fluidly with the weight loss. That’s a boost in this system which requires all offensive linemen to move well and block on the move. Meinerz is tough, and he does have a physical presence when going up against defensive linemen. He wants to intimidate his man, and so long as his mechanics don’t go awry, Meinerz can do that.

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Reserves: Graham Glasgow (OG), Netani Muti (OG), Luke Wattenberg (OC), Michael Niese (OG), Zack Johnson (OG), Ben Braden (OG)

Behind the three starters on the interior offensive line, the Broncos have a nice collection of players with varying levels of experience. I can see a few of these guys making the final roster or the practice squad, but who is going to depend on what happens in training camp. It won’t get the headlines of other positions, but this spot will feature some of the best camp battles we get in 2022.

Graham Glasgow might win the starting job at right guard. The veteran took a pay cut earlier this offseason to stay with the team, but his roster spot is not guaranteed – even with his extensive experience. Glasgow has failed to play up to expectations during his time with the Broncos. He has talent, strength and athleticism from the guard position, but injuries (mainly) have knocked him off track in Denver. This year is his last chance to prove he can make it with this team.

Netani Muti has been moved across the line of scrimmage this offseason as the team looks to see if he can be the swing guard they need. In fact, Muti has seen some first team work during OTAs and mandatory minicamp. It looks like this team has no problem leaning on him in a larger role if they need to. Muti is a powerful player, and that helps on a team that wants to set the tone with the ground game. However, I like what I’ve seen from Muti in terms of athletic movement this offseason. He’s certainly improved that part of his game, and that will come in handy because of the movement he’ll need to master in the wide zone system.

In the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, the Broncos selected Luke Wattenberg out of Washington. He spent six years with the Huskies, with four seasons of starting experience at guard and center. Wattenberg has the length and athleticism to work well in space. He does a good job with hand placement, and Wattenberg is always looking to help wherever he can up front. Wattenberg is a smart player, but he does need more experience when it comes to twists and stunts. He also needs to add more functional strength, and a year or two on the practice squad is not a bad projection before he gets a chance to do more.

Ben Braden followed Hackett over from the Green Bay Packers, and he signed a one-year, $965,000 contract with the Broncos in free agency. Undrafted out of Michigan in 2017, Braden has bounced around the league with a few teams including two separate stints with the New York Jets and Packers. He’s appeared in 16 career games during that time, mostly playing on special teams. He knows the Hackett system, and that will give him a leg up in the competition. However, the Broncos have a deep and talented group so even a reliable player like Braden may be on the outside looking in when it comes to making the final roster.

Michael Niese was added as an undrafted free agent after the 2022 NFL Draft. He was a tackle during his college career at Temple, but I feel his skill translates to the guard position in the pros. I like the way Niese plays with power and tries to take his man out of the play. He tests well athletically, and that will work well in the wide zone system the Broncos have. Niese could be a swing guard at the pro level, and he could kick out to tackle in an emergency. It’s that versatility which makes him a good bet for the practice squad where he can build strength and further develop his skill.

Zack Johnson has a lot of work to do to get a spot on the practice squad. He’s already been waived by the team then added back to the offseason roster earlier this year in May. Undrafted out of North Dakota State in 2020, Johnson originally signed with the Packers. He stayed with them for roughly a year and a half, then spent some time with the Arizona Cardinals before landing with the Broncos late last season. The team thought enough of him to sign Johnson to a futures contract after the season, and now it’s on him to see if he can stay with the team and continue as a developmental player.

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Summary

The wide zone blocking scheme should work well for the interior offensive line. Protecting Wilson is their top priority, but this group’s performance is going to be paramount when it comes to opening holes for the rushing attack. Evening though the Broncos offense is going to “let Russ cook” they will start (and likely finish) with a strong ground game.

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