Improving the Broncos ground game isn’t just about the running backs

The Denver Broncos struggled to run the football last year. They finished 16th in the NFL in total rushing yards with 1,909, putting them squarely in the middle of the pack, and tied for 23rd in rushing touchdowns with 12. But those mediocre numbers were inflated by the fact that Bo Nix, the team’s quarterback, accounted for 430 of the rushing yards and four of the TDs on the ground. Take him out of the mix and Denver would’ve been near the bottom of the league in both categories.

Thus, it was no surprise that the Broncos invested in the running back position during they offseason. Hoping to jumpstart their rushing attack, Denver signed J.K. Dobbins as a free agent and drafted R.J. Harvey in the second round. Last year’s starter, Javonte Williams, is now in Dallas, while the rest of the room is vying for the third spot on the roster.

But it’s not just the backs who will be responsible for making Denver’s ground game better. According to Quinn Meinerz, there’s a lot more that goes into it.

“It’s not running back dependent,” the 2024 first-team All-Pro explained on Thursday after practice. “It’s more what our philosophy is in the run game. That has changed a little bit.”

That might have something to do with Sean Payton trusting his running game, to the point where he won’t have to write “Run the ball!” on his playsheet. Or it could be able the way the Broncos go about running the ball.

“It’s about all of us trusting that philosophy, trusting those angles, and all of us working together,” Meinerz added. “With running backs and o-line, they’re only as good as each other. Through this camp, we’re going to be working together to get this running game going.”

Upfront, the Broncos have a big advantage on that front. Denver returns all five starters from a year ago. The continuity that comes with that is invaluable.

“Having the same (offensive) line is incredible,” Meinerz explained. “We can just pick up right where we left off. All of our calls that we’ve developed throughout the years; we already kind of know what to do. We can move through our installs faster and we can get into more detail work and more technique stuff. A lot of the stuff that we’ve been building through the foundation is something we don’t have to really think about anymore.”

That allows more time for the o-line to get used to the new running backs they’re blocking for this season.

“Each back has their own individuality and personality to themselves,” the fifth-year right guard added. “Right now, what we’re trying to develop in our offense is a very specific and detailed run game. That is about all of us being on the same track and the same page, getting to the same landmark so that way we can all find success (by) all getting to the right places at the right time.”

Finding out how far they’ve come on assignment is key. And the Broncos have an advantage when it comes to testing their progress.

“It’s great to have a great defensive line and a great offensive line going together because it’s only going to make us better,” Meinerz explained. “It’s incredible to be able to go against Zach Allen every single day. I win some, he wins some, and it’s a nonstop battle. We both have a ton of passion and grit for this game.”

“When we’re out there battling and then when we’re done, we’re asking, ‘Hey, why did you do that? Why did you do this?’ We’re bouncing ideas off of each other because he also has that drive to be the best in the league. D.J. Jones is a hard person to move in the run game; we have such depth at all of these positions that I have to wake up every morning preparing to go against these guys.”

Yes, the Broncos needed to upgrade their running back room in order to improve their ground game. But according to one of the key players in the trenches, that wasn’t the only part of the fix.

Denver changed their philosophy when it comes to running the football. And they’re testing it every day a formidable d-line. Those two factors will play as big of a role in the Broncos being able to run the ball better in 2025 as the additions of Dobbins and/or Harvey.

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