Joel Klatt says Broncos’ offensive line, not the running back, is holding back the offense

The Denver Broncos are 6-2 and atop their division. Joel Klatt, the FOX lead college football analyst who grew up a Broncos fan, is still not sure how they got there.

During his weekly visit with the “Stokley and Evans with Mark Schlereth,” Klatt called Sunday’s win over Kansas City one of the most emotionally gripping games he can remember, and credited a defense that got after the quarterback.

But he kept returning to the other side of the ball. The Broncos are 30th in total offense at 273 yards per game, and Klatt said that if everyone is being honest, they are a little surprised Denver leads the division at all.

The problem is up front

Asked whether running back Jonah Coleman can carry the load, Klatt said the question points at the wrong position group. He thinks Coleman is fine and that running backs are often dependent contributors in the run game.

“I don’t think it’s a running back issue. I think it’s an O-line issue,” Klatt said.

He backed that with an eye test he ran while watching with his father, an 81-year-old former coach who coached for 30 years. Klatt said the backs don’t get front-side movement, and he questioned where the idea of a good Denver line came from.

“I don’t know where this notion came from that Denver has a good offensive line,” Klatt said.

A quarterback who checks it down

Klatt connects the line to quarterback Bo Nix. He said Nix keeps checking the ball down on first-progression timing, even when no pressure is imminent and a deeper route is open.

“This guy either doesn’t trust his ankle or doesn’t trust the five guys in front of him,” Klatt said.

His diagnosis is a trio of words: confidence, belief and trust. Nix has shown he can make the throws, Klatt said, and he cited a seam throw to Jaylen Waddle. The issue is consistency. A quarterback needs confidence in himself, belief in the concept and trust in his line and receivers, and Klatt sees small steps toward all three.

Why third down decides the season

Denver is last in the NFL with a 29 percent third-down conversion rate. Klatt said the defense will wear out under that burden, and the habit of completing passes short of the sticks makes him want to throw things at the television.

But he sees a path. The early schedule was front-loaded, with the Chiefs twice, the Seahawks, the 49ers, the Rams and others, and the next stretch looks softer. Carolina, Las Vegas, Miami and the Jets among the next six games. Klatt said that gives the offense a chance to stay on the field and protect its defense.

“If I have to scream one more time at the TV, I don’t know what I’m gonna do,” Klatt said.

The argument comes down to whether Denver’s offense can grow while the schedule is kind. If it can, Klatt sees room for a run. If not, he expects the defense to tire.

Disclosure: This article was transcribed from our original audio content and edited for readability with the assistance of generative AI. The article has been reviewed by our editorial team prior to publication. Please watch or listen to the clip above for the full segment.

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