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For the season, the Denver Broncos offensive line isn’t very good in pass protection according to Pro Football Focus. The pressure is certainly getting to Trevor Siemian, who is ranked near the bottom of the league in passing when pressured.
PFF ranked them 23rd overall, which is right where this offensive line was last season. Well, maybe slightly improved. It’s still not getting the job done, however.
23. DENVER BRONCOS
PFF Elite pass blocking efficiency: 73.7
Denver’s offensive line has allowed ten sacks, second-most in the league, while RT Menelik Watson has allowed seven of those by himself, and had given up six by the end of week two. Rookie LT Garett Bolles has given up 14 total pressures but just one sack.
Surprisingly, the New England Patriots ranked three spots lower at 26th. Tom Brady is getting worked just as badly as Siemian, which is good for the Broncos in a way since they play the Patriots later this season.
Against the Oakland Raiders, Siemian was actually much better than in previous weeks. His efficiency when under pressure actually improved in that game in comparison to the first three.
QB TREVOR SIEMIAN, 76.4 OVERALL GRADE
Siemian was strong throughout the game, dominating at the intermediate (10-19-yard) level, going 7-for-8 for 128 yards and a touchdown. He finished 16-of-26 overall, but his adjusted completion percentage of 81.8 percent ranked fourth in the NFL this week. Perhaps more impressive, Siemian was under pressure on 54.8 percent of his dropbacks, highest in the NFL this week, but he consistently found the open man and made plays both within and outside of the structure of the offense.
It is clear that the Broncos offensive line will be average at best in 2017 in pass protection, which means it will be on Siemian to adjust and make the plays in spite of that.
The run blocking has been so significantly improved that the focus should be on that end anyway. The formula for this offense should be run to setup the pass, which should keep the defense honest and the pressure a off of the offensive line some in pass protection.
Although, no one has asked me for my advice.