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Week 3 — Denver @ Green Bay: It's the O-line, stupid!

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I don't know a whole lot about football, perhaps as much as can be expected for someone watching her 2nd full season—ever—which I'll write about later—but come on. Isn't this obvious?

Yes, the offense hasn't clicked yet, and some plays have been WTFable.

Yes, Joe Flacco is not amazing, but I don't have the context to despise or doubt him like so many others.

Yes, the defensive drought is a complete freaking mystery, but I don't know enough about formations and the intricacies of defensive strategies to know why.

Yes, as #10 so eloquently stated, to be a Broncos fan right now is being in a world of suck.

But, seriously—the O-line is the main source of trouble for this team. Has been. Still is. THAT much I do know.

I know that if you have a classic pocket passer like Flacco, you have to have an offensive line to protect him while he allows routes to play out so he can find the best targets. No, he isn't a Hopkins or Jackson or Murray or Rodgers, neither in his legs or raw talent, so I don't know why the team didn't invest more in O-line protection for the guy they knew would be their QB.

Yes, they made some additions, but they also let go of some serious talent. Anyone else daydreaming about Matt Paradis? I also know some dudes are down with injury, but sometimes I cover my eyes while watching this line flail and hold and slip and spin around wondering where the action went, peeking between my fingers like a 7-year-old illicitly watching horror movies under a blanket.

Is this something that will get better before players come back from injury? I don't know—can it? Are guys not in their strongest positions and need a reshuffle? Is the Munchak magic taking longer than usual to take effect? Is there something I don't know about how offensive lines work that someone can clue me into?

The holding penalties for the first two weeks cost them games. They fixed that up this week, but it seems they can't defend Joe Flacco without holding. Watching a dude that big get knocked to the ground that often is cringe-worthy and dispiriting. For ME. Did you see Flacco's post-game presser? He looked as dejected as I've seen him in Denver.

Aside from a pocket as collapsible as a dinner napkin, they need blocking up front to create seams for one of the strongest offensive tools on this team: the run game. Weeks 1 and 2, the run game was abysmal, and it picked up last week, but the Packers were one of the worst in the league for run defense going into that game.

So make some pestering inquiries for Trent Williams, dammit. We don't need to make overtures for Jaylen Ramsay. Yes, the defense has got to get going, but Ramsay is not the right fit for this team. He doesn't like playing zone, and Fangio prizes versatility in his players, not guys who tell HIM how to play them. Both DC and Jacksonville insist no trades are coming, but we know what that means—make a better offer.

Claim guys off waivers. Sign free agents. Or figure out how to make this O-line effective enough to protect the QB and let the run game do its thing.

Now I will watch the Texans beat the Chargers just to watch Phillip Rivers lose. Gotta find happiness in football somewhere.


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