Sean Payton believes Ben Powers can anchor Broncos’ offensive line
Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton made it a priority to improve the team’s offensive line when he joined the club earlier this year.
Among the coach’s steps to make that happen were bringing in Zach Strief as the new offensive line coach followed by signing right tackle Mike McGlinchey and guard Ben Powers early in free agency.
Powers received a four-year, $52 million contract that was a clear sign Denver placed a big emphasis on fixing the offensive line.
So far, so good for the new guard.
“He’s doing well,” coach Sean Payton said Thursday. “The toughest group in these practices — the challenges are for the offensive and defensive linemen. The skill guys are in space, but it’s hard when they’re competing for the same gap in a run play. Back to Ben — [he is] all of the things you’re looking for. His skillset, he’s strong, and he’s smart. There are certain things you look for in an offensive lineman. He can anchor, and I think that’s important.
“The significance of your guards — and we had a couple of really good guards throughout the years with Drew [Brees] — and the significance for Russell [Wilson], I think that’s important. His makeup — I mean, he loves football. He certainly was a target and then he also comes from a place that’s used to winning. That room has had probably the biggest turnover of any, and I think that’ll serve us well.”
Powers is expected to start across from Quinn Meinerz at guard this season with Garett Bolles at left tackle and McGlinchey at right tackle. Right now, Lloyd Cushenberry is penciled in as the team’s center for 2023.
If Powers and McGlinchey perform the way Payton expects them to, the Broncos’ offensive line will undoubtedly take a big step forward this fall.
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