Insider Reveals 'Big Reason' Mike McGlinchey Chose Broncos

Don't sleep on the importance of the Denver Broncos hiring Zach Strief to coach the offensive line.

Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton took a studious approach to hand-picking his inaugural coaching staff in the Mile High City. Some believed that his staff would be easily assembled in short order, but Payton took his own sweet time to make sure he got a diverse blend of individuals to help him turn the Broncos back into winners. 

One trusted ally Payton brought to Denver was offensive line coach Zach Strief, a former brawling offensive tackle for a dozen years in New Orleans. Strief is considered to be a rising star in the assistant coaching ranks, and NFL Network's James Palmer reports that he was factored in greatly to Mike McGlinchey's decision to sign with Denver. 

Palmer believes the 39-year-old Strief could prove crucial to Payton’s attempts to improve the offense and revitalize quarterback Russell Wilson.

“The one guy, outside of Sean Payton and Russell Wilson, we should keep our eye on is new offensive line coach Zach Strief. This is a guy who Sean Payton thinks is a special person, he targeted him right away. He knows this offense so well,” Palmer said in a segment with Andrew Siciliano. “It was a big reason, Andrew, that Mike McGlinchey was excited to join the Broncos so quickly because his position coach knows exactly what Sean Payton wants as he played the position for him for 12 seasons.”

Sean Payton has a very specific vision for the offseason. And it doesn’t even involve the 🏈. Also one person that could turn this #broncos offense around not named Wilson or Payton. My report on NFL NOW on @nflnetwork. pic.twitter.com/7qyUYnPFkl

— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) March 30, 2023

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Both Payton and Broncos GM George Paton have furnished Strief with three new offensive linemen in right tackle McGlinchey, left guard Ben Powers, and center Kyle Fuller, the last of whom could push incumbent starter Lloyd Cushenberry III for his job. These are the puzzle pieces for the relatively experienced Strief to maximize and fit together, and they represent a massive upgrade on what Denver had last season.

The addition of these lynchpins upfront should also allow Strief to coach them up as a group of experienced veterans, especially when you throw left tackle Garett Bolles into the mix. It’s quite a responsibility for Strief to micro-manage, but Palmer believes that the former first-team All-Pro right tackle has been put in a good position to succeed.

“So, what he does upfront, with all the moves they made in free agency to protect Russell Wilson. He might be a guy that really plays a very large role in turning round an offense that Sean Payton said, Andrew, was, ‘very difficult to watch a season ago’.” Palmer explained.

Payton tortured himself by sifting through hours of ugly 2022 film for the greater good of the future Broncos. Establishing exactly what needed to be reinforced led him to the firm belief that a huge chunk of the Walton/Penner ownership group's money should be spent upfront to keep his quarterback clean.

Most Broncos fans could have saved Payton all the pain and telegraphed to him the changes that needed to be made in the offensive trenches. At least Payton was savvy enough to recognize what coaching additions were required, as well as the personnel to turn Denver's ship around. 

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