Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Fangio: Broncos LT Garett Bolles Plays With 'More Confidence Than is Warranted'
If we just go off the average, Denver Broncos left tackle Garett Bolles has been worth at least one penalty per game this season. And as bad as Bolles has been at times, the Broncos have actually been extremely lucky in how few of the penalties have actually been accepted by the opponent due to them happening often on a failed third-down play.
Through nine games, the former first-round pick has been penalized a whopping 11 times (10 holding, one false start), but only five have been accepted. The next most-penalized NFL player has nine. It's been quite atrocious and an ongoing issue for the Broncos since Bolles was drafted in 2017.
Despite having tremendous athletic gifts and prototypical size, Bolles just doesn't seem to get it. And the Broncos have been the epitome of long-suffering, going so far as to pay Mike Munchak — arguably the best O-line coach in the NFL — top dollar to attempt to reach and salvage their first-round investment.
Unfortunately, Bolles is a walking liability every snap he's on the field. Even when a play goes well, and succeeds, Bolles is often the hole in the boat, as exemplified on the Noah Fant 75-yard catch-and-run in Week 9 in which the left tackle whiffed on his block, allowing Olivier Vernon to crush QB Brandon Allen.
Despite Munchak's best efforts, nothing seems to sink in for Bolles. His technique remains flawed and inconsistent. And yet, when he speaks publicly, the player himself doesn't seem to understand that he's doing it wrong.
That speaks to a level of ignorance that is frankly terrifying. You could call it hubris, but even that word doesn't approach the lack of football IQ and awareness that Bolles displays.
“I think Garett kind of plays with more confidence than you think and maybe than is warranted," head coach Vic Fangio said on Monday. "He didn’t play too bad yesterday. Again, he’s a young player still, especially in light of his limited background in football before he got here. It’s our job to maximize and make sure we’re doing everything possible to develop him. If the guy has talent, we want to maximize every opportunity to develop it.”
The Broncos are doing everything they can to shape this rough stone into a polished gem. Munchak and his assistant, Chris Kuper, are putting in overtime on Bolles but he just doesn't get it. Three years into his NFL career, it's a pretty good indication that he never will.
The football tragedy of the Garett Bolles story is that rare talent that he does possess. There are eye-opening flashes of dominance on the field that make you sit up and take notice.
Eventually, and it doesn't take long, Bolles crashes back down to Earth and it's the same old story on a game-in, game-out basis.
Since Week 7 alone, Bolles has allowed 15 QB pressures, per Pro Football Focus. No other Broncos O-lineman has allowed more than five over that span.
The Broncos first order of business in 2020 should be replacing Bolles via the NFL Draft. This coming draft class is replete with offensive tackle talent and with the Broncos cruising for another top-10 pick, there's a good chance this team will be within striking distance of one of the blue-chip prospects at the position.
If indeed the Broncos replace Bolles in 2020, the team can keep him around. As a swing tackle, the team could do far worse than Bolles but the team is nearing a decision point with his fifth-year option coming up in the spring. I'd be stunned if Denver exercises the team option at this point.
Follow Chad on Twitter @ChadNJensen and @MileHighHuddle.
