SPORTS BRONCOS’ OLINE FULL OF BUILDING BLOCKS
The Broncos aimed to use training camp and preseason games to prepare for every possible scenario. Some facts of NFL play simply can’t be simulated. Case in point: The first complete game with Denver’s retooled offensive line.
The combination of left tackle Garett Bolles, left guard Ron Leary, center Matt Paradis, right guard Connor McGovern and right tackle Jared Veldheer attempted to build chemistry as Denver’s starting unit throughout its offseason program and exhibition play. Teammates and coaches raved about improvement but until the regular season started, no one was sure how the unit would play.
Sunday’s 2724 season opening victory over Seattle provided a baseline.
“It’s the first time you’re actually playing a full game out there,” Veldheer said. “You get a lot more ebb and flow. There are some lulls you have to fight through.”
All five starters played all 74 snaps in the victory and committed just one penalty. That was an encouraging sign for Denver’s contrasting offensive tackles, each with something to prove. Bolles is a 2017 firstround draft pick whom the Broncos need to improve in Year 2, and Veldheer, a ninthyear pro making a return from ankle surgery, is in first season with the team.
Coach Vance Joseph said Veldheer “played really well” Sunday and Bolles “did some good things. He had a couple mental things he’s got to clean up.”
The overall impression, though, was a good one.
“As for the tackles, we played really well,” Joseph said. “We had one sack, and the one sack was on quickgame — the ball should’ve probably (been thrown) in the flat. … If we’re going to win games, keep (quarterback) Case (Keenum) clean and help Case play better and better each week; we’ve got to run the football and protect Case. So far, so good with those guys playing so well for us.”
Veldheer added: “Obviously, there’s a lot of stuff that we want to keep cleaning up. But doing enough things to get some good yardage out there is good.”
Bolles balanced learning with
success last season. He landed on the Pro Football Writers Association’s allrookie team but also led the Broncos with 15 penalties (10 holding, four false starts and one unnecessary roughness). Bolles told reporters he’s done addressing his play in 2017. Instead, he’ll describe the time he now spends after practice with Veldheer to refine small details that led to costly mistakes as a rookie.
“Understanding that if you want to be the best, you’ve got to practice the best and do things the best way. I feel like we do a great job with that,” Bolles said. “It starts with (offensive line/guards coach Sean) Kugler and (offensive line/tackles coach Chris) Strausser and their preparation. It’s a special thing. I’m excited to see where this goes, because we’re right on track and we’re heading in a good direction.”
The Broncos are also taking a new approach in best coaching to Bolles’ elite size (6foot5, 297 pounds) and unusual skill set. The results showed improvement in Week 1. Bolles did not allow a quarterback pressure in pass protection, per the Denver Post’s game charting, while Veldheer allowed one. Seattle’s one sack was the result of inside pressure.
“(Bolles) is a long, athletic tackle. We’re coaching him to set quicker and not give as much ground — to use his quickness on guys,” Joseph said. “If you’re facing a great rusher and you give him space, he can bully you or he can run around you. We’re getting Garett on guys quicker so he can use his feet and his great quickness to stand in front of guys quicker. It’s preventing him from being so soft in the pocket like he was last year.”
Next up is an Oakland team on short rest from a 3313 defeat Monday night to the Rams. In Jon Gruden’s coaching return, the Raiders sacked quarterback Jared Goff once and gave up 108 yards on the ground to running back Todd Gurley. Denver’s blend of veteran offensive line leadership between Veldheer, Paradis and Leary paired with budding talents in McGovern and Bolles bodes well for the future.
Most important, there is no confusion about roles.