Bolles confident he can turn around his career trajectory this season
From the time he was drafted 20th overall in 2017, Garett Bolles has undergone a steep learning curve in the NFL.
In addition to inconsistent blocking, Bolles became known more for his multitude of holding calls than his play. He’s been booed on multiple occasions by Broncos fans. And he had his fifth-year option declined this offseason, a sign the Broncos don’t trust Bolles as their left tackle of the future.
The 28-year-old has heard all such criticisms loud and clear, and he’s ready to prove he can be counted on to protect quarterback Drew Lock’s blindside.
“It’s unacceptable the way that I played and I take full responsibility for that,” Bolles said Thursday. “I put in that time (in the offseason) because I knew coming into this year, I had to do whatever I could to be the man so this organization can trust me and the fans can trust me.”
Bolles put on about 20 pounds this offseason and is now around 310 pounds. He said he’s focused on honing his mental game as he’s never been shy of showing his emotions.
“When something happens, I have to let it go and move on to the next play,” he said.
Another year of tutelage under offensive coach Mike Munchak has also given Bolles, who has started 16 games in each of his first three seasons, confidence he will develop more consistency.
“This is the first time in my career I’ve had the same o-line coach two years in a row,” Bolles said. “Our relationship has continued to get better, and I trust him, I believe in him, and I know he believes in me.”
As for playing in what is now a contract year — Bolles will make $3.5 million in 2020 and be a free agent next March — the lineman said that “was out of my control.”
“I can’t dictate what Mr. (John) Elway or those guys up front do,” Bolles said. “What I can dictate is how I play on the football field… My agent will take care of that when the time comes. If I play good football and be the best I can be, I know I can be in this league for a long time.”
Bolles adamantly disagreed with my suggestion he’s a hothead who lets uncontrolled emotion defeat him.
“I’m a very emotional guy. I play with a passion. That’s something that I think is a huge attribute for me. I think that’s why the Broncos drafted me, because I have that energy,” Bolles said. “I don’t want to say it got the best of me, because I don’t believe that’s true. There are things that happen on the football field that I can’t control. I just have to continue to get better, work better, work on my technique, make sure that my hands are in the right, proper areas so I don’t get called on holding and things like that.”
The catcalls won’t stop until the penalty flags stop flying.
Tune out the noise? Impossible. Bolles hears Broncos Country jeer him. Loud and clear.
“Nobody wants to get booed,” Bolles said.
Bolles has been penalized so often during three pro seasons the name above No. 72 on his jersey could be changed to Holding.
“It’s unacceptable the way I played,” said Bolles, taking full responsibility.
During the first eight games of 2019, my colleague Ryan O’Halloran reviewed the tape and booked Bolles as the guilty party for five sacks, two knockdowns and eight QB pressures, not to mention nine penalties, including four that were enforced.
In the final eight games, his mess-ups were far less frequent: no sacks, three knockdowns and two pressures. Bolles, however, might’ve received less credit than he deserved during the second half of last season because he committed eight of those annoying penalties that have defined his career and caused endless cackling by the boo-birds.
There’s no doubt his blocking grades did improve in 2019, especially after a young and mobile Lock took over as the starting quarterback. But the bottom line in a league where money talks? He wasn’t impressive enough for Elway and the front office braintrust to pick up the fifth-year option on Bolles’ rookie contract.
As it now stands, Bolles is scheduled to count $3.5 million against the team’s salary cap in 2020 and become a free agent next March.
“I can’t dictate what Mr. Elway and those guys up front do,” said Bolles, the 20th overall selection in the 2017 NFL draft. “What I can dictate is how I play on the football field.”
In appreciation for making the Pro Bowl nine times as a guard with the Houston Oilers, Munchak was presented with a gold jacket by the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001.
If he can save Bolles from being a first-round bust, Munchak should be invited back to Canton, Ohio, on the 20th anniversary of his induction to be awarded a second gold jacket, keys to the city and a proclamation decreeing him mayor for life.