3 Signs the Denver Broncos have Turned a Corner

When’s the last time you heard about Bolles?

Not even specifics, think back, when is the last time anyone has said Garett Bolles‘ name?  The pariah of the offensive line for the first quarter of the season, a source of side-eye glances at John Elway‘s draft choices, Bolles has put it together in the middle of his second season and has become the anchor of an offensive line that’s been continually in flux this season.

Denver Broncos

Not only have the drive-killing holding calls subsided, the instances of ends blowing around the second-year left tackle are few and far-between these days.  The two sacks that Denver has allowed in the last two games were both middle blitzes from the Steelers and neither stalled the Broncos offense.

Want some feathers to put in Bolles’ and the Denver OL’s cap?  Look up Melvin Ingram, Joey Bosa or T.J. Watt‘s stats over the last two weeks.  Top-tier, news-generating pass rushers held to minimal tackles and no sacks.  Granted, Bosa and Watt were both coming off of injuries but still, the makeshift line, with Bolles anchoring the left side has been nothing short of spectacular.

Another place the line play manifests itself is in the running game.  Far less scrutinized than their results in the pass game, the offensive line has supported the highest yards-per-carry team in the NFL.  The stout Steeler rush defense could not contain Denver’s two-headed, gear-shifting rookie running tandem.  Even displaced starter Devontae Booker has been a stout contributor, catching a difficult Keenum toss for a crucial first-down on Sunday.  The underused Denver rushing attack owes a lot to the offensive line.  That may be the thing that’s turning for this team, things that had been perceived as deficiencies have become points of pride for this team.

Someone that has an extra helping of local pride is making it harder and harder for media to ignore: