Key matchup to watch: Can Broncos' LT Garett Bolles neutralize Yannick Ngakoue?

After three games so far, the Denver Broncos sit at 0-3. From blaming the coaches, the defense, the quarterback, to the offensive line, the Broncos have earned their record playing inconsistent football, losing the turnover battle, and not doing enough to be in the lead when the clock reads 0:00

Well… maybe… that Week 2 game still stings.

It takes a team to both win and lose and the Broncos are no exception as their is plenty of blame to go around. Perhaps one area that deserves blame more than other areas, though, is the play from the offensive tackles.

Despite having a first-round pick at left tackle in Garett Bolles and paying a massive four-year, $51 million contract to Ja'Wuan James, only to see him last two series before suffering a knee sprain, the Broncos' pass blocking at the offensive tackle positions has been absolutely dreadful.

Bolles has struggled all season in both pass protection and limiting penalties, issues that have plagued him each season he's been in the league and has shown little progress in either department. Elijah Wilkinson, the replacement for James, plays with solid technique but is looking more and more like a guard trying to play tackle with each passing game.

Both have had their flashes in the run game, but in the pass game, their play along with Joe Flacco holding onto the football to try to make something happen, is hurting the Broncos offense and holding them back.

Unfortunately for the Broncos, their gauntlet of teams with excellent edge talent is not behind them. After going up against the likes of Khalil Mack, Leonard Floyd, Preston Smith, and Za’Darius Smith in the last two weeks, perhaps the team most loaded at edge rush talent to date is entering Mile High this weekend in the Jacksonville Jaguars.

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There is a reason the defense has earned the nickname ‘Sacksonville’. With perhaps one of the most loaded defensive fronts in football, sporting the likes of Aubry Jones, Marcell Dareus, and Taven Bryan on the interior with talents such as Calais Campbell, Josh Allen, and Yannick Ngakoue at edge, the Jaguars' sheer variance in talent make them one of the more formidable defensive fronts the Broncos have gone up against this season.

They possess amazing speed at linebacker, lead by Myles Jack, and have talent in the secondary in Jalen Ramsey (if he plays) and A.J. Boyue, but it’s the depth and talent up front that makes the entire unit tick.

The Broncos' interior offensive line will have their hands full, but the trio of Dalton Risner, Connor McGovern, and Ronald Leary have played above expectations to start the season. The tackles, though? They are in a world of trouble.

Mostly everyone knows the behemoth that is Calais Campbell, who plays edge and can kick inside in sub-package situation, as well as Josh Allen (no not the quarterback, but the former Kentuck standout who was SEC Defensive Player of the Year, and was drafted sixth overall), but even despite a great start to his career, the general football fan does not know Yannick Ngakoue.

Drafted in the third round with the 69th pick out of the University of Maryland in 2016, Ngakoue has been a terror and one of the better value edge rushers in the league. Given the value placed on pass rush, typically great edge rushers are not found in the middle rounds making Ngokue a steal and almost a wasted opportunity for the Jaguars considering how valuable he has been while being paid a mid-round rookie contract.

Standing 6-foot-2, 252 pounds, Ngakoue possess a body type much like that of former Broncos’ edge rusher Shane Ray. Not the strongest at the point of attack, with the bull rush, or against the run, Ngakoue wins with leverage, bend, burst, and fabulous hand usage (watch for the cross chop!) to help cut the corner and get after the quarterback.

He may not possess incredible strength from the edge, but his ability to win with his hands and in the leverage battle help create natural push when needed at the point of attack and convert speed to power.

Through three seasons and two games (he missed Week 2 with an injury), Ngakoue has earned 88 combined tackles, 74 solo tackles, 10 forced fumbles, and solid 29.5 sacks, earning almost an average of 10 sacks per season. He has been so good over the last few seasons that Pro Football Focus has him as the 8th-highest earning in their pass rush grade, standing at a 90.2 grade behind the likes of Cameron Jordan, Myles Garrett, Khalil Mack, Dee Ford, Joey Bosa, Demarcus Lawrence, and Von Miller.

Ngakoue isn’t the athletic freak that some of those guys above are listed, but he is effective especially winning outside. He has yet to show a consistent inside counter, which would help him against more technically sound offensive tackles, but he tends to eat unrefined pass blockers at left tackle for breakfast on his way to the quarterback. Garett Bolles? He could be on the menu.

Bottom line

Spending this past offseason training with Von Miller, Ngakoue is playing the last year of his rookie deal and needs another big year to maximize his earnings in what is typically the biggest contract good players receive in their second deal. Perhaps fortunately for the Broncos, the better, more nimble athlete in Ngakoue will be going up against the more fleet-footed Bolles, whereas Campbell will be lined up against the stronger more technical Wilkinson.

Either way, if last weeks struggles in protecting Flacco and blocking the edge were any indication, Flacco could find himself on the ground multiple times again this week. Get to know the name Yannick Ngakoue, because you just might be hearing his name called a multitude of times this Sunday in Denver.

Follow Nick on Twitter @NickKendellMHH and @MileHighHuddle.

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