Denver Broncos rookie offensive tackle Garett Bolles is ranked as Pro Football Focus' No. 31 tackle. It's an admirable ranking, considering the tasks he's been handed through his first three NFL games.
In Week 1, the 20th overall pick in the 2017 draft faced the Los Angeles Chargers' duo of Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram. In Week 2, it was Dallas Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, who leads the NFL in sacks.
Bolles then played through what was recently considered a serious leg injury in Week 3, against the Buffalo Bills, and was one of PFF's highest-graded tackles for the week.
The promising rookie has another Herculean task in Week 4, as he'll be staring into the eyes of Oakland Raiders defensive end Khalil Mack.
"I'll be ready to go and I know he's going to be ready to go," said Bolles, according to Aric DiLalla of denverbroncos.com. "I'm just excited I get to play such a great opponent like that. It makes football fun when you see a player like that because he works so hard for what he does. You have to learn from people like that as a tackle so that you can be the best just like him."
Bolles will look to use what he's already learned from the best.
"(Mack is) the best player behind Von Miller," Bolles said, "because that's the best player in the world, in my opinion. Khalil Mack is a great player, a great leader, and you see his intensity out there making plays. I give him all the props in the world because that man is a great man and he's changed the game."
The 6-foot-3, 247-pound Mack has recorded two sacks through his first three games, mostly by using a signature one-arm shove of the men standing between him and the opposing quarterback. Bolles has been working on a solution.
"It's like math, man. There's different numbers that come in front of you, and you've got to solve the issue. That's how football is as a tackle. You're on the edge, and things are going to come and guys are going to move and guys are going to bring things from different positions, and you've got to be ready to roll and smack the guy that's in front of you."
Bolles views Mack as just another teacher capable of helping him become one of the best at his position.
"Every pass-rusher has their move. Von has his moves, Quil (Shaquil Barrett) has his moves, and a lot of guys have their moves. What he does is special. You have to be on your toes every day as a tackle. I'm grateful because as I go into this game I'm going to learn a lot after the game. I'm going to learn things and he's going to teach me new things."
