Denver Post Broncos writer Ryan O’Halloran posts his Broncos Mailbag weekly during the season.
You can . Follow Ryan for more daily updates on .
When will DeMarcus Walker get significant minutes? It seems silly to continually keep a second-round draft pick on the bench.
— Mark, Arvada
Walker was a healthy scratch on Sunday for the seventh time in 10 games. He played against Arizona, Kansas City and Houston and had three tackles, a sack and a fumble recovery. As a second-round pick, he hasn’t been given enough run to show he doesn’t deserve to play. When he was on the field this year, you tended to notice him because he can provide athleticism and pass-rushing skills from an interior defensive line position.
What is the consensus on Garett Bolles as the long-term solution at left tackle? If we assume that confidence in him as a 10-year anchor at that position is ebbing, what would his value be at a slightly less premium position (like RT)? (Which of course assumes that we try again for a LT in the draft or some other method.) I seem to hear different opinion about the ease with which he might move across the line.
— Grant, Denver
Bolles played a penalty-free game on Sunday and did not allow a sack. The consensus right now is a party of one (general manager ). As long as Elway believes Bolles can develop into a sturdy left tackle, he will get an opportunity to justify his first-round status. A lot regarding Bolles will be how he finishes the season and if a new coaching staff is brought on, what do they think of him. Moving to right tackle could be an option, but who plays left tackle? Draft one in the first round (again)? Sign a journeyman in free agency? My bet is Bolles is the Week 1 2019 left tackle.
This offensive line is in shambles with all the injuries. They played well on Sunday, but is there anyone out on the open market we can pick up to shore up the line?
— Kyle Price, Cheyenne, Wyo.
The Broncos’ offensive line was in shambles last week as they tried to work through a new combination of Elijah Wilkinson (a trained tackle) at right guard and (a trained guard) at center. And then tore his ACL during Thursday’s practice, forcing (a trained tackle) to play left guard. The reconstructed offensive line did not allow a sack for the first time this year and the Broncos averaged 5.7 yards per attempt. The small sample size should equal outside help is not yet required.
Eleven carries. How do you give just 11 carries on Sunday? He is clearly the biggest weapon on this offense, he needs more touches.
— Mike, Lakewood
Lindsay gained 79 yards and scored two touchdowns on his 11 rushing attempts and also had four catches for 27 yards. Three things here: 1. With Lindsay, I tend to look at total touches (he had 15 touches in 56 snaps — 19.6 percent). Not bad. 2. The flow of the game limited Lindsay. At the end of the second quarter, the Broncos had a two-minute drive that included six consecutive passes (one Lindsay catch). And the on the game-winning drive, all six plays were passes. Lindsay’s last carry came with 4:40 remaining, which was also his last offensive touch. 3. And Royce Freeman returned from an ankle injury sustained at Arizona in Week 7. Freeman carried seven times.
Is there any current coach (or supporting coach), whether college or professional that is catching the eye of NFL teams? I was thinking of Washington Huskies coach Chris Petersen. Any other prospects?
— Rod, Greeley
You don’t hear Petersen too much in the NFL conversation in part because he has no pro football coaching experience and because he appears to have a really good thing going in Seattle. If anything for a team with an opening, they should call Petersen to get some suggestions. The main “prospect” is Oklahoma’s Lincoln Riley. Like Petersen, he doesn’t have any NFL experience, but Riley’s offense should put him at the top of the list for any team.
This Broncos team is really frustrating to watch. With some minor tweaks, they could very well be 8-2 right now. Then again, they could also be 1-9. How do you think they’ll do down the stretch?
— James N., Lone Tree
At least you’re looking at both ends of the spectrum, James. If you review the first 10 games, only three — the Ravens loss, the Jets loss and the Arizona win — were not interesting in the fourth quarter. That said, there was not a point in the Rams game or the second Kansas City game, no matter the score, that I thought the Broncos would win. Their only no-show game was at the Jets. Letap say they won that game. They would be 5-5 at Thanksgiving and right in the mix. I think we’ll look at the Baltimore and Jets losses as turning points when the 2018 book is completed.
As good as Phillip Lindsay’s been this year, he has an uphill battle to win the offensive rookie of the year award. What do you think has to do in order to win the defensive one?
— Roger Thomas, Salt Lake City
Columnist Mark Kiszla and I debated Lindsay’s candidacy for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in Tuesday’s print edition. It will be tough for Lindsay to match the numbers being put up by Giants running back Saquon Barkley. On defense, Chubb’s nine sacks are tied for ninth in the NFL and first among rookies. His main competition is Indianapolis linebacker Darius Leonard, whose 104 tackles lead the league and are 24 more than any other player.
Any chance the Broncos can still make the playoffs?
— Stan, Highlands Ranch
Stranger things have happened Stan. If the Broncos win the rest of their games, 10-6 should be good enough to secure an AFC wild card berth. Exiting Week 11, the Broncos are 11th in the AFC, but only a game out of the current four-team logjam at 5-5. They won’t make the playoffs.
