Who Will Emerge at the Tight End Position for the Denver Broncos in 2016?
The Denver Broncos are going to have a different looking offense in 2016. Last year with quarterback Peyton Manning, the team wasn’t able to run head coach Gary Kubiak's offense true to form. With Manning retired, the full Kubiak system should be in place for the Broncos.
The Kubiak scheme is built off the zone-blocking system up front. The offensive linemen move in unison laterally after the snap and cutback lanes will open up for the running back. The emphasis on the rushing attack leads to play-action passing opportunities as the game goes on.
When asked to pass, the quarterback in the Kubiak system is often finding the tight end on underneath routes or sneaky out routes opposite the play side. More than other offenses in the league, the Kubiak system is known as being tight end-friendly. The tight end is going to be a primary receiver in this offense, and there will be multiple formations where two-tight end sets are used.
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So who will emerge at the tight end position for the Broncos this year? Let’s examine the possibilities.
Virgil Green Finally Used More?
The Broncos picked up Virgil Green as a seventh-round pick in the 2011 NFL draft. That was the same year they spent a fourth-round pick on Julius Thomas. While Thomas eventually became a standout receiver for the Broncos, Green was in the background as a blocking tight end. When Thomas moved on in free agency to the Jacksonville Jaguars last year, there was an assumption that Green would play a larger role as a pass-catcher in 2015.
He did have a career-high 12 catches last season, but Green could have been used much more.
During his college days at Nevada, Green was known as a reliable receiver for his quarterback—Colin Kaepernick. Green entered the NFL as a prospect with good receiving ability but only marginal ability as a blocker. In the NFL, Green has worked diligently to become one of the best blocking tight ends in the league, but that ability as a receiver is still there.
This season, Green enters the offseason at the top of the depth chart.
“Every year I come in thinking I can be the guy. I always feel like I can do things in the pass game. My specialty is being a physical guy up front in the run game and the pass protection game.” Green emphasized, “I always come in thinking that I can be the guy in the pass game.”
This may be Green’s best chance to contribute as a receiver, and he knows that.
“I do feel that way," Green said. "With O.D. (Owen Daniels) being gone there is a better chance. I really want to in training camp show that I can be not just the pass guy, but just the every-down tight end guy.”
The Team Likes Jeff Heuerman
In the third round of the 2015 NFL draft, the Broncos selected Ohio State tight end Jeff Heuerman. He didn’t post great stats for the Buckeyes, but Heuerman did catch the eye of the Broncos scouting staff due to his size-athleticism combination.
Built like a super-sized wide receiver, Heuerman can work the deep middle seam of the defense. He’s too fast for most linebackers to keep up with in coverage and isn’t afraid to rip away contested catches from a defender. Heuerman isn’t much as a blocker at this time, but with proper coaching he has the strength and tenacity to develop in that aspect of his game.
During the first week of rookie minicamp in 2015, Heuerman suffered a knee injury that knocked him out for his rookie season. Instead of playing a big role for the Broncos, he had to recover from a major injury while his teammates went out and won Super Bowl 50.
Heuerman can take some positives from his redshirt season with the Broncos.
“I learned a lot of things that I wouldn’t know if I was coming in as a rookie now," he said. "I know how the NFL works, how offenses work and just everything. It’s a huge learning year, so I just kind of took in everything I could.”
Heuerman may have the best receiving ability on the team at the tight end position, but he needs to prove that he can stay healthy if he wants a chance to thrive in this Broncos offense.
Veteran Depth with Garrett Graham
Earlier this year, the Broncos added veteran Garrett Graham to the mix via free agency. Graham has plenty of experience in the Kubiak system, as he was originally drafted by the Houston Texans (then coached by Kubiak) in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL draft. He spent six seasons with the Texans and was the primary backup behind Daniels early in his career.
The veteran Daniels has taught Graham a lot about the position.
“I played with Owen at Wisconsin, too, and in Houston," Graham said. "That guy taught me practically everything I know, whether he was telling me or just watching him play. He’s helped me out a ton—on and off the field. I owe him a lot. He’s a good buddy of mine. I just saw him this past weekend. [He’s a] great guy.”
He’s coming off a down season (only four catches) in 2015, but the all-around talent is still there with Graham. His best season with the Texans (2013) saw him snare 49 passes for 545 yards and five touchdowns. It will be interesting to see if Graham can recapture that former glory with his new team and emerge from a talented group of tight ends.
Graham may not be the best receiving tight end on the team, but he knows the system like the back of his hand and provides valuable veteran depth to the roster.
Is There a Sleeper Candidate?
For years, the Broncos have been able to find quality players from the college free agents that are left over after the draft. One of the undrafted rookies to watch this year is Iowa’s Henry Krieger Coble.
During his college career, Krieger Coble didn’t get an opportunity to fully show what he can do as a receiver. However, during his final year in college we saw glimpses of what he could do as a pass-catcher. Krieger Coble won the starting job in 2015 and finished second on the Hawkeyes squad with 35 catches for 405 yards and one touchdown.
The talented tight end continued to showcase his skill set during the week of practice for the Reese’s Senior Bowl earlier this year. At each day of practice, Krieger Coble was a standout player due to his consistency and natural hands. He played fast on film and was practicing with a sense of urgency at the Senior Bowl. It’s a shock that Krieger Coble didn’t get selected in the draft, as he’s certainly got the talent to make an NFL roster.
So far this offseason, Kubiak likes what he’s seen from the rookie.
“He knows our offense because he played at Iowa and those are a lot of the things that we do. The guy that coached him there for four years [is] a good friend of mine, so that kind of helped me get to know him a little bit," Kubiak explained. "He’s an undersized tight end, but he can run, he can make plays that way. Hopefully he can get a little bigger and a little stronger, but I think he’ll be very competitive.”
One day, Krieger Coble could be a starter for the Broncos. Even with his talent, that may be a tall order for the rookie in 2016.
Summary
There are a number of different ways the tight end competition could go this summer in training camp. The Broncos are going to use these practices to determine who is best to lead the way at the position.
Green may be the front-runner in this competition. He’s big, strong and capable as a receiver before and after the catch. Heuerman is the great unknown here. He plays like a wide receiver and can attack a defense vertically, but his lack of durability is a serious concern. Graham is the safe veteran looking to get back to the top of his game, and Krieger Coble is the long shot.
If I was a betting man, I’d put my chips down on Green. He’s the best all-around tight end on the roster and it’s not a “tell” when he’s on the field. Green has become a dominant blocker, but that natural ability as a receiver is still there. The Broncos would be wise to finally use him as their primary pass-catching tight end in 2016.
All quotes and injury/practice observations obtained firsthand. Record/statistical information provided by the Broncos' media department unless otherwise noted.
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