Broncos roster 2015: Isaiah Burse

A day-by-day Broncos player breakdown is something we've been doing since our days at BroncoTalk nearly a decade ago. This year the tradition continues as we look at the Denver Broncos roster heading into the 2015 season in our 90-in-90 series.

Name: Isaiah Burse
Position: WR/KR/PR
Height: 5'10"   Weight: 187
Age: 23   Experience: 2nd
College: Fresno State

Wide receiver Isaiah Burse was an undrafted rookie by the Denver Broncos in 2014. Right after he was signed by the Broncos he was quickly penciled in as the main punt returner by many fans, but he had to earn that role.

After veteran wide receiver, Jordan Norwood went down with a season-ending ACL injury during Training Camp, Burse indeed became the Broncos punt return man.

Burse had an alright rookie year for the Broncos. He went on to appear in 12 regular season games where he had 29 punt returns that totaled 211 yards returning. That averages out to be a 7.3 yards per return average. His longest punt return was for 22 yards. Unfortunately for Burse he had 3 fumbles in which the Broncos recovered 2 of them and lost 1 of them.

During the 2015 offseason, the Broncos added some competition for the punt return job. They signed receiver/returner Solomon Patton, and could give receiver Emmanuel Sanders a look as well.

What will be important for Burse is to show improvement as a pass catcher. Denver Broncos General Manager John Elway said earlier this offseason that doesn't want too many "specialist" on this team. He wants guys who can do multiple things for this team.

"Ideally you’d like to have one punter, one kicker and one long-snapper,’’ DeCamillis said. "That’s the amount of specialists we’d like to carry going in and that’s what the goal is going in."

Burse is coming off a rookie season where he didn't have a single reception. So if he wants to make this team he will need to show something in the passing game as well as in the return game.

The good:

Burse showed that he can be a reliable receiver in college. He totaled 209 receptions, 2,503 yards and 14 touchdowns, including career best senior season that saw him eclipse the 1,000-yard mark.

He also set an FBS record with 75 kickoff returns for 1,606 yards in 2012.

If Burse wants to make the Broncos roster he will need to show that he can do this in the NFL.

Outside of that there's not a whole lot of positive to say about Burse. Training Camp and the Preseason will be very important for him.

The bad:

It's hard to find a spot for Burse. He's probably behind Emmanuel Sanders, Jordan Norwood, and Solomon Patton in the punt return game. He will need to outperform all three of these players in Camp and the Preseason if he wants to win the return job.

He also faces stiff competition at the wide receiver position. Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders, and Cody Latimer are locked into the first three positions. This leaves veterans Andre Caldwell and Jordan Norwood competing with Norwood and a host of others for the fourth, fifth and maybe sixth receiver position.

Burse is also coming off an unspectacular rookie season. So he can't really rely on his past success to help him in 2015.

Roster Status:

I have a hard time finding a spot for Burse.

He's not the best returner on the roster, and he hasn't shown anything really as a receiver. Now that all can change during Camp and the Preseason, but right now I can't see him making it.

Burse is still eligible for the Broncos 10-man practice squad, so he could still find a spot there.