2017 Broncos roster: Tight end Henry Krieger-Coble

Name: Henry Krieger-Coble
Position: TE
Height: 6’4" Weight: 248 lbs
Age: 25 Experience: 2nd
College: Iowa

“He knows what he’s doing. He’s an undersized guy, but he knows what he’s doing. He played in an offense similar [to ours]. I think you’re seeing him stepping out and doing some good things. The big thing for him is going to be getting bigger and stronger—I don’t know how much ground you can make up between now and training camp—but that’s going to be the key for him in his career.” Former Denver Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak, 5/31/2016.

Thanks, Coach.

The Good

You have to give the Broncos scouting department some credit, both their college staff and professional guys. I mean even Vernon Davis turned out to be OK for Washington when he started holding on to passes. Jeff Heuerman and Krieger-Coble both looked stout in training camp and Krieger-Coble was even signed to the active roster at the end of December. Now, latecomer A.J. Derby seems destined to start for the blue and orange with rookie 5th rounder Jake Butt likely starting the season on the physically unable to perform list.

Krieger-Coble looked to be every bit the receiver that we see out of Heuerman, his size became a point of focus for former head coach Gary Kubiak. He also miraculously grew an inch after his Iowa Pro Day, but his weight has stuck around the same spot more or less.

What you get from Krieger-Coble is gluey mitts, precision running and all of his tread. He enters his second season and was active for Denver last season in week 16 and 17, he caught his only target and it went 13-yards.

The Bad

I’m not going to side with Kubiak here, if Krieger-Coble’s 248 lbs. were an issue, then at 248, Krieger-Coble is 3 pounds lighter than Heuerman (251 lbs.) and 8 pounds lighter than Derby (256 lbs.). For what it is worth, Virgil Green, who dominates primarily as a blocking tight end, weighs 249 lbs. We can't fault Kubiak for not paying too much attention to the rookies last season. He and his staff happened to be coaching for their jobs.

Quotable

Former head coach Gary Kubiak whether calling a timeout with eight seconds left in week 16’s Denver vs. Kansas City game was aimed at Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid

“Absolutely not. You guys know me better than that. I actually called Trevor over. I wanted to run another play. I’m sitting there watching a kid like Henry [Krieger-Coble] catch a ball for the first time in the NFL. I’m thinking ‘give this kid another chance to make a play.’ I feel bad putting Trevor in a position [to] throw an interception.”

Status

I can’t say with certainty that Krieger-Coble will make the roster, but with injuries being very common among the current tight ends ahead of HK-C on the roster, I feel confident that Denver will protect him at all costs. That may include figuring out a way to include him on their 53 man roster if they’re faced with even one injury to the position coming out of camp.