Broncos’ TE Joel Dreessen Happy To Be Back In Colorado Playing Football

A couple of months ago, Predominantly Orange’s very own Chris Krier had the chance to interview former CSU Ram and Denver Bronco tight end Joel Dreessen.

In Krier’s article, Dreessen told us how excited he was to play with Peyton Manning.

"First off, playing against (Peyton Manning) was so damn frustrating. I can think of 2 or 3 games where we would jump up on them 17-0 and I would think, alright, we got them; we’re going to win this game. And then, boom. All of a sudden we’re losing 21-17. During my 5 years (in Houston) I think we only beat a Peyton Manning-quarterbacked team one time. – Joel Dreessen to Chris Krier (PO)"

Dreesen has now played two games in a Broncos uniform and he has 2 catches for 27 yards with most receptions coming in the 30-10 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

Last Saturday night, Dreessen must have reflected back on his high school days at Ft. Morgan High School and his college days at CSU. Did he ever think that he would be paying for his home state’s professional football team?

Dreessen was excited to run through the very tunnel that he had seen on television so much growing up.

“That was pretty cool,” Dreessen said of running out of the tunnel as a Bronco for the first time. “I probably didn’t take as much time to reflect as I should’ve because we knew we had work to do…But it was a blessing to say the least.”

The game certainly didn’t go the way Dreessen intended it to go. He partly blames himself for one of the interceptions that Manning threw.

The ball was coming to him off of a seam route, but sailed too far and safety Jeron Johnson picked it off.

“I’ve got to find a way to make that catch, honestly,” Dreessen said. “I kind of stuck my hand up there and was like, ‘Crap, I don’t know if I can reach it.’ I looked like a chicken. It looked like I gator-armed it. I’ve got to find a way to make that play.”

Dreessen’s attitude is impressive. It’s preseason and he got down on himself like that.

It’s clear that none of the Broncos’ receivers want to disappoint Manning. If a ball is within reach, it’s an all-out effort to make the catch. Dreessen thinks that he could have done better, and he’s calling himself out on it. How about that for accountability?

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