Denver Broncos: What Bryce Bobo brings to the table

The Denver Broncos announced they signed wide receiver Bryce Bobo and waived Kenny Bell. What does the former Colorado star bring to the table?

Denver Broncos great Rod Smith once said of running back Maurice Clarett that you can’t make the club if you’re in the ‘tub’, meaning if you’re fighting for a roster spot, you might have to work through an injury or two to do so.

His statement proved to be true for Kenny Bell, a reserve/futures contract player who signed with the Broncos over the winter, and who was vying for a roster spot as a former fifth-round draft pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Bell was injured in OTAs and had missed the first five days of Broncos training camp before the team finally decided to move on, and they announced Friday morning that Bell had been replaced on the roster by former Colorado Buffaloes star receiver Bryce Bobo.

Bobo is not only taking Bell’s spot on the roster but his jersey number and everything.

It’s a tough world in the NFL, that’s for sure.

What does Bobo bring to the table?

Fans of the CU Buffs certainly know more about him than most, but this is a guy who decided not to sign with Denver initially after the NFL Draft.

Bobo signed on with the Seahawks, who offered him a mini-camp invitation after he went undrafted.

He didn’t make the squad after that tryout, and now the Broncos are giving him a shot after two productive seasons at Colorado despite an emphasis on the running game in the offense.

Bobo led the Buffaloes in receiving this past season with 693 yards on 62 receptions, including a team-high five receiving touchdowns.

Since Bobo is not a dominant athlete, he uses an understanding of his opponents’ weakness to ‘win’.

This past season, however, there were a few issues that came to light that could make his road to an NFL roster or even practice squad difficult.

Bobo doesn’t have a background in special teams work, which basically any NFL rookie is going to be asked to do. He also struggled some with drops this past season at Colorado, despite showing off some big-play ability at times.

He is going to have to figure out ways to use precise routes and great foot quickness to beat defensive backs using the short-intermediate area of the field so he can surprise them when he goes deep, and have much more consistent hands overall.

If nothing else, Bobo is providing the Broncos with someone who is available and hungry, eager for a chance to make it in the NFL. The same cannot be said of players like Kenny Bell or Carlos Henderson right now.