Denver Broncos: Bill Musgrave’s tone on tight ends has changed

Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave has a renewed perspective regarding his tight end position, apparently.

During a preseason broadcast of a Denver Broncos game, commentators Steve Levy and Brian Griese discussed on-air a conversation they had with offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave about his tight end position.

The Broncos, at that point, were bracing for the reality of heading into the season with very little experience in their tight end room as Jeff Heuerman was the team’s career receptions leader at 18. According to Levy and Griese, Musgrave — at the time — had identified that particular position group as ‘bleak’.

Contextually, Musgrave was referring to the team’s health at the position with Jake Butt coming off of injury, Jeff Heuerman having missed some significant training camp time with an injury, and Troy Fumagalli missing the entirety of training camp before being placed on injured reserve.

That tone has since changed quite dramatically, and Musgrave’s tight end position has turned out to be quite a good one under the direction of Geep Chryst.

The change in tone for Musgrave comes at a particularly interesting time because since Levy and Griese revealed those details of their conversation with the always candid Musgrave, the Broncos have lost Fumagalli, Butt, and Heuerman to season-ending injuries.

They are now left with fourth-year players Matt LaCosse and Brian Parker as well as third-year player Temarrick Hemingway.

Those three players had a combined four career catches coming into the 2018 season, and LaCosse has added 14 since the start of it.

Musgrave does not seem fazed in the least.

"“I would say Parker is more physical. Matt is better in the pass game. But both of those guys have traits that we can’t wait to feature. It’s been a deep tight end group, and even though we lost three guys, we’re excited about [TE] Temarrick Hemingway being active. Thank goodness we’ve got good depth in the tight end department.”Bill Musgrave (quotes via Broncos PR, emphasis mine)"

It appears as though the depth at the tight end position for the Broncos has surprised just about everyone, including the team’s offensive coordinator.

We wrote about how fantasy football players and experts are really catching on to the underrated success of the Broncos’ tight end position by putting Matt LaCosse at or near the top of the list of players to stream at the position this week against the Bengals.

I’m putting my money where my mouth is and putting LaCosse in the starting lineup for my own team over Washington Redskins tight end Jordan Reed.

Even though the Broncos lack experience at the tight end position, it’s important to note that they clearly do not lack depth. We will find out soon enough how quality that depth is as LaCosse is cut from the same type of cloth as Jake Butt in that he is a phenomenal receiver and needs a little seasoning as a blocker.

Brian Parker is cut more from the same cloth as Heuerman, who is a blocker first and pass catcher second.

The next man up mentality is something the Broncos are quite used to at this point, and even if their top three tight ends right now are guys who would have been reserve/future contract or even practice squad players a year ago at this time is irrelevant.

Those guys have to go out and play and Denver’s system with Musgrave has been very favorable to the position.