Bloom on Bronco's radar

[eddie mac]

http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_3537108

Bloom just what Broncos need
By Jim Armstrong
Denver Post Sports Columnist



Notes from the medals stand ...

Darrent Williams went into the 2005 season as the Broncos' kickoff returner, punt returner and starting right cornerback. By the time the playoffs arrived, he was relegated to nickel back duty and was too beat up to return kickoffs or punts.

And you're wondering whether the Broncos are interested in Jeremy Bloom?

Of course they are. Bloom, in fact, confirmed to me that the Broncos have spoken to his agent, Gary Wichard. Makes sense if you think about it.

Bloom, fresh off a sixth-place performance in the men's moguls at Turin, is just what the Broncos need: a punt and kickoff returner with big-time speed who can stretch the field in three- or four-wide sets. Plus, they can afford to use a middle-rounder on him because they own six picks in the first four rounds.

Make no doubt, Bloom doesn't want to settle for being a special-teamer in the NFL. He has every intention of competing for a starting wideout job at some point. And frankly, it's a battle he expects to win.

"Yes, absolutely, that's my mind-set," Bloom said. "Steve Smith and Santana Moss, both of those guys are 5-9 or 5-10 and they started for the NFC in the Pro Bowl. I don't want to make any correlation between them and me, because I haven't earned that. But I don't want to just be a punt returner or kickoff returner. I want to win a receiver spot, make an impact in a game." ...

But then Bloom played at CU and, for whatever reason, the Broncos during the Mike Shanahan era have been hesitant to draft CU players. Did I say hesitant? Shanahan has selected 91 players and none wore a Colorado uniform. The closest he has come to drafting an ex-Buff was signing Matt Lepsis as an undrafted free agent. ...

ESPN draft dude Mel Kiper Jr. projects Bloom as a middle-rounder. Bloom's reaction? "It's hard to really comment on that. I'm not worried about where I go in the draft. I'm worried about getting myself ready to make a big impact at the next level. I feel I absolutely have the skills. They're looking for fast, explosive athletes, and I've been blessed with that ability." ...

[OrangeShadow]

kid can flat out fly

[Requiem]

I'll pass, unless it's after the fourth round.

[Clockwork Orange]

Works for me. I'd grab him with our comp pick, at least we know he has a work ethic and no character issues.

[Rascal]

I'd take him in the fourth but no earlier.

[Requiem]

There's way too much depth in this draft to draft a guy like Bloom in the fourth. IMO.

[NFLBRONCO]

They won't burn a 4th on Bloom it will be a 3rd. They took MC in the 3rd they can surely nab Bloom as well if they wanted him. Denver drafts who they like reach or not.

[ludo21]

Id say reach for the guy. He will be gone by our 4th pick. I"d love to have a speedster and kid from CO.

[Requiem]

He isn't deserving of a first day selection.

[ludo21]

He isn't deserving of a first day selection.


his combine will prove otherwise and i guaranteee he will be gone by round 4.

[KipCorrington25]

He went to college in Colorado, Denver never drafts Colorado talent.

[Perry1977]

kid can flat out fly


his combine will prove otherwise and i guaranteee he will be gone by round 4.


Jeremy Bloom. (Yes, it is a tad bit of a homeristic pic)

He will wow them at the combine and his speed will drop jaws. They'll be looking at the stop watches, then at each other, back down at the stop watch in pure amazement.

The media will glomb on to him though, so "sleeper" may not be the best term for him.



A league source tells us that Bloom arrived in Los Angeles on Friday night, and that he began running for the first time in six months on Sunday. He ran on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday as well before heading to Indy.

Per the source, don't expect Bloom to run much faster than a 4.5 at the combine.

http://www.profootballtalk.com/rumormill.htm

[NFLBRONCO]

He went to college in Colorado, Denver never drafts Colorado talent.

Pitt and NE like Buff players.

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

Denver and all other teams really don't give a sh** where the players went to school. They pick the guys they know and like.

[ludo21]

http://www.profootballtalk.com/rumormill.htm


"rumor mill"

Thats all i needed to see. But it will be interesting to see if thats correct. but i say he runs 4.3

[Requiem]

You don't draft a guy because he's fast, which is why the scouting combine is pretty much a joke. If you want to draft a receiver who can return kicks as well, and actually is a solid player the position, I would be more than willing to give you some names.

[Requiem]

Denver and all other teams really don't give a sh** where the players went to school. They pick the guys they know and like.

Well, Denver shows a lot of interest in local players.

[Old Dude]

You don't draft a guy because he's fast, which is why the scouting combine is pretty much a joke. ...

You sort of defeated your own argument there, didn't you?

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

Well, Denver shows a lot of interest in local players.

Off the top of my head, I can only think of Lepsis and Sapp on the roster. I think it is the local media making a big deal about interest in the local players. Always a good story to keep them home, but teams are really going to look for the player that they think best fits their needs, no mater what school he attended.

[jebures]

Off the top of my head, I can only think of Lepsis and Sapp on the roster. I think it is the local media making a big deal about interest in the local players. Always a good story to keep them home, but teams are really going to look for the player that they think best fits their needs, no mater what school he attended.

Cecil Sapp is from Colorado St.

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

Cecil Sapp is from Colorado St.

Right - I give them credit for being a local team even if I am a CU alum :)

[BigPlayShay]

Off the top of my head, I can only think of Lepsis and Sapp on the roster. I think it is the local media making a big deal about interest in the local players. Always a good story to keep them home, but teams are really going to look for the player that they think best fits their needs, no mater what school he attended.

Shanahan has not drafted a lot of local talent (BVP was the last one that they drafted since Steve Russ), but he has consistently brought in local talent as Undrafted Free agents, or Free agents. Not all of them stick around but Lepsis, but he does bring them in. Some of the names off the top of my head:

Matt Lepsis
Jayshon Sykes
Ben Kelly
Frank Rice
Cecil Sapp
Tim Stuber
Erik Pears
Chad Friehauf
Mark Mariscal

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

Shanahan has not drafted a lot of local talent (BVP was the last one that they drafted since Steve Russ), but he has consistently brought in local talent as Undrafted Free agents, or Free agents. Not all of them stick around but Lepsis, but he does bring them in. Some of the names off the top of my head:

Matt Lepsis
Jayshon Sykes
Ben Kelly
Frank Rice
Cecil Sapp
Tim Stuber
Erik Pears
Chad Friehauf
Mark Mariscal

True, but when they are looking for Camp fodder it is less expensive and good PR to bring in the local guys and sometimes one or two will make it. And yes, how could I forget BVP.

What I am saying is that if they are going to invest the money in developing a player, they want the best players they can get for their system. If they need a player they are not going to take a player from a local school over a better player from the SEC or Big Ten.

[Elway 4 Life]

Bloom is fast but small, i think if we get a returner i would like ot go after devin hester. He's as fast as bloom and a little bigger. I think he has alot more upside than bloom.

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

But Hester is a guy with no position. He hasn't been able to ever really become either a DB or WR. Maybe that's not his fault, but it is true. Bloom is very strong for his size and knows the WR position. He probably won't ever start in the NFL, but he could be a good 4th receiver. I think he has better on the field instincts than Hester.

I'm not sold on the Broncs taking a kick/punt return specialist, but of the two, I would take Bloom. Especially in light of the fact that Hester is likely to go a round or two before Bloom

[Elway 4 Life]

But Hester is a guy with no position. He hasn't been able to ever really become either a DB or WR. Maybe that's not his fault, but it is true. Bloom is very strong for his size and knows the WR position. He probably won't ever start in the NFL, but he could be a good 4th receiver. I think he has better on the field instincts than Hester.

I'm not sold on the Broncs taking a kick/punt return specialist, but of the two, I would take Bloom. Especially in light of the fact that Hester is likely to go a round or two before Bloom
I've read numerous reports that miami is to blame for hester not having a solid position. Hester has said that he wants to play DB. I think bloom is good but nowhere near the talent that hester is. I think that dwill was drafted to be a return specialist that ended up being a good corner. I think we need a return guy. field position is so important and we cant risk losing dwill to another injury. I think we should go after a return guy. Bloom and hester to me are the best options. I would give the nod to hester though because he is more versatile.

[Casper Bronco]

Javon Bouknight

[Requiem]

You sort of defeated your own argument there, didn't you?

No, I'm trying to say, you don't draft a kid just because he's fast. A lot of teams, (cough-Raiders-cough) draft guys because "speed kills" -- if Bloom is taken high, it's because he ran very well at the combine, not because he's that good of a receiver. The combine is getting to be a joke, for a lot of reasons, I could go on but I won't.

[Requiem]

If it came down to Hester and Bloom with our last pick in the fourth round, I don't even think. Hester it is, he has way more potential than Bloom does, is more diverse and in my opinion, probably the better return man.

[minibronco]

Second day.

[Drek]

If it came down to Hester and Bloom with our last pick in the fourth round, I don't even think. Hester it is, he has way more potential than Bloom does, is more diverse and in my opinion, probably the better return man.
But come our 4th Hester will have been off the board for at least a round while Bloom will very possibly still be available.

Bloom needs to run well if he's going to get drafted, otherwise he's looking at a UDFA deal. Funny thing is, that might work out best for him. The money difference between being a 2nd day pick and a UDFA isn't that big, being able to pick his situation is worth a whole lot more.

[Perry1977]

PRE-DRAFT SPIN CYCLE IN FULL BLOOM?


In the interests of being (somewhat) fair and balanced, reaction to our Thursday morning piece regarding U.S. ski boy Jeremy Bloom suggests that maybe, just maybe, the Bloom camp is attempting to reduce expectations regarding his performance at the combine -- either to guard against a disappointing showing or to give him even more buzz if he turns out a solid time in the 40-yard dash.


Said one league insider: "I don't know who gave you the info on Bloom but it was bullsh-t. He was doing football stuff up thru mid-November and has been running all the time. He will run fast [at the combine] but he may be light. . . . I think he is an interesting guy, but until he workouts out I don't know where he goes. I would think the earliest is round four unless he really runs fast at either the combine or his [pro day] workout."


We reported on Thursday morning that Bloom hasn't run in six months, and has been focusing his efforts on getting ready for the Olympics


Indeed, Bloom was working on football in December 2005 (http://cbs4denver.com/sports/local_story_342101814.html), contrary to what we'd been told.


Bloom's agent, Gary Wichard, has a reputation for relentless (and effective) marketing of his clients prior to the draft. His involvement helped nudge Pacman Jones into the No. 6 overall spot and linebacker Shawne Merriman into the No. 12 spot in 2005.
http://www.profootballtalk.com/rumormill.htm

[WABronco]

http://www.profootballtalk.com/rumormill.htm

Good stuff Perry...

If Bloom's still there (and no one of real value is there), I'd take him with our first comp pick...

[spdirty]

He just ran a 4.49 at the combine

[Play2win]

He just ran a 4.49 at the combine
I never thought he looked All-World...

[spdirty]

Well, when he's in football shape he can run under 4.3. Id still love to see him in a Broncos uniform. I still can't get that sight of him separating himself from those Florida State defenders out of my head. He could be the next Tim Dwight, or even Dante Hall I think.

[Requiem]

Haha, I told ya so. Jackson ran a 4.32 -- That's my boy.

[Play2win]

Everytime I see Bloom highlights he looks fast. Fast, but not, NFL Out-of-Your-Socks fast. On the football field he doesn't look World-Class to me. He seems to take good angles and make some big plays, but I don't see him pulling away from people.

He's fast there is no doubt about that, but Bloom pulling anywhere close to a 4.3, after watching him on the football field, I just don't see it...


Put it this way, DWill would smoke him, even at the end of last season with his injury and all.

"Yeah, I think I can only run a 4.4" ;D

[ozomulsion]

Everytime I see Bloom highlights he looks fast. Fast, but not, NFL Out-of-Your-Socks fast. On the football field he doesn't look World-Class to me. He seems to take good angles and make some big plays, but I don't see him pulling away from people.

He's fast there is no doubt about that, but Bloom pulling anywhere close to a 4.3, after watching him on the football field, I just don't see it...


Put it this way, DWill would smoke him, even at the end of last season with his injury and all.

"Yeah, I think I can only run a 4.4" ;D

Yeah, I hear he's even faster than Fabian Washington, the fastest player in last years draft. Got to love the homers. :D

[Perry1977]

"rumor mill"

Thats all i needed to see. But it will be interesting to see if thats correct. but i say he runs 4.3


Guess you shouldn't have stopped at "rumor mill" eh? :wave:

[Drek]

Having actually watched Bloom run, I was impressed. I quesiton how consistantly accurate these early reports are, but despite that Bloom had a great burst starting his 40s and you could clearly see that he wasn't in football shape compared to the other guys. I think he'll do a lot better when he's had some time to recoup and shape up from the Olympics.

[Clockwork Orange]

Give Bloom some time to train for football and work with a speed coach, as most of the other WR prospects at the combine did, and see how he does.

His Pro Day is about a month away. Let's see what he does there after he's had time to prepare.

[heydensmom]

I'll pass...I'd rather see them pick up some taller, more muscular, faster guy. Because of his story, Bloom is more marketable!