Pat Bryant’s Superpower Sounds Completely Ordinary

The Denver Broncos have one of the most talented wide receivers room in the NFL, although they don’t always get enough external credit for the talent level. But it was Pat Bryant who showed out especially in training camp, and Parker Gabriel of the Denver Post explored his approach in a recent piece. 

Bryant does have a superpower, according to Gabriel, but it’s not what you think. He doesn’t have overwhelming size or athleticism, but he does have the ability to catch the ball with his feet on the ground and follow through to complete the catch. 

“[That’s one of] “the things we were attracted to when he was coming out of Illinois,” said coach Sean Payton. 

It sounds way too basic to be a super power, and in a way Bryant looks at it that way, too. 

“It’s just, as a receiver, your job is to catch the ball, right?” he explains. “But if you can keep your feet on the ground, when you catch the ball, then the defender’s gotta think twice about what angle I’m going to take.

“So the ability to keep your feet on the ground and run through the catch — I’m not the fastest guy, but I know there’s certain tools to my game where I can get an advantage on a guy that is faster than me.”

Bryant also offered a unique take on jumping to make the catch, which is a great way to produce highlight reel plays. It’s not always technically sound, though, which is part of why Bryant is focused on staying earth-bound when the ball arrives. 

“It’s confidence,” Bryant said with a shrug. “If you’ve got to jump to catch the ball, you don’t really have confidence and trust in your hands.”

The receiver also has a new confidence to his game, which is about being accustomed to the speed of the NFL game. 

“My confidence is just on another level,” he said. … “This year, I feel like I can go out there and be part of the offense and, when needed, make a huge play. Last year, I was thinking, ‘OK, run my route at this depth and make sure I’m catching the ball.’

“Now I feel like I’m catching the ball, getting those yards after catch and just having that confidence that I’m better than the man that’s in front of me.”

Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph is charged with the task of controlling Bryant in practice, and it’s not an easy job. Bryant attacks the catch and backs it up with a complete game, and that makes it tough to stop him from a defensive coordinator’s point of view. 

“He’s the guy in that room, in my opinion — he blocks, catches the ball in traffic,” defensive coordinator Vance Joseph said during training camp. “He can track the ball vertically. He’s great in the red zone. He’s the complete package. He’s got great size. He loves to play – the same player every single day.”