Jacob Tamme became acquainted with big games as a teenager. Always rangy and athletic, Tamme starred for Boyle County High School in Danville, Ky. During his four prep football seasons, his team won the state title every year, posting a 58-2 record. Tamme won MVP honors in the championship game as a junior and senior.
The idea of him playing a professional sport was not preposterous. But some thought it might be in baseball. He hit .475 as a prep junior and has put on a show during Coors Field batting practice sessions as a guest of the Rockies.
He chose to concentrate on football, though, and signed with Kentucky, where he was a standout tight end. Tamme began his NFL career with the Indianapolis Colts. Now a backup tight end and special-teams contributor with the Broncos, Tamme talked about his connection to the Colts, the expectations for Peyton Manning and the important role of special teams in the playoffs.
Q: Is there familiarity with facing the Colts, your former team? Does it make this a different week for you?
A: I can’t speak for everyone. I know for me there was so much turnover the year that I left Indianapolis (after the 2011 season, same as Manning). Everything changed: coaching staff, front office, half the roster. So it kind of was a different place pretty quickly. At this point it’s really about two good teams meeting with a chance to advance to a championship game. I think that, for me, is enough. It’s a pretty awesome opportunity.
Q: You have played with Manning as much as anyone. A lot has been asked of him in the playoffs. Do you believe he has to carry his team less in this postseason?
A: We have a very balanced roster. I think that’s where it starts. You can sit here and name names for a while, but when you have Von (Miller) and DeMarcus (Ware) and Aqib (Talib) and Chris (Harris) and all of those guys playing at the type of level they’re playing on defense. Then offensively we’ve been more balanced.
Q: You talked about the importance of running the ball well after the loss at St. Louis. Has that been achieved?
A: I think we’re more balanced than any other time since I’ve been here. That’s definitely good for our offense. I think playoff football, a lot of times balance is needed. We’ll have to find a way; if we need to throw the ball 50 times to win a game, then we need to do that. If we need to run the ball 45 times to win a game, then we need to do that. It’s all about how it applies on Sunday. But, yeah, I think that overall we do have a very balanced team, and that is a good thing.
Q: Do you understand the hype for Peyton Manning vs. Andrew Luck?
A: I think there is a level of intrigue, certainly, for people on the outside. I think when you’re in here and you’re going through these meetings and you’re preparing for the football game, it actually makes it a little easier. You don’t really sit around and think and talk about the things that you guys sit around and think and talk about.
Q: The Colts have an all-pro punter and place-kicker. How does that factor into Sunday’s game? How important are special teams?
A: When you look at (Pat) Mc- Afee and Vinny (Adam Vinatieri), I think Vinny missed one field goal all year. Pat, punting-wise, he’s one of the best. He can hit it a long way, definitely at altitude. Same thing with kickoffs. Those guys do a very good job and they’ll be a challenge for us, so we’ll come up with a few things to see if we can make some headway in that area. Special teams are very big. This is the time of year where all three phases want to be playing at a high level at the same time.
Q: You caught a career-high 67 passes in 2010 but had only 14 receptions this season. Is it difficult to balance the dramatic shifts?
A: I have had years where I had 60 catches in 10 weeks and some years where I had eight. I just always want to be extremely versatile, and help the offense in any way I can. My role can change, and I have to be ready for it.
Tamme file
Three-year starter at receiver and cornerback for Boyle County High in Danville, Ky.
Named MVP in two state championship games.
Finished with 97 receptions and 23 interceptions in his high school career.
Signed with the University of Kentucky, where he considered playing baseball as well as football.
A starter in 37 of his 48 college games, he ended his career ranked first in Kentucky history with 133 receptions and 1,417 yards.
Majored in integrated strategic systems, which he admitted could describe the Broncos’ offense.
Caught 92 passes in four seasons with the Colts before signing as a free agent with Broncos in 2012.
Has played 276 snaps on offense this season, catching 14 passes for 109 yards and two touchdowns.
Injured his ribs in Denver’s win over Kansas City on Nov. 30 and sat out the San Diego game Dec. 14.
