Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas had a ‘down’ year in 2015, but in year two with Gary Kubiak’s offense, he thinks things will be better…
2015 wasn’t the easiest or the best for Demaryius Thomas, who by statistical standards had a pretty good season. He dropped plenty of passes, but he still managed to catch over 100 in a down year for Broncos quarterbacks (to say the least) and he caught six touchdown passes.
His YPC average was down to 12.4 this past season, which was the lowest he’s had since Tim Tebow and Kyle Orton shared QB duties in 2011. His two fumbles were the most he’s had in a season since 2012.
It wasn’t all bad for Thomas, who was the team’s franchise player a year ago at this time, but it was a struggle.
Part of the reason it was a struggle was due to the fact that Thomas missed all of the team’s offseason work, including installing a brand new offense that he’d never been part of. So often, fans perceive the game of football as the game of Madden personified, where players just have an overall rating and when you put them on the field, that’s the level they play at all times.
That’s not the case, obviously.
Of course, Demaryius Thomas is a phenomenal athlete, one whose physical prowess likely helped him put up the numbers he did last year. This season, he says he feels much better about his knowledge of the offense.
“Very comfortable. We put in some new stuff. I was here to get the reps in with all the different quarterbacks. We don’t really know who is going to be that guy. Just to be here and to get reps, with the new offense and stuff that we put in, I’m more comfortable because last year I came in at training camp and they threw everything at me. It was difficult at times, but it was a little different because of the timing and different routes and stuff like that. Now that I’m here, the timing will be better.”
Thomas made a great point that the previous years under Mike McCoy and Adam Gase, the Broncos were a much more pass oriented offense. With Gary Kubiak and Rick Dennison running things on that side of the ball, the passing game became more of a complement than it had been before.
More from Predominantly Orange
- Broncos chances of landing Sean Payton dwindling, but not gone
- Denver Broncos dream coaching staff for DeMeco Ryans
- Denver Broncos: “Sleeper” David Shaw checks every box
- The Broncos’ coaching search likely has not gone to plan
- Special Chiefs Suck Offer: Bet $5, Win $150 if Joe Burrow Passes for ONE YARD vs KC
“It will be our second year. The first year it was tough because you’re used to just throwing the ball—throwing the ball the past four years. Now that it’s our second year in it, the guys have bought into it. We’ve got the guys and brought in the guys that fit the offense. I’m looking forward to it.”
Thomas’ comfortability in the offense is going to be key, but so will his chemistry with whoever winds up being the starting quarterback. The Broncos have done a good job of keeping it an open competition, but there’s certainly an edge right now for Mark Sanchez, who Thomas says he’s been getting a few more reps with…
“Whoever it is, they’ve been looking good. I’ve been going with every quarterback during OTAs. Everybody has their own ways. We’ve been making completions here and there. I’ve been getting more reps with [QB] Mark [Sanchez] right now. We’ll see what goes on.”