Vance Joseph Wants Demaryius Thomas To Be Dominant
By Cody Roark
Demaryius Thomas has been a top wide receiver in the NFL for quite some time. However, his new Head Coach feels he should be consistently dominant on Sunday’s.
When NFL Coaches gathered around for breakfast on Tuesday, Vance Joseph was very vocal about his hopes for Demaryius Thomas.
As Jarrett Bell of USA TODAY Sports reported on Tuesday, Joseph issued a firm challenge to the Broncos #1 Wide Receiver. In particular, Joseph wanted Demaryius Thomas to be a threat all game, every game.
"“I want 88 to be a dominant player all the time, I don’t want him to ease into games. I want him to be a guy to step out. It’s time.” – Vance Joseph at NFL Coaches Meeting"
That is the ultimate vote of confidence for Demaryius Thomas. Many fans are glad that Coach Joseph opened up the gauntlet and said what we have been hoping for DT for years.
Consistency is the key word that Vance Joseph wants from his top offensive weapon. Even the years where Demaryius’s performance staggered, his numbers were still among the leagues best.
He has accounted for five straight 1,000 yard seasons. In 2015, he struggled within the Gary Kubiak system due to the quarterbacks struggling within it as well.
Despite an inconsistent offense, Demaryius was plagued by drops, accounting for nine of them. That season he made it back to the Super Bowl where he only caught one pass for eight total yards.
Big time players show up for big time games. Thomas caught 13 passes for 118 yards during Super Bowl 48 against arguably the best secondary in league history.
More notably he struggled against the Patriots on Sunday Night Football in 2015. One catch for 31 total yards and numerous drops, however his 31 yard reception was at a critical moment.
There is no secret that Thomas is a weapon that should be among the league’s best every season.
How Can DT Improve?
In my opinion, Demaryius Thomas has every intangible to be a star wide receiver. Thomas must become consistent in his route running, especially in attacking the ball coming back to it.
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I’ve spent hours watching All 22 film and have noticed that Demaryius has a tendency to look away before making the catch. He is big, physical, and deceptively fast.
I anticipate that Thomas and Denver’s Wide Receivers will work with Trevor Siemian and Paxton Lynch this summer on route integrity and develop their chemistry. Let there be no questions: Demaryius Thomas is an Elite NFL receiver, but can he be consistently elite?
We shall see Broncos Country!