Denver Broncos: Why it’s time for more DaeSean Hamilton
The Denver Broncos have a sure-handed weapon in their offensive arsenal that has no targets so far. Here’s why it’s time for more DaeSean Hamilton.
The Denver Broncos have a weapon in their offensive arsenal that is yet to be utilized.
Through two games, Case Keenum has distributed the ball to nine different players in the passing offense and has targeted 10 different players in total. Not among those 10 players to have at least one target through two games? Fourth-round pick DaeSean Hamilton.
Hamilton was known coming out of Penn State for being a sure-handed receiver who could also make big plays deep downfield and make plays after the catch. While that type of production doesn’t immediately translate to the next level, the Broncos should be doing whatever they can to get Hamilton at least some looks in the passing game.
Why?
Right now, their targets are not very evenly distributed among the players who are making the most of their opportunities.
Demaryius Thomas is the team’s leader in targets through two games at 21. He has only caught 11 of those passes and has four drops on 15 ‘catchable’ targets according to Pro Football Focus.
I have Thomas down for five drops this season, but perhaps I’ve been harsher than PFF so far in that regard.
The next three players with at least 10 targets in two games are Emmanuel Sanders (15 targets, 14 receptions), Courtland Sutton (11 targets, three receptions — two of those targets were borderline plays, so Sutton gets a bit of a pass), and Jake Butt (10 targets, six receptions).
The Broncos have another 16 targets distributed between Phillip Lindsay, Jeff Heuerman, Tim Patrick, Devontae Booker, Andy Janovich, and Royce Freeman.
The only two skill position players who have not yet been targeted in the passing game are Hamilton and third-string tight end Matt LaCosse.
Here’s what I’m proposing.
The Broncos are giving Demaryius Thomas way too many targets and snaps based on the production they are getting out of him. Thomas should by no means be the team’s leader in targets with the way Emmanuel Sanders has been playing, but he has six more targets in two games.
Thomas is one of the leaders of the Broncos but he’s playing 80 percent of the team’s offensive snaps in two games and has just 81 yards to show for it.
It’s probably not going to happen right away, but the Broncos need to slowly start giving some more of those snaps they have given to Thomas over to Hamilton and maybe even increase Sutton and Tim Patrick’s workloads a bit.
They could also spread those targets around to Phillip Lindsay, who was only targeted once in Sunday’s win against the Oakland Raiders.
It felt like the Broncos were trying to force the ball to Thomas a little bit and while he has seemingly always had a bit of an issue with dropped passes, it’s reached an unfortunately new level this season.
If Thomas can’t be counted on, the Broncos have to find someone who can be.
To Thomas’ credit, he had a phenomenal touchdown catch in week one on a ball that usually has no business being caught, but some of the passes he’s dropping are too far below his pay grade to ignore.
Next. Five things about the Baltimore Ravens. dark
Thomas is paid like a high-level WR1, and he needs to either start playing like it, or the team needs to give some of his snaps to the rookie Hamilton.
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