Denver Broncos: How Will Wes Welker Be Used Upon His Return?
The Denver Broncos are 2-0, and they have a huge test in Week 3 as they play in a Super Bowl rematch against the Seattle Seahawks. The Broncos will need to be at their best to beat the world champion Seahawks in front of the 12th man (no, not Texas A&M—the original 12th man) at Century Link Field in Seattle.
A weapon that has been missing from the offense in the first two weeks of the season is returning this week. According to Adam Schefter, from ESPN, Welker is returning to work with the team Wednesday morning.
Wes Welker was suspended without pay for the first four games of the 2014 regular season for violating the NFL policy on performance-enhancing substances. Welker was originally eligible to return to the Broncos’ active roster Monday, October 6, following the team’s October 5 game against the Arizona Cardinals.
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Now, a significant change to the policy could reduce the number of games that Welker is out.
The NFL Players Association has voted in a new drug policy, and suspensions have been retroactively fit according to the new policy.
With Welker back on the field, he should be able to greatly benefit the Broncos passing game. He was a favorite target of Peyton Manning last year, but how do things shake out this year for the veteran receiver?
How will Welker be used now that he's back? Let’s take a look at the possibilities.
Less Is More
Welker has had three concussions over the last nine months. This condition may cause the Broncos to take a “less is more” approach with him.
His latest concussion came after a big hit from Houston Texans strong safety D.J. Swearinger in Week 3 of the preseason. Welker missed about a week of practice, but he should have been ready for a role in the regular-season opener against the Indianapolis Colts.
In his first season with the Broncos, Welker was targeted eight or more times in 10 out of the 13 games he played. With a “less is more” mantra—but high-value targets—we may not see Welker as heavily targeted on a game-to-game basis.
The play below shows the Broncos in a bunch formation. Welker lines up next to Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker in the low-red zone. Thomas is going to run a short hook route, while Decker is clearing out the defense with a route to the corner of the end zone.
As this picture shows, Welker has wide-open spaces on his way to pay dirt.
Welker may have fewer targets per game than he did last year, but because of his natural skill set, we could see him used on high-value targets when the team is near the end zone.
Option Routes
During his pro career, Welker has arguably been the best “jerk” route runner in the league. Like a jab step in basketball, the jerk route consists of a player using his shoulders, head and feet to fake one way quickly before cutting the opposite way.
Welker is still lightning-quick, and he can consistently get open on option routes. He has an open-ended route tree on some plays, and there is no set route for Welker in certain packages. Welker will read the way a defender is covering him, and he will set up his opponent accordingly.
In the play below, we see Welker get open on a 3rd-and-8 situation. The jab step a few yards in gives him enough separation to make his move. Welker presses the route upfield, and then, he quickly darts outside to wide open spaces.
This picture shows that no other defender is even in the vicinity. Welker gets pushed out of bounds by the corner, but he moves the chains.
Red-Zone Presence
Welker proved last year that he could be a dangerous threat in the red zone for the Broncos. In only eight games, Welker tied his career high for receiving touchdowns in a single season with nine scoring grabs. With a touchdown in Week 14 against the Tennessee Titans, Welker set a new career high with 10 touchdown catches in 2014.
High-value targets could be the name of the game with Welker. The team could primarily target him in third-down situations and near the end zone.
In the play below, we see Welker lined up behind Thomas in a stack formation. Thomas clears out the defense, and Welker easily makes his way to the outside. This has to be expected by the defense, but Welker has a surprise in store for the corner covering him.
Once he secures the pass, Welker quickly pivots back inside against his momentum to find open field to score. The picture below shows how helpless Welker made his opponent.
Summary
The Broncos have been looking forward to the return of Welker. He’s a key piece to the passing game that has been missing over the first two games.
Welker may have a reduced target total this year as the team wants to keep him healthy for what could be another run at the Super Bowl in 2014. When the chains need to be moved—or when the team is near pay dirt—Welker could easily work his magic.
Using high-value targets, open-ended option routes and different formations, the Broncos should be able to find various ways to get Welker the ball.
Thomas will still be the favorite wide receiver for Manning, and Emmanuel Sanders has looked great as a replacement for Decker. That means Welker can step into his old role, and the Broncos can step on the gas.
All quotes and injury/practice observations obtained firsthand. Record/statistical information provided via email from the Denver Broncos unless otherwise noted.
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