Demaryius Thomas Back on Track as One of NFL's Most Dangerous WRs

The Denver Broncos won big in Week 5 against the Arizona Cardinals. They went back to looking like the team—specifically the offense—they were last season, and Peyton Manning passed for a career-record 476 passing yards. Denver totaled 568 yards (92 rushing, 476 passing) against the Cardinals to set a franchise single-game record in that category.

A huge part of the passing game was wide receiver Demaryius Thomas.

After three games where he didn’t look quite like his old self, Thomas came on strong against the Cardinals. The slump was over for Thomas, but he wouldn’t describe his early-season struggles that way.

“I don’t think it’s a slump. You have some bad games, you have some good ones. I can say I never had three like my first three, but to come back on a game like this, I think it helped me out and my team.”

Broncos head coach John Fox was asked if there was an effort to get Thomas involved early in the game against the Cardinals.

“I think Arizona had been statistically over three games a top-five kind of defense. They put a lot of pressure on the quarterback, to do that there are certain coverages you play and it was something that we were going to have to execute well in that department—whether it was protection, the timing of the passing game, getting things going—they had some big guys up front that do pressure the quarterback very well.” Fox concluded, “So it was just going to be one of those games where we had to perform well and luckily we did.”

Jack Dempsey/Associated Press

Weeks 1-3
Thomas didn’t look like himself to start the season. He had as many drops (four) over the first three games of the year as he did all of last season.

The big wide receiver insists that his lack of production wasn’t due to a lack of focus.

“I don’t think it was focus. I don’t know if many people knew this but the first thing was I had to play slot because [WR Wes] Welker was out and I’m not used to that. I knew if it was like 3rd-and-5, Peyton always went to Welker and I knew if I’m not open, he’s going to be on me.” Thomas continued, “So I was thinking when I got the ball coming my way, I would drop it, and first one I dropped, I let it get to my head, ‘I’m letting down Peyton, I’m letting down my team.’ It was just being back in my position and being more comfortable.”

The advanced stats over those three weeks weren’t kind to the Thomas/Manning connection, especially when compared to what the duo posted in 2013.

"

Peyton Manning is averaging 5.2 yards per attempt targeting Thomas this year, compared to 10.2 yards per target last year. #Broncos

— Cecil Lammey (@cecillammey) October 5, 2014"

Thomas finished those three games with 13 receptions, 141 yards and one touchdown. Over the first three games of the 2013 season, Thomas hauled in 20 catches for 307 yards and two touchdowns. It was clear that Thomas was not producing the way almost everyone expected to begin this season.

Bye Week

During the bye week, Thomas sought out the advice of two Broncos legends; Hall of Fame tight end Shannon Sharpe and Ring of Fame wide receiver Rod Smith.

“I talked to a couple (of people). I talked to [Ring of Fame TE] Shannon Sharpe, I talked to Dre Davis, and I talked to [Ring of Fame WR] Rod Smith. They all talked to me in the off week and that was about it. They were just telling me to go out and play my game and quit thinking.”

Before he left for the bye, Thomas put in some extra work on the practice field.

“I did challenge myself. Before we went on bye week, I came in one Monday before everybody and caught like 250 balls. Every game I had drops—and not like I am used to that—so I came in and caught balls. Throughout the week once we got back to practice, I tried to do a little more than what I usually to do.” Thomas concluded, “I did that and my team is behind me, my coaches are behind me and they stayed on me and I came out and had a great game.”

This advice and extra work payed off in a big way for Thomas this week.

Week 5

Jack Dempsey/Associated Press

Thomas had a huge day against the Cardinals. It was a day like no other Broncos wide receiver had ever seen. Thomas finished the game with eight catches for a team-record 226 yards and two touchdowns.

Over the first three weeks of the season, Thomas averaged 10.8 yards per reception. In the Week 5 game against the Cardinals, Thomas averaged a whopping 28.3 yards per catch.

He torched cornerback Antonio Cromartie regularly, but Thomas did not talk any trash during the game. “No, I really don’t jaw [at] anybody. I was just playing and….that was about it. I told him to stay healthy, I’ll probably see him again.”

Player	Opponent	Receptions	Yards
Demaryius Thomas	Arizona Cardinals	8	226
Shannon Sharpe	Kansas City Chiefs	12	214
Jabar Gaffney	Kansas City Chiefs	14	213
Rod Smith	Atlanta Falcons	9	208
Brandon Marshall	Indianapolis Colts	21	200

Summary

Manning likes the way Thomas has responded after a slow start to the year.

“Yeah, somebody asked me, ‘Did y’all challenge Demaryius?’ Demaryius challenged himself during the bye week. He knew he wasn’t playing up to his capabilities. He has high goals and high standards and for whatever reason, I think he’s been thinking a lot. We did put him in the slot early with Wes out (for the first two games). He’s been thinking a lot and it’s just affected his concentration with catching the football.” Manning concluded, “I think he just had a good look in his eye all week and he got back to his fundamentals and practiced well and played well.”

Superman is back in the building for the Broncos. Now that Thomas is back to his natural position, expect him to post big numbers every week.

Even through the rough weeks, Thomas’ confidence never faltered.

“My confidence has never failed. I know I am able to go out and make big plays and able to have great games. It was just getting back and concentrating and not letting one play bother me.”

The Broncos had an identity crisis over the first three weeks of the season. In the game against the Cardinals, they abandoned balance and went back to being the pass-happy team they were in 2013. Thomas and his incredible natural ability will keep the team looking like their old selves in 2014.

All quotes and injury/practice observations obtained firsthand. Record/statistical information provided via email from the Denver Broncos unless otherwise noted. Contract and salary-cap information provided by Spotrac.com. Transaction history provided by ProSportsTransactions.com.