Emmanuel Sanders Becoming a Star for Broncos Offense

The Denver Broncos were one of the most active teams in free agency earlier this year. Most of their attention was spent on upgrading the defensive side of the ball (safety T.J. Ward, cornerback Aqib Talib, defensive end DeMarcus Ware). However, the team did add one free agent on offense who has made a world of difference.

Emmanuel Sanders has become a star for the Broncos offense.

Tough decisions had to be made in regard to free agents this offseason. Fan-favorite Eric Decker was allowed to move on in free agency, and he signed a five-year, $36.25 million contract with the New York Jets. Sanders was added for a much better price, signing a three-year deal for $15 million in the first week of free agency.

The Broncos wanted to add more team speed on both sides of the ball, and Sanders' best attribute is his ability to take the top off the defense. He can flat-out fly down the field, and his speed gets him by defenders in the blink of an eye.

Sanders also has great quickness as a route-runner. He can get in and out of his breaks cleanly and change direction immediately. These two attributes make him difficult for defenders to cover.

David Zalubowski/Associated Press

Upon signing with the Broncos, Sanders referred to Denver as "wide receiver heaven," and for good reason. Catching passes from Peyton Manning is heavenly. Sanders knew that if he worked hard he would be rewarded with pinpoint passes and a high level of production.

The former Pittsburgh Steeler had never had a 100-yard receiving game in the regular season during his four seasons as a pro. That changed quickly as Sanders went over the 100-yard mark in the team's Week 2 game against the Kansas City Chiefs with eight catches for 108 yards.

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That accomplishment showed the incredible upside of the speedy receiver in this offense. Sanders followed up his first 100-yard game with two more such performances in the following weeks. His three 100-yard games in a row tied a mark matched by 12 other players in team history.

Sanders played through Weeks 6 and 7 without hitting triple digits in yardage. He got back to that mark in Week 8 on Thursday Night Football against the San Diego Chargers during a 35-21 win. Sanders came through in a big way with nine receptions, 120 yards receiving and three touchdowns.

Routes	Targets	Receptions	Yards	Touchdowns
212	60	47	634	4

Manning had some positive things to say about Sanders after the game Thursday night.

"It's hard to make comparisons to years past, but I can just tell you I've enjoyed playing with him," the QB said. "He's got a great work ethic. He really loves football, and he brings that energy to practice every day and also to the playing field."

Manning's praise for his new wideout didn't stop there.

"He's had a great attitude; I know he's wanted to get into the end zone these past few games," Manning added. "He scored last week and then catching three tonight, a real credit to him. The go-route was just pure speed on his part, and he has that. The post route that got us going was a great catch in traffic. His third touchdown, [was] kind of a slant-type route, and he elevated and got it. That was an impressive catch. So he was pretty special tonight."

This offseason, the two worked out together at Duke University. Manning feels that extra time could have helped pave the way for the duo's regular-season success.

"It's hard to say. I'd rather not leave it to chance," Manning noted. "But that is why you put that time in. Of course, he's got to be willing also. You know if you're constantly having to force a guy or pull him out of the locker room, 'Hey let's go back out there.' But he's a guy that's kind of a gym rat, that's coming to me or [QB] Brock [Osweiler] or any quarterback and saying, 'Hey throw me some balls.' He's always working on it.

"So like I said, I'm really impressed with his work ethic. I saw that for the first time when we went out to Duke [University] back in April, and he has maintained that work ethic since he's been here, and it's paying off for him, and it did tonight."

Jack Dempsey/Associated Press

His three-touchdown performance was the first multiple-touchdown game of his pro career. Afterward, Sanders said, "Well, it was definitely a great night to be a Bronco. It's a blessing, and I'm just happy to be a part of it. So, I'm just happy that tonight was my night and as a team we got the win."

Sanders said he had a feeling he could have nights like this when he decided to sign with the Broncos: "Of course, that's the reason why I came here. Obviously this is a great organization, with a great head coach [John Fox] and [QB] Peyton Manning at the helm."

Sanders looked for an offense that was similar to what he worked with in college at SMU.

"When I entered the free-agency process, I said I wanted to go to a team that is going to spread the football around, and that's going to throw it because that's what I was used to in college at SMU with [former SMU head coach] June Jones," Sanders said.

"I'm just happy to be a part of it, obviously, and hopefully we just keep throwing the football."

Dean Hare/Associated Press

The SMU offense was built off precision passing with timing routes. Now that he's with the Broncos, Sanders has a better system and a better quarterback.

Going from the Todd Haley offense to the Adam Gase system is the equivalent of going from driving a hybrid to operating a muscle car. Gase is using Sanders the right way, and he's moving him around the formation to create the best mismatches possible.

Ben Roethlisberger is a good quarterback, but he's not a precise passer like Manning. Whereas Roethlisberger will throw a receiver open, Manning can place a pass in an exact spot on the receiver's body. This helps maximize run-after-the-catch ability.

Sanders has been dreaming of playing in an offense like this since turning pro, and he gives the Broncos a big-play element in the passing game that they've been missing.

This is a marriage made in heaven—wide receiver heaven.

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.