Expect Heavy Doses Of Denver's Demaryius Thomas By McDaniels & Broncos

Demaryius Thomas is a special player and Broncos coach Josh McDaniels knows it. While other high profile rookies have been making plays in preseason, Demaryius Thomas has been sidelined with a foot injury and has been flying under the radar. Just how good is this guy? For starters, he was the first receiver taken in last years draft without even running at the combine in front of pro scouts (injured foot). With no electronic 40 time, no official numbers on vertical leap, broad jump, shuttle run, or bench reps most players would certainly fall out of first round consideration. Compounding his issues; he never ran an NFL route tree in college. Thomas did have tremendous production in a run-first triple option offense at Georgia Tech that was averaging about 300 yards per game on the ground. All the while Thomas was averaging over 25 yards per grab. 

Despite never running a combine 40, he is the fastest and most agile big target receiver in the draft. An unofficial 40 time he ran under in 4.4 seconds pegs him as one of the fastest big receivers in the entire league. His game speed is even faster and he proved it in his first NFL action against the Seattle Seahawks. He was so explosive and sharp coming out of his breaks that game-day announcers pointed it out multiple times during the game. Thomas certainly passes the eye test in his first action. By the end, he had eight-catches for 97-yards and a score. Most of those catches came on third and long and it seems QB Kyle Orton already trusts the big receivers hands in pressure situations. Even though the final score was a blowout, Denver might have lost last Sunday without their shiny new weapon. Seattle had shut down Denver's running game just like they did to San Fran in week 1 in an attempt to make the Broncos one dimensional and create some turnovers through the air. Marcus Trufant (who had a pick 6 in week 1), a former pro bowler and shutdown corner could not do anything with Thomas. Every other Denver receiver seemed to be well blanketed most of the day by the Seahawks secondary. Thomas truly was the difference and this bodes well for his production moving forward. Thomas is also a great pass blocker which should keep him in the game on running situations.

Demaryius will continue to produce for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, he gives the Broncos the best chance to win. Second, He was the Denver's top pick so you know they will game-plan to get him the rock.  Josh McDaniels is on a bit of a hot seat after a few recent draft & trade blunders and he needs wins now. Look for Demaryius to be the best rookie wideout in 2010 slightly edging out Mike Williams of Tampa Bay.