In the 30 days leading up to the start of Denver Broncos Training Camp 2016, we’re examining 30 big questions for the season. We’ll make a case for each answer; you’ll vote and tell Broncos Country what’s going to happen this year.
It’s no secret that the Denver Broncos offense took a step backwards in 2015. While they were still able to get the job done and win Super Bowl 50, the Broncos will definitely have to improve on the offensive side of the ball if the want a shot at repeating as Super Bowl champions this season.
An injured Peyton Manning and an unproven Brock Osweiler made things inconsistent for everyone, especially wide receivers Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders.
Despite putting up favorable numbers, Thomas will be the first to say that he had a down year in 2015. Thomas caught 105 passes for 1,304 yards, but only accounted for six touchdowns. His total yards and touchdowns were his lowest numbers in those categories since 2011. While he caught 105 passes, he was also fifth in the league in drops according to sportingcharts.com. Thomas had a turbulent season off the field as well, his contract negotiations and his mother’s release from prison were major distractions.
Sanders caught 76 passes for 1,135 yards and six touchdowns in 2015. Those numbers are all the second-best of Sanders’ career, but come after a season in which he put up career numbers in every category and expected to build on those numbers. Sanders was consistent in 2015 despite the Broncos quarterback issues, only dropping three passes that came his way. However, Sanders is now in the middle of a contract dispute of his own. He is signed through the 2016 season but has made it clear that he’d like an extension and a raise.
Thomas and Sanders produced only 12 touchdowns in 2015. It’s safe to say that must produce more than that if the Broncos want to be successful in 2016. There are a few different ways the season could go for the duo.
Scenario 1
With both receivers participating fully in all of the offseason workouts as well as training camp, Thomas and Sanders grow comfortable with whoever head coach Gary Kubiak decides to start at quarterback. Kubiak’s run game flourishes behind the Broncos’ revamped offensive line, breaking the passing game wide open and leading Sanders and Thomas to produce more touchdowns than they did in 2014 (23).
Scenario 2
It turns out that none of the three quarterbacks on the roster are compatible with Thomas or Sanders and the Broncos offense relies heavily on the run game. Thomas can’t seem to shake the drops that plagued him in 2015. The combination of Demaryius’ drops, bad quarterbacks and a heavy run game leads to a slow year for Sanders. This creates the perfect storm and the two catch less touchdowns than they did in 2015 (12).
Scenario 3
2016 will be a different year for the Broncos offense in nearly every department. The offensive line is different, two-thirds of the quarterbacks will be different, and the offense will finally be Kubiak’s. As expected, there will be some growing pains. There will times when the offense works and times when it doesn’t. As a result, Thomas and Sanders score somewhere in between their 2014 and 2015 totals (12-23).
What does Broncos Country think? How many touchdowns will Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders score in 2016?
30 QUESTIONS: How many touchdowns will Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders combine for in 2016?
— Mile High Sports (@MileHighSports) July 9, 2016
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