For the past two seasons, the Denver Broncos offense has had a difficult time generating points. Just four years removed from posting record-breaking numbers in scoring, the Denver offense went from juggernaut to liability. There are a number of possible culprits, but more importantly there is a potential solution who is already turning heads at UCHealth Training Center .
The loss of a Hall of Fame quarterback like Peyton Manning was going to be felt, and the Broncos are still dealing with that loss. Manning may have lost a step or two in his final year, but he was still more than capable of getting the ball where it needed to go, and his leadership was invaluable. However, we started to see the offense go downhill during Manning’s final season, so that can’t be the lone reason for the drop-off.
Gary Kubiak is a beloved player and coach in Broncos history, but I think we can all agree that his offenses were less than stellar throughout his head-coaching career. Prior to the arrival of Kubiak and offensive coordinator Rick Dennison, the Denver offense averaged 30 points and over 400 yards per game. During his two years at the helm, the Broncos managed just 21 points and 339 yards per game.
The offensive line has gone through a rebuilding phase, the running game is still trying to find its legs, and the tight end position has been virtually invisible.
One other key area where the Broncos offense has come up short has been the lack of production from their third wide receiver.
During those golden offensive seasons with Manning, the Broncos were getting substantial contributions from more than just their top two wideouts. From 2012 to 2014, the Broncos were scoring points in bunches, and one key reason was that Peyton Manning was highly effective at spreading the wealth.
Yes, Demaryius Thomas was putting up huge numbers as the top receiving target. Eric Decker and Emmanuel Sanders manned the No. 2 spot, and were both highly productive. Yet, if you tried to take those two away, Manning had other places to go with the football.
Brandon Stokely caught 45 passes with five touchdowns in 2012. Wes Welker had 73 receptions with 10 touchdowns in 2013. Welker had another 45 catches in 2014. Compare that to the past two seasons, when Jordan Norwood caught 22 passes with no touchdowns in 2015, then had 21 catches last year with just a single score.
Yes, there is plenty of blame to go around for the sub-par offense, but the lack of production from the wide receiving corps outside Thomas and Sanders is hard to overlook.
Tired of waiting for that production to come from someone on their current roster, John Elway invested a third-round draft choice in a little-known receiver from a small school in Louisiana. So far, the rookie from Louisiana Tech is making a good impression. Carlos Henderson may not have gone to a blue-blood football school, but there is no denying his talent. Now the Broncos are also seeing his desire.
Henderson missed rookie camp in Denver to attend his college graduation, but he is working hard to earn playing time immediately. He knows it won’t be easy.
“At this level, everybody can run and jump. It’s the small things that you do that separates yourself from the rest of the greats,” the rookie said after Monday’s OTA practice. “Once I continue to work on the small things and critique the errors and mistakes that I make, the rest will take care of itself.”
At 5-foot-11 and 200 pounds, he is hardly the prototypical slot receiver. In fact, he might look more like a running back than a speedy pass catcher. Don’t let that size fool you. Henderson ran 4.46 in his 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. He has very good hands, and uses his body to shield the football from defenders. Once he gets the ball, you truly see what Henderson can bring to the Broncos offense. He is a downhill runner that led the nation with 48 forced missed tackles. In his final season of college ball, Henderson caught 82 passes for 1,535 yards, and 23 total touchdowns.
Henderson is already learning from Thomas and Sanders, which should serve him well going forward.
“To be under those guys is an honor,” he effused. “I watch those guys at practice. They push me to go harder and harder every day. To watch those guys is great. It’s a great experience. Watching them makes me want to push harder and harder on what I have to do every day.”
Did we mention that Henderson is currently working out in OTAs without a contract? It should just be a matter of time before the Broncos sign him to his rookie deal, but Henderson is proving his loyalty by being at workouts anyway.
“I’m dedicated to this team. They spent their draft pick on me, so I’m dedicated to working hard and dedicated I am to playing football,” he said. “I love football. I won’t miss a workout or practice even though I’m not signed, because I’m that dedicated to helping the team by making sure I do whatever I have to do … I understand why I’m not signed. I don’t handle that, but that’ll work itself out.”
The Broncos may have picked up a key component toward improving their struggling offense. With his dedication and yards after catch ability, Carlos Henderson could prove to be a third-round steal.
UPDATE: Carlos Henderson signed a four-year rookie contract worth approximately $3.3 million dollars on May 26
Featured Image Credit: Ryan Greene, 5280 Sports Network