A Fast Friendship...interesting read by gray caldwell
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
A Fast Friendship
By Gray Caldwell
DenverBroncos.com
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- It's not easy being a rookie.
Whether it's learning the "foreign language" of NFL terminology, adapting to the speed of the game, getting acquainted with a new city or just enduring a little initiation from the veterans, there's always something new to take in.
So when you can go through the process with a friend, it's that much easier.
Such is the case for Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker.
"We actually trained in Arizona together for three months," Thomas said. "Then when we found out we were both drafted (by the Broncos), we were excited to play with each other."
In the process of working out together, the two became "really good friends," Decker said. But that bond grew even stronger when Thomas injured his foot, preventing him from participating in any of the drills at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Decker missed several games his senior year after suffering a foot injury and was unable to participate at the combine, as well. Immediately, the two began to "bond in the training room," Decker joked.
Their injuries might have been the reason, Head Coach Josh McDaniels ventured, that Thomas was available late in the first round and Decker lasted all the way to the third. But that didn't make the team shy away from either of the 6-foot-3 receivers, and the coach fully expects both players to make a return to the field in time to be ready for their rookie seasons.
"We feel very comfortable with both players in terms of their injuries and the rehabilitation that they've gone through," McDaniels said. "We expect them to be able to contribute and learn and be out there in some way sometime in the spring. ... We're not going to rush anything. We'd rather that they be fully healthy and ready to compete than mostly healthy and thrown out there."
With no way to judge the players at the combine, the team focused on what the receivers put on tape throughout their college careers.
Thomas accumulated 120 receptions for 2,339 yards and 14 touchdowns at Georgia Tech, averaging more than 25 yards per catch as a senior.
He put up those statistics in an offense dominated by the run. The triple-option attack led the ACC in 2009 by averaging more than 295 rushing yards per game. The Yellow Jackets ranked last in the ACC in passing offense, yet Thomas found a way to excel. He put up 1,154 receiving yards and eight toughdowns as a senior, averaging 82.4 yards receiving per game when his team averaged just 126.7.
"That's what we put the most stock in -- what did he do as a football player on tape?" McDaniels said. "We're excited about Demaryius being on our football team. It certainly gives us the opportunity to have a bigger wide receiver that can do some different things, create some matchup problems and I think that's something that you're looking for."
At Minnesota, Decker was the first player to haul in more than 200 catches and amass more than 3,000 yards receiving in school history, finishing his career with the Golden Gophers with 227 receptions for 3,119 yards and 24 touchdowns. He produced first downs on more than 70 percent of his catches and was tackled for a loss just four times in his career.
Perhaps most impressive is the fact that the receiver was targeted 354 times in college, dropping just three passes.
"(Decker) is another big receiver -- a smart kid with really good hands," McDaniels continued. "He's very versatile. He's done a lot of good things (at Minnesota) and he's very determined young man."
Neither player participated in last weekend's rookie minicamp, but both watched the action from the sidelines, taking pointers from coaches as their teammates ran through drills.
"Me and Bay Bay -- Demaryius -- are just cheerleaders at this point, but just trying to get mental reps watching the guys run routes and get in and out of their breaks," Decker said. "We're trying to take it in so when we're able to get on the field we do that."
Meanwhile, both players are spending all their time in the playbook. Thomas said he is "trying to learn my way onto the field," the approach much of the 2010 rookie class is taking.
The roster has six receivers who were with the team last season -- Jabar Gaffney, Brandon Lloyd, Kenny McKinley, Eddie Royal, Brandon Stokley and Matt Willis -- three college free agents and a first-year free agent in addition to the two drafted pass-catchers.
Thomas and Decker said experiencing the trials of being a rookie along with a big group of first-year players makes it more fun, and in the end, they're all doing whatever it takes to get on the field and make an impact when the season rolls around.
"We're excited to have the opportunity to come in here and help this team win," Decker said.
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