What Does the Return of Wes Welker Mean for the Denver Broncos
By Joe Morrone
Jan 12, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos receiver Wes Welker (83) is defended by San Diego Chargers safety Marcus Gilchrist (38) during the 2013 AFC divisional playoff football game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
As many of you probably already know, Denver Broncos wide receiver Wes Welker is officially back with the team after being reinstated on Wednesday after the league and the players finally agreed on a new drug policy.
With that news, what does the return of one of the league’s best slot receiver mean for the Broncos offense?
I’ll be the first to admit that I underrated what the loss of Welker would mean for the Broncos offense, they missed him. The Broncos did score 31 and 24 points in the first two weeks so it hasn’t been all bad, but anyone could see that the offense was missing something.
What it was missing was that guy that controls the middle of the field and opens up the outside for Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders. Without Welker in the lineup, defenses have been able to focus a little more on Thomas. If defenses continue to double team or bracket Thomas now, Welker is going to run wild in the middle of the field. If teams make an adjustment to account for Welker, then both Sanders and Thomas are going to see favorable matchups on the outside.
Add in tight-end Julius Thomas to that equation and defenses are going to have to pick their poison. There is always going to be a favorable matchup for the Broncos offense and no one exploits those matchups better than Peyton Manning.
In addition to creating matchup problems for the defense and options for Manning, Welker’s return helps the Broncos in two key areas.
The first of those areas is on third down; Welker is a first down machine and is Manning’s security blanket on that down. The Broncos offense has bogged down in the second half of the first two games in large part because of their inefficiency on those key third down plays. Welker’s return should have an instant impact in that area and keep more drives alive.
The second area is in the red zone. The Broncos have kicked two field goals through the first two weeks after having first and goal inside the 10 yard line. That almost never happened last season and while it did not cost them in those games, it will at some point.
Welker knows how to get open when the space is tight as it is in the red zone. His quickness is always an asset but even more so inside the five yard line.
If the Broncos have any shot of beating the Seattle Seahawks in Seattle this Sunday, then they must be efficient on third downs and in the red zone. The return of Welker could not come at a better time for Manning and the Broncos.
How much can he play after missing the first two weeks and a number of practices before that due to a concussion? It’s a fair question and I don’t know the answer but I have an educated guess.
Welker will be in the game plan but his snaps could be monitored due to conditioning. He’s been working out on his own but there’s a big difference between going to a gym and playing in an NFL football game. However, Welker will be on the field for all third down plays and every play inside the red zone.
The good news for Welker and the Broncos is that this news came on Wednesday morning meaning that the receiver will be in every meeting and at every practice leading up to Sunday’s game.
The Broncos have been decent on offense through the first two weeks but they can be much better. The return of Welker will certainly help.