Sep 14, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders (10) warms up before the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
After losingEric Deckerto free agency while the team coped with the embarrassing Super Bowl loss,John Elwayand company wanted to find a way to improve the team. Elway would take Indiana wide receiverCody Latimerwith the team’s second round pick, 56th overall, to add depth to a dangerous wide receiving core. However, the key signing, other than the defense withDeMarcus Ware,Aqib Talib, andT.J. Ward, was bringing in former Pittsburgh Steeler,Emmanuel Sanders.
Sanders and quarterbackPeyton Manninghave clicked since day one. While Eric Decker was a solid route-runner and all with average speed, Sanders brings great route-running skills with above-average speed — dangerous withDemaryius Thomason the opposite side. With Demaryius Thomas battling through injury which has shown in his stats, Sanders has taken the reigns as the team’s leading receiver.
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Through three games this season, Sanders has been targeted 33 times, catching 25 of those balls for a whopping 334 yards. Although he doesn’t have a touchdown to his credit, his quickness and speed help open up lanes for players such asJulius Thomas,Wes Welker, andJacob Tamme. Julius Thomas exploded in the first game of the regular season, catching seven balls for 104 yards, including three touchdown catches.
Back to Sanders, the 27-year-old from Southern Methodist has had three, 20+ yard catches, averaging nearly 111.3 yards per game. Sanders production far outweighs Decker’s thus far in the season, although Decker doesn’t have a Peyton Manning throwing to him. Decker has caught ten balls, resulting in 156 yards and a touchdown.
One thing Broncos’ fans won’t miss with Eric Decker were his numerous dropped passes. Sure, Wes Welker was third in the league last season with 10 drops, but in the slot position, that will happen. Decker on the other hand, accumulated seven drops, which all seemed to have happened at a critical moment in the game.
In conclusion, Denver Broncos fans have to be ecstatic with what they have seen from Emmanuel Sanders just three weeks into the regular season. Sanders without a doubt is making Broncos Country forget all about Eric Decker.
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