Not at West Laurens High School. Not at Georgia Tech. Not in the NFL.
“Never,” Demaryius Thomas said Thursday, when asked the last time he had three drops in a game.
The Broncos won their season opener and did so without an impact performance from their top two wide receivers. Wes Welker remains suspended, and Thomas trudged through one of his most difficult games. Known for hauling in receptions even when covered, the two-time Pro Bowler watched passes hit the ground, including two on third down.
Denver offensive coordinator Adam Gase had an easy explanation: Thomas is a devastating runner, and he was trying to get “north and south” before securing the ball. Thomas led the NFL in yards after the catch in 2013. The fifth-year pro provided a fair assessment, giving himself a “75 percent” grade for his four-catch, 48-yard effort against the Colts.
“Drops are big,” Thomas said. “It bothered me after the first drop. I guess I let it linger. The main thing was that I was trying to get upfield too fast. This week I have been working hard on catching the ball first.”
Peyton Manning targeted Thomas 11 times in the opener, including eight in the first half. With Welker unlikely to return this weekend, Thomas remains a key figure. He has delivered some of his best performances against the Chiefs, posting three 100-yard games.
“I am hoping for more of the same. I am ready to do whatever I have to do to help us get a win,” Thomas said. “It’s a new team, new week.”
Sock hop. Aqib Talib made Manning smile without saying a word. The Broncos cornerback sported socks featuring the Broncos quarterback.
“I showed them to him before practice and he got a good laugh,” Talib said.
Talib’s mom and fiancée purchased them on a recent shopping trip. The sock trend began in training camp with Von Miller, whose customized pairs featured the late rapper Tupac. Thursday, Thomas had Bubblicious socks. Talib admitted Miller is in the lead, but the cornerback is moving up quickly.
“I got to have my man, Prime Time, Deion (Sanders). It’s all about the money,” Talib said, grabbing pairs from his locker. “Or I can go with these Rolex ones.”
Footnotes. Coordinator Jack Del Rio expects improvement from his defense after a challenging second half against the Colts. “I think as a group we feel we can be and need to be better,” he said. … Danny Trevathan walked through the locker room, an encouraging sign only four weeks after he suffered a fractured left leg in practice. “It’s been a lot better since I got rid of the crutches (Sunday),” the linebacker said. … The Broncos are two weeks ahead of schedule on the construction of their fieldhouse at Dove Valley. It could be ready late next month. … Denver re-signed wide receiver Nathan Palmer to the practice squad. … Injured guard Ben Garland (ankle) began working out.
