With Emmanuel Sanders gone, the bulk of the Broncos’ wide receiving burden falls on second-year players and .
One, Sutton, has already demonstrated the talent and game-breaking ability to be the team’s top wideout. The other, Hamilton, remains an enigma: He doesn’t have more than three catches in a game this year.
And Denver needs the 24-year-old to quickly come into his own as its new No. 2 receiver.
“I’d just like to see a little more umph in his play,” head coach said. “You know what I mean? Just a little more umph.”
Umph?
“You’ll know it when you see it,” Fangio said.
After posting 30 catches for 243 yards and two touchdowns last year, Hamilton has 11 catches for 106 yards and no touchdowns this year. For Denver to fill the void left by Sanders, everyone from the front office on down knows the former Penn State star’s production must increase.
“DaeSean has got to step up,” general manager said.
“Now itap time for DaeSean to continue to show that he’s a main receiver,” said running back Phillip Lindsay.
Of course, the pass-catching burden won’t fall entirely on Hamilton. In addition to Sutton, is expected back from a broken hand for Week 11 at Minnesota, while rookie Juwann Winfree (who’s been inactive for six consecutive games) will also likely see time at the No. 3 wideout slot starting Sunday in Indianapolis.
“It will be by committee,” Fangio said. “We’ll play a lot of those guys when we’re in two-wide receiver sets or the three-wide receiver sets.”
But Hamilton knows the trade of Sanders most directly affects his playing time, and he’s excited for the opportunity.
“It shouldn’t even be a question of whether I’m ready,” Hamilton said. “It’s more of, ‘How fast can I get started?’ ”
The 24-year-old said he’ll lean on the traits that got him to the NFL — “my route running, being able to separate to catch the ball, doing all the little things like blocking” — in order to break out. He also acknowledged his background role in the offense up to this point has been frustrating.
“I can’t dwell on that or change that — I don’t call the plays, I don’t put the ball in my own hands, I don’t throw the ball to myself either,” Hamilton said. “With this opportunity, there’s no choice but to go out there and make plays and produce.”
Hamilton already had a couple drops this season, including one on a would-be touchdown against Oakland in Week 1. But he said a short memory has helped him forget about those blunders. Instead, all his focus and energy is on Sunday’s game in Indianapolis.
“This is the opportunity I’ve been waiting for my whole career,” Hamilton said. “All I can do is just make the most out of it, cherish it, and just never let it go. That’s what I plan on doing.”
