Peyton Manning throws a pass as quarterback of the Indianapolis Colts in 2010. (REUTERS/Brent Smith)

This is a guest post edited for BT.

It’s every NFL coach’s dream to get a quarterback that helps turn good wide receivers into great wide receivers, as that one key player can be the difference between a coach spending a long tenure on the sidelines or watching the games on Direct TV each Sunday. Take New England quarterback Tom Brady, for example, who has made Wes Welker and Deon Branch, two wide receivers who had little to no hype surrounding them, successful in the NFL. Peyton Manning is another example of a quarterback who is capable of transforming his wide receivers; his history with the Indianapolis Colts speaks for itself in that regard.

There’s no question that Manning has had some good players to lob balls to during his Super Bowl-winning tenure with the Colts, like Reggie Wayne and Marvin Harrison, but if you really want a good barometer of just how good of a player Peyton Manning is, all you need to do is flashback to the 2010 NFL season.

The Colts were hit with the injury bug and signed an undrafted wide receiver out of Michigan State named Blair White. With Manning mentoring him and throwing balls to him White excelled, starting four games (playing in 13) and catching 36 balls for 355 yards and five touchdowns. While many heralded White as a feel good story, having gone from undrafted to starting at wide receiver for the Colts, the real story was Manning’s ability got the most out of the players around him. Think it was White’s inherent ability that allowed for his performance? With Manning injured for the entire season in 2011, White only appeared in seven games and recorded zero receptions, a significant statistical drop that is largely evidence of the Colts’ struggles in the passing game. As of May 2012, White was a free agent looking for a new NFL home.

Manning is now a Denver Bronco and will make his first NFL start in over a year when the 2012 season kicks off this fall.

Denver has all the ingredients to make a run into the playoffs, right? Now that they have a star quarterback with a proven track record?

The answer is a resounding “yes.” While some may question the talent of the wide receiver corp (Eric Decker, Demaryius Thomas, Andre Caldwell, etc), they need only look at their starting quarterback, who, if healthy, can make average receivers look like all-pro receivers.

The most interesting of the wide receiver bunch for Denver, however, is Thomas. The third-year pro broke out in the second half of 2011, culminating in an NFL playoffs record-breaking performance against the Pittsburgh Steelers. That’s where Denver has to be salivating; think about what Manning was able to do with Blair White two seasons ago and expand the effect to a player of Thomas’s stature.

So when you hear coaches brag about how certain players of theirs “make everyone around them better,” think of Peyton Manning. He leads by example off the field and on the field and is able to take average talent to beyond average levels. It’s why management should never be concerned about who they’re surrounding him with in terms of wide receivers. The Blair White example is prime evidence of someone who excelled under Manning and struggled mightily without him. And players like Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne were very talented players who Manning also made better.

The bottom line is that if you’re a wide receiver and can catch a ball, Peyton Manning will make you good. If you’re a good wide receiver capable of the occasional highlight, Peyton Manning will make you exceptional.

Toledo Rockets WR Eric Page runs against Ohio State in 2011. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

Eric Page
Pos: Wide Receiver
School: Toledo
Class: Junior
Ht: 5’9″ Wt: 186 lbs.
40-time: 4.53 Bench: 15

Eric Page probably can’t believe he wasn’t drafted. Had he continued at Toledo for his senior season, he would have very likely smashed the NCAA football record in career receptions, having totaled 306 in three years, 49 catches shy of the mark held by Oklahoma’s Ryan Broyles. He’s one of the only underclassmen the Broncos brought in this year and one of the few UDFA’s to attend the combine. Page was named first-team All American kick returner by the Sporting News in 2010 (the first Rocket in 35 years to be named first-team All American). A dreadful combine led to him falling out of the draft completely, but if this ball-hawk can impress in camp the Broncos very well may have found a diamond in the rough.

Scouting Reports: NFL, CBS, PFW, UT, Broncos

Camp Competition: Andre Caldwell, Matthew Willis, D’Andre Goodwin, Brandon Stokley, Mark Dell, Tyler Grisham, Jason Hill, Greg Orton, Gerrell Robinson, Eric Decker, Syd’Quan Thompson (punt returns)

Camp Outlook: Page is a natural fit as a slot receiver, and we wouldn’t be surprised to see him excel there. He’s also an electric kick returner, but his best bet at making the roster might be as a punt returner. It’s not because it’s where his greatest talent is found — it’s simply because there is no one else on the Broncos roster that really fits the gig, and the Broncos do need a punt returner, after all.

BroncoTalk’s undrafted rookie reports are compiled by examining second-hand scouting reports, news articles, and, when available, film footage. Page is one of 13 undrafted free agent rookies the Broncos will bring in to compete in their 2012 training camp.

Wide receiver Gerell Robinson #8 of the Arizona State Sun Devils scores on a 11 yard touchdown in 2011. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Gerell Robinson
Pos: Wide Receiver
School: Arizona State
Class: Senior
Ht: 6’3″ Wt: 227 lbs.
40-time: 4.62 Bench: -

Gerell Robinson, much like his quarterback partner and ASU/Denver Broncos counterpart Brock Osweiler, only came onto the scene in his senior year of college. A tall target not afraid to work the middle of the field, Robinson’s big-play abilities have been questioned for some time, though his 18-yard average in his senior season will quell some of those concerns. The main knocks against Robinson are his speed, lack of burst off the line of scrimmage, and tendencies to straight-line it. He played mostly out of the slot at ASU despite his size.

Scouting Reports: NFL, PFW, NFP, DC, ASU, Broncos

Camp Competition: Demaryius Thomas, Eric Decker, Andre Caldwell, Matthew Willis, D’Andre Goodwin, Brandon Stokley, Mark Dell, Tyler Grisham, Jason Hill, Greg Orton, Eric Page

Camp Outlook: The Broncos have a lot of wide receivers under contract right now, and outside of the top three, no one is guaranteed a spot following camp. Robinson definitely has the size, arm length, and style that would remind some Broncos fans of Brandon Marshall, but his game requires far more polish. Given the nature of his relationship with Brock and the fact that Osweiler isn’t expected to be game-ready for a few years, Robinson seems like a prime candidate for the practice squad.

BroncoTalk’s undrafted rookie reports are compiled by examining second-hand scouting reports, news articles, and, when available, film footage. Robinson is one of 13 undrafted free agent rookies the Broncos will bring in to compete in their 2012 training camp.

As Tim covered in the Daily Links, Toledo wide receiver became the 13th undrafted college free agent to sign with the Denver Broncos late Saturday, the Denver Post reports. We had earlier reported that 12 undrafted college players joined the Broncos following the conclusion of the 2012 NFL Draft.

Page is 5-9 and 185 lbs. and was coveted for his return skills. The Post’s Lindsay Jones speculates that he could enter training camp as the team’s number one punt and kick returner.

At least one undrafted rookie has made the Broncos’ 53-man roster in each of the last eight seasons; like his 12 other draftmates, Page’s future in Denver is now in his own hands.

Broncos add 13th UDFA, WR Eric Page [First and Orange]

Name: Eric Decker Height, Weight: 6’3″, 218 Position: Wide Receiver Age, Experience: 24, 3 College: Minnesota

Eric Decker was a top college prospect coming out of Minnesota in 2010, but a season-ending, surgery-requiring foot injury dropped his draft stock to the point where the Denver Broncos were able to snag the wide receiver with their third round draft pick that year. Decker ended up missing mini-camp and OTA’s due to the injury, but he came on strong by training camp and the preseason — in fact, he led all NFL rookies in receiving yards during the 2010 preseason. The early promises of 2010 began to bear fruit for Decker in 2011 as he moved into a starters’ role, and while his statistical pace slowed with the insertion of Tim Tebow at starting quarterback, there are reasons to believe Decker can continue to improve, even to the point of his pre-college injury, first round stock potential.

2011 Analysis: Eric Decker started 13 games in 2011, appearing in all 16, though a knee injury knocked him out of the postseason finale in New England. In the regular season, Decker caught 44 passes for 612 yards and eight touchdowns — probably better production than most hardcore fans tend to remember. That’s because Decker’s impact was much more felt with Kyle Orton in the lineup than with Tebow; for whatever reason, the 2010 draft classmates were never able to get on the same page the way Demaryius Thomas and Tebow were late in 2011. To point: Decker had four touchdowns in the first five weeks of the season, with Kyle Orton as the starter. He had that same number of scores the rest of the way, taking him 11 weeks with Tebow to reach the same TD output that he did in five weeks with Orton. (His Week 10 56-yard touchdown catch from Tebow was a thing of beauty, though.)

Contract Status: Signed through 2013; Free agent 2014

2012 Outlook: Decker’s known as a smart, sure-handed player, but the latter trait seemed to escape him as 2011 progressed. Decker was dropping a number of Tebow passes, so it should behoove the player to work with Tebow as much as possible this offseason and find a rhythm. Luckily, the knee injury Decker suffered in the Broncos’ Wild Card game was reportedly not serious: he suffered a sprained MCL (as opposed to a 2012-threatening torn ACL) and should be available to get back to work soon. The Broncos are thin at receiver, so while they’ll certainly look to add depth and competition, a disciplined offseason should keep Decker implanted in a starters’ role.

As always, we invite you, the readers, to participate. Will Decker take his game to the next level in 2012, or are the Broncos better off adding a top prospect through the draft or free agency?

We hope you enjoy these posts as BroncoTalk develops a one-of-a-kind fan-powered Denver Broncos roster on the web.

Name: Demaryius Thomas Height, Weight: 6’3″, 229 Position: Wide Receiver Age, Experience: 24, 3 College: Georgia Tech

Demaryius Thomas was drafted by the Denver Broncos with the 22nd pick in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft. Drafted three spots ahead of Tim Tebow, the wide receiver and quarterback began to find a rhythm in 2011 that exploded into Thomas’s breakout game in the first round of the AFC Wild Card playoffs against the Pittsburgh Steelers. An 80-yard catch-and-run (and a handful of NFL playoffs records) later, Thomas is thought to be a focal point for the offense the Broncos will build around Tebow.

2011 Analysis: Many thought Thomas might miss the entire 2011 season when he tore his Achilles tendon during a workout on February 10, 2011 (almost exactly one year ago today). He fought through the injury, however, and made his sophomore season debut after the bye — just in time to see the Broncos’ #1 and Pro Bowl wide receiver Brandon Lloyd traded away. It took Thomas awhile to find a rhythm with Tebow (and vice-versa), as he only hauled in seven catches during his first six weeks as a starter. But he finished the season strong, catching 25 passes in the season’s final five weeks. That all led to the postseason, where Thomas set a handful of NFL playoff records with his four-catch, 204-yard performance against Pittsburgh. He had six catches for 93 yards against the Patriots.

Contract Status: Signed through 2014; unrestricted free agent 2015

2012 Outlook: There perhaps isn’t a brighter outlook for any Broncos player in 2012 than there is for Demaryius Thomas. Marred by injuries his first two season, if he can stay healthy, the sky really is the limit for this third-year player. His infamous 80-yard Stiff-Arm was a microcosm of the traits Thomas can display to take him to the top: he has the size, speed, and strength to take on any defensive back in the NFL. If he stays healthy and works with Tim Tebow during the offseason, 2012 will be a big year for Thomas.

As always, we invite you, the readers, to participate. Are you excited by Thomas taking on the role of #1 WR in Denver, or do you still have your doubts?

We hope you enjoy these posts as BroncoTalk develops a one-of-a-kind fan-powered Denver Broncos roster on the web.

Wide receiver Quan Cosby returns a punt for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2009. (AP Photo/David Stluka)

The Denver Broncos addressed their seriously ailing wide receiver depth Tuesday, signing former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Quan Cosby. Running back Jeremiah Johnson was waived to make room on the Broncos’ 53-man roster.

Cosby (5-9, 189) is a third-year player who signed with the Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 2009. In 32 career games, Cosby totaled six receptions for 71 yards (11.8 avg.) in addition to extensive return duties on special teams. He totaled the second-most punt returns (70) in the NFL from 2009-10, averaging 10.0 yards per return along with 16 kickoff returns (17.7 avg.). His 474 punt return yards in 2009 set a Bengals record and led the NFL.

In college, Cosby played 52 games (32 starts) in four seasons at Texas, finishing second in school history in receptions (212), third in receiving yards (2,598) and fourth in receiving touchdowns (19).

The Broncos also welcomed back tight end John Nalbone to their practice squad. Nalbone (6-4, 255), a 2009 fifth round draft pick of the Miami Dolphins, finished last season on the Broncos’ practice squad.

Cosby’s no Brandon Lloyd, but at least he’s better (I presume) than Tim Tebow. Plus it’ll be good to get the blossoming Eric Decker off return duties. … Don’t be surprised if the Broncos sign another receiver anyway this week.

Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas at practice in 2010 (BroncoTalk.net)

Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas was thought to be unavailable for most of the 2011 season after he suffered an Achilles tendon injury in February. The initial diagnosis? Between eight and ten months, as is typical for an injury of his type and magnitude.

Then word broke out over the weekend that the Broncos were planning on bringing Thomas back onto the practice field as early as this week, a full two-to-four months ahead of schedule.

Today, the Broncos made good on those plans.

Thomas was back on the practice field Monday as the Broncos prepared for next Monday’s season opener against the Oakland Raiders, running routes and catching passes.

While the Broncos are excited to have Thomas back, they plan on taking it slow with the 2010 first round draft pick. General Manager Brian Xanders indicated Thomas could run the scout team while the Broncos’ four other receivers — Brandon Lloyd, Eddie Royal, Eric Decker, and Matthew Willis — provide enough depth and experience to be available on gameday.

“We’ve got to get him in shape leg-wise, quadriceps, hamstrings and all of that has to be working well,” Xanders said. “We’ll see how he does. Hopefully it’s sooner than later.”

The Broncos don’t plan on using many four- or five-wide receiver sets in 2011. As opposed to Josh McDaniels‘ spread offense, John Fox will employ two tight end sets much more often. A two-back formation will also be utilized much more often under Fox. The focus is on the running game, not the passing game.

Still, it’s remarkable that Thomas could be available by Monday’s opener at all. Xanders credits Thomas’ hard work and the Broncos’ training staff over camp for the quicker-than-expected recovery.

“It’s over those five weeks with our trainers and doctors. He did great job rehabbing himself during the lockout and then he came in and had a great five weeks with us,” Xanders said. “Out on the field, the doctors allowed him to work more routes, and more explosion exercises—jumping. There’s a lot of stuff to do with the Achilles tendon there, but he did really well, so they cleared him to go.”

“He’s going to be running scout team cards eventually in full pads, and we’ll see how he is,” Xanders said.

And if Thomas suffers a setback, the Broncos have Eron Riley waiting in the practice squad wings, who had as impressive a preseason as one can ask a third-string wide receiver.

The first clip contains all of the highlights and low lights of Dez’s 2008 season and 2009 partial season.  Bryant ran into “off the field trouble” with the NCAA for not disclosing the complete details of a day he spent with Deion Sanders in Dallas.  A day in which he spent time with the former NFL CB at his football camp Prime U, had lunch and visited Sanders’ home.  By leaving out details of the trip, the NCAA suspended Bryant for the remainder of the 2009 season.  The second clip shown reviews all of this in detail, including Bryant’s interview on these events at the combine along with his draft stock.  Former Texans’ GM Charlie Casserly does an interesting evaluation.  The third video is every “Bryant play” during the Oklahoma Stave vs. Oklahoma 2008 matchup.

Denver Broncos wide receiver Matthew Willis throws a pass as he waits to take part in drills at the team's NFL football training camp at Broncos' headquarters on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009, in Englewood, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

With Brandon Marshall out and Eddie Royal ruled out as well, the Denver Broncos added depth at wide receiver Saturday by signing Matthew Willis from the practice squad to the active roster.  To make room on the roster, tackle Herb Taylor was released.

The Broncos face the Kansas City Chiefs in their season finale Sunday. Before adding Willis, the only wide receivers available were Jabar Gaffney, Brandon Stokley, and Brandon Lloyd.

Willis (6-0, 190 lbs.) is a second-year wide receiver who joined the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent out of UCLA in 2007.  He bounced back and forth from the Ravens’ roster and practice squad before landing with Denver’s practice squad in December 2008, where he spent all 16 weeks of the 2009 season.

The last time the Broncos made a Saturday practice squad promotion was with CB Tony Carter, who started admirably at nickelback.  Hopefully Willis can take equal advantage of his opportunity.  Press release after the jump.

BRONCOS SIGN WR MATTHEW WILLIS TO ACTIVE ROSTER; WAIVE T HERB TAYLOR

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Denver Broncos on Saturday signed wide receiver Matthew Willis to their active roster from the team’s practice squad, it was announced. As per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Denver also waived tackle Herb Taylor, who initially joined the club on Dec. 9, 2008 as a free agent before being waived on Dec. 19 and then re-signed on Dec. 29.

Willis (6-foot-0, 190 pounds), is a second-year wide receiver who spent the first 16 weeks of the regular season on Denver’s practice squad. He originally entered the NFL with Baltimore as a college free agent on May 4, 2007 from UCLA. He spent eight weeks on the Ravens’ practice squad in 2007 and eight games on the club’s active roster, appearing in five games and totaling one tackle on special teams along with an 11-yard reception on offense.

Willis spent the first two weeks of the 2008 season on Baltimore’s practice squad before being waived by the club. Willis was signed to Denver’s practice squad on Dec. 24, 2008.

At UCLA, he played two seasons of football after competing on the Bruins’ track team. He played 21 career games (3 starts) at UCLA, posting 24 receptions for 248 yards (10.3 avg.) with three touchdowns.

Willis attended Servite High School in Anaheim, Calif., and was born on April 13, 1984.