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Effective July 1, 2022, this site will enter archived status. Please visit the Thin Air Fan Portal at https://fan.thinair.football/ to continue with the same style of discussion. Learn more about the details of the Thin Air Network beyond the fold.

Having discussed Denver’s receivers in part 1 of this series and the O-line in part 2, it’s time to take a look at the rest of the offense, and how it will likely function as a whole.

Thin Air will continue as it has, and it always will so long as I have the ability to do so. And by definition, I will always have some role in this site. However, what my role precisely is might change. I can’t say with such precision what that might be: if I knew, by all means I would tell you. But in deep consideration with the confluence of where I am and where the Denver Broncos are, I feel that it is prudent to explore something that’s possibly different, one that I hope will be beneficial.

Week 1: at Seahawks, 6:20 PM, ESPN (Monday) (per Vic Lombardi)
Week 2: vs. Texans, 2:25 PM, CBS (per the Broncos)
Week 3: vs. 49ers, 6:20 PM, NBC
Week 4: at Raiders, 2:25 PM, CBS
Week 5: vs. Colts, 6:15 PM, Amazon (Thursday)
Week 6: at Chargers, 6:15 PM, ESPN (Monday)
Week 7: vs. Jets, 2:05 PM, CBS
Week 8: “at” Jaguars, (in London), 7:30 AM, ESPN+ (per Sean O’Donnell)
Week 9: Bye
Week 10: at Titans, 11:00 AM, CBS
Week 11: vs. Raiders, 2:05 PM, CBS
Week 12: at Panthers, 11:00 AM, CBS
Week 13: at Ravens, 11:00 AM, CBS
Week 14: vs. Chiefs, 6:20 PM, NBC (per Danny Parkins)
Week 15: vs. Cardinals, 2:05 PM, FOX
Week 16: at Rams, 2:30 PM, CBS/Nickelodeon (per the NFL)
Week 17: at Chiefs, 11:00 AM PM, CBS
Week 18: vs. Chargers, 2:25 PM, CBS

The first 5 rounds of Denver’s 2022 draft showed a very different emphasis from the 2021 draft. Where in 2021 the focus seemed to be on drafting powerful players who could contribute to improving the physicality/ toughness of the roster, in 2022 players seemed to be selected more for specific high level skills. In terms of biomechanical orientation, 5 of the first 6 drafted players are medial centric anterior dominant, which as a gross generalization is often characterized by superior control and quickness. Greg Dulcich is the only player on this list to show a different orientation, and it is still anterior dominant (lateral oriented). Overall then, these players are generally more characterized by finesse and control than by toughness and strength. However, Paton and co still seem to have done an excellent job overall in finding top tier athletes to draft. And this draft will likely present several immediate impact players in important roles.

Hi guys, before we get to the impressions of Denver’s 2022 draft class, I wanted to highlight an UDFA gem (and one of Denver’s 30 pre-draft visitations), CB Ja’Quan McMillian. Let me start by saying that, at this moment, McMillian is likely Denver’s very best rookie CB, and not by a close margin (Mathis has perhaps greater long-term potential, and will be discussed separately)**. This is because McMilian (who was PFF’s top rated cover corner in 2021) shows a very rare trait for a DB– full efficiency in his posterior medial lumbar areas. This full lumbar efficiency gives McMillian the ability to mirror and shift his hips to match with his assigned cover at an extremely high level, even as his baseline speed/ strength appear somewhat underwhelming.

**Edit 5/14/22: This statement was based on early study of Mathis and Hicks– later more detailed study showed that Mathis (and perhaps Hicks) would likely out-play McMillian even if the season started immediately (May 2022)