At times during the Broncos' training camp, Peyton Manning and his new wide receivers look as though they've worked together for years.  At others, they look exactly like they are -- a group that, with the exception of Brandon Stokley, is new to the 15-year veteran.

Timing and rhythm are central to Manning making a smooth adjustment to his new surroundings. 

"I think we'd like to have some offensive rhythm out there, depending on how long we're out there," Manning said.

Manning and the first-team offense would like to work on a variety of scenarios: no-huddle, two-minute and goal-line, specifically.  Not all will come Thursday, but over the course of the month, Manning should run at least a full game's worth of snaps.

"I really do think of the preseason as a whole. You sort of lump all four games together and see where you are," Manning said.

Questions to be answered in exhibition season:

1. Who's the backup QB?  Veteran Caleb Hanie, rookie Brock Osweiler and returning practice-squad player Adam Weber are considered by Broncos coach John Fox to be "2a, 2b and 2c." Hanie is the only one with prior NFL game experience and is listed as the second-teamer, but has struggled at times through training camp. The three have taken equal repetitions at training camp, and it's expected to continue in the preseason games.  Osweiler has already been anointed the QB of the future and could solve this conundrum with a quality preseason. While he possesses the strongest arm of any Broncos quarterback -- Manning included -- his learning curve remains steep, as evidenced by interceptions in back-to-back two-minute drills Monday and Tuesday.

2. Can the Broncos strengthen the weak side?  Weakside linebacker D.J. Williams will miss the first six weeks with a suspension and hasn't taken a snap in team or seven-on-seven periods during training camp.  Wesley Woodyard appears set to take his place, but has never been an every-down linebacker on a regular basis and last year played most of his snaps when the Broncos were in the nickel.  Woodyard is one of the team's leaders as a special-teams captain, and if he can hold up against the run on first down, the Broncos won't miss the troubled Williams.

3. Who's on returns? WR Eric Decker is listed as the first-team punt returner, but the Broncos would prefer not to expose their potential No. 1 receiver to the rigors of the work. The Broncos would like third-year CB Syd'Quan Thompson to claim the job. He missed last year with a torn Achilles tendon but is back to full speed. Backup RB Lance Ball is pegged as the kickoff returner, but rookie RB Ronnie Hillman might get a look later in the preseason after he's returned to full fitness following a recent hamstring injury.

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