Arguably no other position group suffered more from the Denver Broncos down year on offense in 2016 than the tight ends. This year, with offensive coordinator Mike McCoy now designing the Denver offense, things are looking up for Virgil Green and Company.

According to Pro Football Reference, the Broncos ranked 21st in passing and just 27th in rushing offense in 2016. The four tight ends that saw time last season combined for just 52 catches for 578 yards and two touchdowns.

According to Green, the reason the tight ends didn’t make much of a splash in last year’s passing game was because they had to focus their efforts elsewhere.

“I just think we had to do things a little differently,” Green said following Tuesday’s OTA practice. “A lot of things worked last year. We had to try and get the run game going. I was busy blocking [Raiders DE] Khalil Mack and [Chiefs LB] Justin Houston and those guys on the edge.”

Green finished the season with 22 catches for 237 yards and a touchdown in 12 games last season.

According to Green, blocking two of the best pass rushers in the league won’t be his only job in 2017.

“I think with a system like McCoy has provides answers for those guys and can make it to where the tight ends could be more available in the pass game,” Green said.

Green would know. He and wide receiver Demaryius Thomas are the only two players still on the roster from McCoy‘s first stint with the Broncos in 2012.

The only other tight end to catch a touchdown in 2016 was journeyman and now New Orleans Saint John Phillips, who was released in November to make room for cornerback Taurean Nixon.

With Phillips gone, the newcomer to the tight end room is the Broncos’ fifth-round pick Jake Butt, who is recovering from an ACL injury suffered in 2016. Butt caught 138 passes for 1,646 yards and 11 touchdowns as a member of the Wolverines.

According to Green, new tight ends coach Geep Chryst is looking far and wide for ways to drive up the Broncos’ tight end touchdown total.

“We watched a clip a few weeks ago of every touchdown that a tight end had last year, which was like 120 or something clips,” Green said. “We’re watching a lot of different things to see what we can pull from other guys and what we can learn from a lot of other tight ends around the league.”

A.J. Derby, the Broncos’ second most productive pass-catching tight end behind Green, also feels like McCoy’s offense will do wonders for the tight ends in 2017.

“I think this is a great offense for tight ends,” Derby said on Tuesday. “I think [McCoy’s] past record in San Diego shows that. The whole room is really excited to see what we can do this season.”

The former college quarterback was acquired via trade from the New England Patriots for a 2017 fifth round draft pick in October. In only his second season at tight end, Derby caught 16 passes for 160 yards in six games with the Broncos.

Despite seeing limited action last season, Derby can already spot the differences in the offense that McCoy is working to install.

“Just more spread out and more movement,” Derby said of the difference between the two offenses. “Like what San Diego did with their tight ends, they had two on the field like [Antonio] Gates and Hunter Henry. They’re just using a lot more tight ends and having them be more versatile. Last year it was just learning the week-by-week plays. This year is building on the whole system.”

The other tight end that saw action last year was Jeff Heuerman, the Broncos’ third round selection in the 2015 Draft. After missing the entire 2015 season due to a torn ACL he suffered during rookie mini camp, Heuerman caught 9 passes for 141 yards in the 12 games he played in 2016.

Now in his third year, Heuerman is looking forward to proving what he can do with a full offseason under his belt.

“Having knee surgery your rookie year, then coming back last year and being banged up, obviously,” Heuerman said. “There is a lot that I need to get out there and want to show.”

With a healthy Jeff Heuerman, a familiar Virgil Green, a comfortble A.J. Derby and recovering Jake Butt in the wings, McCoy’s offense could be just what the tight ends need to bounce back from a tough 2016.

“It’s going to be a good year,” Heuerman said. “This offense is fun. It allows guys to play football. I’m just excited about that.”