Thread: Brandon McManus is your starting kicker

Originally Posted by dogfish

barth's a good kicker, and reportedly has shown some improved leg strength this off-season. . . not surprising that he was picked up right away-- i would have been more surprised if he had lasted more than a day or two. . .

He still has a problem with kickoff.

from article:

With Barth's release Tuesday morning to make room for Mathis, Brandon McManus was left as the only placekicker. He went 12-of-12 on kicks that ranged from 28 to 50 yards, and had perhaps his best day in a month filled with them.

AND

McManus' adjustment and growth in his second chance at nabbing the kicking job is where the Takeaways begin.

1. CHANGING THE WINDUP.

McManus believes that one reason for his improved accuracy this year is the elimination of a "jab-step" at the beginning of his run-up to the football on placekicks.

McManus realized last summer that he needed to remove the extra step, but when he was traded to the Broncos, he didn't have the time to work on it.

“I wanted to do it. When I was in Indianapolis and New York, they both said it would probably be beneficial for me. Even [former Broncos kicker] Matt Prater did it, I think two years before his record-breaking season [in 2013]," McManus said. "It is successful and I think there are about 50 percent of kickers in the league that have the jab step still, and then 50 percent that don’t."

It's a simple equation: by eliminating a step, McManus has one less component of his swing that can go wrong.

more on McManus, including his kickoffs, plus other stuff
http://www.denverbroncos.com/news-an...1-a830b579e15d

from article:

His first step — eliminate the jab step, a two- to three-inch step kickers often take to begin their kicking motion. Eliminating it led to former Broncos kicker Matt Prater's record-setting 2013 season.

"That two inches, it could be anywhere," McManus said. "For a 50-yard kick, one inch is a 10-yard miss. ... It's like a golf swing."

Distance never has been his problem. McManus has a nearly limitless range, evidenced by his 70-yard field goal at training camp last week, but questions arose with his accuracy.

AND

"He's gotten consistent. Last year it was a concern," coach Gary Kubiak said. "It was up to him to prove he could do it and up to this point, he's done that."

Rich Karlis: Denver Broncos handled Brandon McManus poorly last year (can click on this)

full article - http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci...roncos-kicking

Originally Posted by Jsteve01

Just for perspective Barth was 4th in the league in FG percentage last year and McManus was 35th. Get that? in a 32 team league he was 35th. That's not just bad guys it's horrid. I'm not sure what universe Kickoff depth is more important that your ability to actually kick a you know field goal but it seems to me your priorities are a little jacked. I admit, the coaching staff sees more than we do but McM already flopped miserably when they had enough faith in him to move Prater.

and understand that with our reliance on the run game and the defense we may see many more close games than we've become accustomed to in the last 3 years.

He fixed his mechanic and has been far more accurate. The question is about how he reacts to a fg in game.

Originally Posted by Denver Native (Carol)

from article:


AND



more on McManus, including his kickoffs, plus other stuff
http://www.denverbroncos.com/news-an...1-a830b579e15d

I was confident that if McManus could fix his mechanics he woupd stand a very good chance of winning the kicking job.

Originally Posted by NightTerror218

He fixed his mechanic and has been far more accurate. The question is about how he reacts to a fg in game.

There was quite a bit of pressure on him to beat out Barth.

I find it difficult to work out how a kicker can do nothing but kick all his life, make it to the nfl and still have bad mechanics.

Originally Posted by Valar Morghulis

I find it difficult to work out how a kicker can do nothing but kick all his life, make it to the nfl and still have bad mechanics.

Definitely leaves me scratching my head a bit...

Maybe he didn't always have bad mechanics.

Originally Posted by BroncoJoe

Definitely leaves me scratching my head a bit...

Your bald head.

Originally Posted by Valar Morghulis

I find it difficult to work out how a QB can do nothing but PASS all his life, make it to the nfl and still have bad mechanics.

AKA Tebow fify

Originally Posted by tubby

Your bald head.

That wasn't very nice.

Bigotry against the follicly challenged just isn't cool.

Bald is all fun and games until you start going bald lol

Originally Posted by Dzone

Bald is all fun and games until you start going bald lol

Oh I'm balding alright. Consider it getting my final jabs in while I can.