Denver Broncos: One thing we learned at every position through OTAs

DENVER, CO - NOVEMBER 27: Cornerback Chris Harris #25 of the Denver Broncos celebrates after a play in the first quarter of the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on November 27, 2016 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - NOVEMBER 27: Cornerback Chris Harris #25 of the Denver Broncos celebrates after a play in the first quarter of the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on November 27, 2016 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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CARSON, CA – NOVEMBER 18: Brandon McManus #8 of the Denver Broncos celebrates his game winning field goal with Colby Wadman #3 in front of Derwin James #33 of the Los Angeles Chargers for a 23-22 victory at StubHub Center on November 18, 2018 in Carson, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
CARSON, CA – NOVEMBER 18: Brandon McManus #8 of the Denver Broncos celebrates his game winning field goal with Colby Wadman #3 in front of Derwin James #33 of the Los Angeles Chargers for a 23-22 victory at StubHub Center on November 18, 2018 in Carson, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

Specialists: Heavyweight fight for the kicker spot

Specialists are people too.

The Broncos have four specialists on the roster right now:

K Brandon McManus
P Colby Wadman
LS Casey Kreiter
K Taylor Bertolet

Of all the players on that list, why is McManus the only guy with competition for his job?

Well, for kickers, evaluating performance is pretty simple. You either make your kicks or you don’t. McManus was hitting above 85 percent of his kicks from 2015-16. From 2017-18, he’s hitting on 77.5 percent.

That is still a decent percentage but a near eight percent drop on his kicks made is certainly a cause for concern.

It should be noted his percentage went up last year from 75 percent to 80 percent, but he missed five of his seven opportunities from 50-plus yards.

Taylor Bertolet, kicking in the AAF, hit on four of his seven attempts from 50-plus yards.

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Fangio said that Bertolet would have to knock McManus out in a ‘heavyweight’ style fight.

We’ll see what happens in training camp and preseason play.