Disproving a concern about prior stop of newest Jaguars starter
The Jaguars made some news today when they signed former Denver kicker Brandon McManus, who was released by the Broncos on Wednesday. McManus, 31, was the last remaining member of the Broncos Super Bowl team, with whom he had been all nine seasons of his career. It was a move that, on the surface, came […]
The Jaguars made some news today when they signed former Denver kicker Brandon McManus, who was released by the Broncos on Wednesday. McManus, 31, was the last remaining member of the Broncos Super Bowl team, with whom he had been all nine seasons of his career.
It was a move that, on the surface, came with corresponding questions and concerns that have been typed out on many fans' keyboards over the years. He was just good because of the thin Denver air. Didn't it help him because he was in Denver? Kicking at Mile High was a huge advantage for him.
Well, as it turns out, it was exactly the opposite case for McManus.
For his career, McManus attempted 145 field goals in Denver. He made 114 of them, good for a 78.6% career conversion percentage. On the road, he's attempted 129. He made 109 of those, which comes to a 84.5% career percentage. Accordingly, he's been significantly better away from the Mile High City and its supposedly friendly thin air.
Despite a lower field goal percentage in 2022 than in previous years, McManus was still solid last season on longer kicks, making all 10 from 40-49 and making 8 of 13 from 50+ (61.5%), the latter of which is higher than his career percentage from 50+ (55.6%). Between McManus' solid production in the money range and his perfect kicking mark under the pressure of the postseason (3-3 on extra points, 10-10 on field goals), it's understandable why Jacksonville moved quickly to bring him onboard.
Because just because something – like an altitude-related myth – seems to be true, reality is often otherwise.
