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Barth looks to return to form after injury, layoff

ENGLEWOOD – The Denver Broncos might be sacrificing some kick return yards in exchange for more accuracy between the uprights.

“We’re about to find out,” head coach John Fox said Wednesday, 24 hours after the Broncos replaced first-year pro Brandon McManus with five-year pro Connor Barth.

Barth is an 84 percent field goal kicker over his five seasons in the NFL and the most accurate kicker in Tampa Bay Buccaneers history. McManus was waived after making just 69 percent of his field goal attempts, which ranked last in the league.

McManus, however, ranked second in the league behind only Indy’s Pat McAfee in touchbacks on kickoffs (48) and touchback rate (75 percent).

Only 7.1 percent of Barth’s career kickoffs have resulted in touchbacks – 11 of 156 – although all of those came when the football was still teed up at the 30-yard line, not the 35, which has drastically reduced runbacks in recent seasons.

Barth hasn’t kicked off since 2010, when he had just one touchback in 78 kickoffs.

“Obviously, kicking off from the 35 is awesome,” Barth said Wednesday following his first practice since signing a two-year deal. “And obviously kickoffs here in Denver with the altitude helps a little bit.

“But it’s been something I’ve always worked on and wanted to work on because I haven’t had to do it since (2010), so I’m just excited to go out there and kick off again and kick field goals as well.”

With the kicking change, the Broncos’ kickoff coverage units are bracing for more action starting Sunday night at Kansas City.

“The only thing now is that we just have to expect the ball to come out and really focus on our lanes,” tight end Virgil Green said. “So, I don’t really think it’s going to be that big of a deal because we’ve been harping for the last seven, eight weeks on being a better kickoff coverage team.

“And the upside to that, too, could be we have more opportunities to get them to turn the ball over,” Green said. “There will be more chances to get our offense the ball back with good field position.”

Barth, who beat out Jay Feely, 38, for the job Tuesday, missed all of last season after tearing the Achilles tendon in his right foot during a charity basketball game. He returned to the Buccaneers this year, but was beaten out by rookie Patrick Murray.

“I’m just happy for the opportunity and to be back out kicking again,” said Barth, who also tried out with the Detroit Lions this season.

Barth said he was glad his comeback game comes at Arrowhead Stadium.

“Luckily, I’ve actually kicked in Kansas City. I kicked there my rookie year so I have a little bit of experience in that stadium,” he said. “Unfortunately, playing in Tampa, I didn’t get many primetime games, so it’s exciting to get the opportunity to play in front of a lot of people and I’m just excited to help this team win some games.”



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