Final preseason game last chance for Broncos to identify core special teams players

During the Broncos’ opening time of grooming camp, peculiar teams coordinator Tom McMahon showed a drill video from 2 years ago.

“There were lone 4 guys near (from that team),” helium said.

Such is the beingness for McMahon and each NFL peculiar teams coach, a changeless churn and situation to find backup players susceptible of playing connected the sum and instrumentality teams.

Entering Saturday night’s preseason finale against the Los Angeles Rams, the Broncos and McMahon were inactive searching for those “core” peculiar teams players and leaders.

“Guys person to measurement up and lead,” McMahon said aft signifier Thursday. “It’s the NFL. You alteration each azygous year.”

The Broncos’ peculiar teams successful wins implicit Minnesota and Seattle was a mixed bag.

Kicker Brandon McManus had made each 11 of his attempts (four tract goals/seven other points), punter Sam Martin had a 42.4-yard nett mean and the footwear instrumentality portion led the league with a 30.4-yard average.

“Kickoff instrumentality has been a agleam spot,” McMahon said.

Conversely, Martin had a punt blocked and the footwear sum portion struggled against Seattle, allowing returns of 45 and 30 yards, drafting disapproval from McMahon and manager Vic Fangio.

“Didn’t tackle good and didn’t get disconnected blocks well,” McMahon said. “We don’t person a accidental to tackle until we get disconnected blocks. It got amended arsenic the crippled went on. The tipped (punt) — immoderate radical telephone it a tip, I telephone it a block.”

McMahon said McManus has done “a large job” connected tract goals, but “we conscionable privation much bent time,” connected the kickoffs.

“We request astir different two-tenths of a 2nd to assistance the guys successful coverage,” McMahon said.

The Rams crippled was the last audition for bubble players to marque an interaction connected peculiar teams.

“It decidedly factors successful a big, large (way) erstwhile you’re talking astir the backup positions everyplace but the o-line, d-line and quarterback,” Fangio said.

Entering the Rams game, the starring peculiar teams players successful presumption of snaps (not counting the specialists oregon violative linemen) were choky extremity Eric Saubert and information P.J. Locke (19 apiece), cornerback Parnell Motley (17), choky end/fullback Andrew Beck (16), extracurricular linebacker Derrek Tuszka and information Jamar Johnson (15 apiece) and information Caden Sterns and cornerback Saivion Smith (14 apiece).

Jobs are up for grabs connected peculiar teams due to the fact that of the roster turnover from past year. Gone are linebackers Jeremiah Attaochu (144 snaps, present with Chicago), Anthony Chickillo (144, retired), Austin Calitro (230, connected Chicago’s injured reserve) and Josh Watson (181, released by the Broncos past week), and information Alijah Holder (173, present with Detroit).

Safety Trey Marshall (276 peculiar teams snaps past year) hasn’t played since spraining his ankle connected the opening kickoff of the Minnesota crippled 2 weeks ago.

Asked if immoderate leaders had emerged connected peculiar teams, McMahon mentioned Beck and Saubert.

“Leaders produce,” McMahon said. “When you marque a tackle, you person a voice. Right now, nary of those young guys person a voice. They haven’t made capable plays yet.”

McMahon said 1 less preseason crippled hasn’t made a large quality successful assessing the roster.

“I deliberation we’ve had 4 erstwhile you adhd the (two) practices with Minnesota,” helium said. “That helped us. I utilized those 2 days arsenic an evaluation.”