Earlier this week, the Denver Broncos released starting punter Britton Colquitt in favor of the cheaper, younger option, Riley Dixon.
Colquitt had been one of the league’s best punters throughout his career in Denver, and he was getting paid like it, too. That, though, was the breaking point, as John Elway and the Broncos front office looked to cut down their special teams budget.
Maybe that was a mistake.
In his first game as the Broncos starting punter, Dixon looked out of sync. And when the Broncos needed him in the most, with the offense backed up in their own territory and the second quarter running down, he kicked the ball a grand total of 18 yards.
18 yards net and gross on Dixon's punt, which took a beeline for the sideline and went out of bounds at the DEN 45. Not good.
— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) September 2, 2016
https://twitter.com/MikeKlis/status/771539694093860864
Safe to say, on an offensively challenged team, you want a punter you can trust, and Broncos Country is getting nervous.
Can the #Broncos apologize and re-sign Britton Colquitt at halftime? 'Cause that'd be great.
— Shawn Drotar (@sdrotar) September 2, 2016
https://twitter.com/JoshPennock/status/771539965477990400
Said on the air, didn't like @broncos releasing Colquitt. Ball comes off RDixon's foot different every punt. #KeepColquittOnSpeedDial.
— Les Shapiro (@LesShapiro) September 2, 2016
But there is a bit of good news for Dixon: He may not have been the most-dissapointing kicker of the evening.
Brandon McManus botched a 47 yard attempt in the first half, his third miss of the preseason.
That doesn’t mean Dixon’s off the hook, though … he was the holder on the snap.
McManus slices it wide right from 47 yards out. Still 10-7, Broncos.
— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) September 2, 2016
Walmart holder. #Broncos (4/5)
— James Merilatt (@jamesmerilatt) September 2, 2016
McManus misses the FG… Dixon had trouble during practice with holding – could be a problem #broncos
— Mic DePinto (@c_rasta5) September 2, 2016
That Colquitt decision is already paying dividends…
— Arran Andersen (@arranandersen) September 2, 2016
Hold was decent.. McManus missed 46-yarder. He has not had a great camp/preseason. For a team that needs to win ugly, this could be an issue
— Troy Renck (@TroyRenck) September 2, 2016
McManus has had an iffy camp. Is it him? Is it the new holder? And at what pt. do you start to worry about it? @Broncos
— Les Shapiro (@LesShapiro) September 2, 2016
McManus is 5-for-8 on field goals in preseason. That won't work during regular season for offense built to win ugly #DENvsAZ
— Troy Renck (@TroyRenck) September 2, 2016
Whether it’s Trevor Siemian or Paxton Lynch long term, the Denver Broncos can’t afford any missed opportunities or mistakes. From what we’ve seen through this preseason, that’s exactly what they’re going to get from their special teams.
If McManus and Dixon can’t turn it around, the Denver Broncos may have just cut the only kicker on the roster worth trusting.