Longsnap.com

Week Fifteen in Review

Posted on December 19, 2023 by longsnap

Week Fifteen brought a rare snapping change and another one will happen this coming week.

Alex Ward of the Rams suffered an injury in his Week Fourteen game agains the Ravens and the team quickly signed veteran Carson Tinker to replace him. It also appeared that Buccaneers snapper Zach Triner might miss this week’s game with an elbow injury but he was able to play. Tampa Bay added Evan Deckers just in case after a workout that also featured Tucker Addington and Matt Overton.

In action this week, Commanders snapper Camaron Cheeseman continued to struggle with multiple bad punt and short snaps. As a result, the Commanders waived Cheeseman yesterday and are expected to add his replacement in the next few days.

Five snappers recorded tackles in punt coverage this week, with Thomas Hennessy (Jets), Casey Kreiter (Giants) and Morgan Cox (Titans) each tallying solo stops, while Josh Harris (Chargers) had two assisted tackles and Tyler Ott (Ravens) adding an assisted tackle.

The NFL Long Snappers Chart after Week Fifteen is below.

2023 Week Fifteen Download

Posted in NFL, Tackles, Transactions | Comments Off

Options for Snappers Looking to Play Professionally

Posted on December 15, 2023 by longsnap

With the NFL in its final weeks and college teams about to start bowl season, attention will soon turn to the NFL Draft. For snappers eligible for the Draft in April, all-star games and camps are a great way to attract the attention of scouts.

The top all-star game opportunities for snappers eligible for the NFL Draft are the Senior Bowl, East-West Shrine Bowl, Hula Bowl and CGS. Snappers are starting to fill these rosters, with Peter Bowden (Wisconsin) and William Mote (Georgia) committed to the Senior Bowl, while Patrick Mannelly Award winner Joe Shimko (NC State) will play in the East-West Shrine game. Bowden, Randen Plattner (Kansas State) and Marco Ortiz (Nebraska) are slated to play in the Hula Bowl in January.

For those snappers not selected to an all-star game, or if you have been out of school for at least a year and now a free agent, there are some camps that can help you get the critical exposure to get to the next level.

They include the Special Teams U Pro Prep Camp from January 4-6 in Tampa, Florida. More information can be found here: https://specialteamsu.com/product/proprepcamp/.

Former NFL Special Teams Coach Gary Zauner offers a combine for seniors eligible for the Draft and for those who are free agents. Information on the college combine can be found here: https://coachzaunerslockerroom.com/combines/college-senior-football-kicking-specialists-combine while the free agent combine information is here: https://coachzaunerslockerroom.com/combines/free-agent-football-kicking-specialists-combine.

Posted in College, NFL, NFL Draft, Patrick Mannelly Award | Comments Off

Week Fourteen in Review

Posted on December 12, 2023 by longsnap

Week Fourteen of the NFL season is complete and featured a controversial long snapper penalty late in Thursday’s Steelers game against the Patriots.

Steelers’ snapper Christian Kuntz was flagged for a false start penalty with about five minutes left in the game and his team trailing by three. Kuntz thought the Patriots jumped offsides, a penalty that would have given the team a first down.

However, Kunttz was called for a penalty for an apparent “abrupt” movement of his head. JJ Watt even weighed in on social media, noting that “[t]hat is how every single long snapper in the NFL moves their head.”

Jon Weeks of the Texans was nominated as the team’s candidate for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award for his on and off the field activities.

Pro Bowl voting continues and current fan vote leaders for long snappers are Blake Ferguson of the Dolphins in the AFC and Andrew DePaola of the Vikings in the NFC.

Four snappers recorded tackles in punt coverage this week. Ross Matiscik (Jaguars) had two solo tackles, giving him the lead among all snappers with eight, all of which are solo tackles. A trio of snappers, Charley Hughlett (Browns), JJ Jansen (Panthers) and DePaola (Vikings) each added an assisted tackle.

The NFL Long Snappers Chart after Week Fourteen is below.

2023 Week Fourteen Download

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off

Shimko Wins Fifth Annual Patrick Mannelly Award

Posted on December 11, 2023 by longsnap

Joe Shimko of NC State became the fifth winner of the Patrick Mannelly Award on Saturday at a ceremony outside of Chicago. Shimko was voted best FBS long snapper by a close margin over Peter Bowden (Wisconsin) and Marco Ortiz (Nebraska).

The Award continue to grow in popularity and notoriety. As one of the Founders, we are seeking admission as an associate member of the National College Football Awards Association to provide an even greater platform for this tremendous Award.

Posted in Patrick Mannelly Award, Uncategorized | Comments Off

Week Thirteen in Review

Posted on December 5, 2023 by longsnap

Week Thirteen of the NFL season is complete and brought a rare special teams coaching change during the season.

The Titans had a rough day on special teams in an overtime loss to the Colts. They had blocked punts, a fumbled punt and a missed extra point. The Titans punter was injured on one of the punt mishaps and, as a result, the Titans fired Craig Ackerman yesterday. Tom Quinn will replace him in that role.

The Patriots had a large special teams workout last week that included snappers Carson Tinker and Dalton Godfrey.

Just two snappers recorded tackles in punt coverage this week. Ross Matiscik of the Jaguars continued his tremendous coverage season by adding two solo tackles, giving him six on the season, and Jack McQuaide added an assisted tackle for the Lions.

The NFL Long Snappers Chart after Week Thirteen is below.

2023 Week Thirteen Download

Posted in Coaching, NFL, Tackles, Transactions | Comments Off

Week Twelve in Review

Posted on November 28, 2023 by longsnap

Week Twelve of the NFL season is complete and next week will bring another special teams coach in the head coaching role, at least temporarily. The Panthers fired Frank Reich yesterday and Chris Tabor will serve as interim head coach. Tabor previously served as interim head coach for the Bears.

This weekend there was a rare snapper tryout in Denver after Mitch Fraboni appeared on the injury report. Veteran snapper Matt Overton and Tucker Addington were brought in, but neither was signed and Fraboni was able to play Sunday.

Morgan Cox of the Titans was named his team’s Art Rooney Award nominee. The Award is given annually for on-field sportsmanship. A panel will narrow the list to eight finalists and the winner is voted on by current NFL players and announced during the NFL Honors program.

There was a rare accomplishment in Saturday’s college football action as SMU snapper Will Benton scored what has been called the most unlikely touchdown of the season against Navy. Following a muffed punt by the Navy returner, the ball rolled in the end zone where Benton recovered it for a touchdown.

Three snappers recorded tackles in punt coverage this week. Casey Kreiter (Giants) had a solo stop, while Trent Sieg (Cowboys) and Mitch Fraboni (Broncos) added assisted tackles.

The NFL Long Snappers Chart following Week Twelve is below.

2023 Week Twelve Download

Posted in Coaching, NFL, Tackles, Transactions | Comments Off

Week Eleven in Review

Posted on November 21, 2023 by longsnap

Week Eleven of the NFL season is complete and snappers had the rare opportunity to be part of signature plays downfield and on a fake punt.

Ross Matiscik of the Jaguars recorded what I will call a “hat trick” for snappers. He made a tackle in punt coverage, forced a fumble and recovered it on the same play.

Andrew DePaola also got some TV time with his excellent fake punt snap that allowed the Vikings to get a first down against the Broncos.

Not to be outdone, in the CFL’s Grey Cup game this weekend, veteran snapper Mike Benson of Winnipeg also recovered a fumbled punt in the second quarter of their last-second loss to Montreal.

In addition to the Matiscik hat trick, Thomas Hennessy (Jets) added two solo tackles and Charley Hughlett (Browns) added an assisted tackle.

The NFL Long Snappers Chart after Week Eleven is below.

2023 Week Eleven Download

Posted in CFL, NFL, Tackles, Transactions | Comments Off

Week Ten in Review

Posted on November 14, 2023 by longsnap

Week Ten was an active and eventful one for snappers Jake McQuaide replaced the injured Scott Daly in Detroit and was part of an NFL record six game-winning field goals to end a game. In addition to the Lions, the Texans, Cardinals, Browns, Seahawks and Broncos all had successful field goals to end their games.

Snapper Christian Kuntz of the Steelers appeared to suffer an ankle injury in the win against the Packers but was able to finish the game without issues. Camaron Cheesman of the Commanders, who was able to overcome some poor weeks of snapping, had another rough day.

Rookie Chris Stoll of the Seahawks and veteran Josh Harris of the Chargers were selected as the two snappers on the Pro Football Focus midseason All-Pro team.

Despite the loss last night, Reid Ferguson of the Bills had a dream night for a long snapper. He was the subject of a nice profile during the game broadcast for his event for veterans and then added two solo tackles, including a huge hit late in the game. Ross Matiscik (Jaguars) and Harris (Chargers) had solo tackles, while Zach Triner of the Buccaneers tallied an assisted tackle.

The NFL Long Snappers Chart after Week Ten is below.

2023 Week Ten Download

Posted in NFL, Tackles, Transactions | Comments Off

2023 Patrick Mannelly Award Semi-Finalists Announced

Posted on November 13, 2023 by longsnap

This evening, The Patrick Mannelly Award announced the 10 semi-finalist long snappers for this year’s Award. The Award, now in its fifth year, will be given at a live ceremony and dinner outside of Chicago, Illinois on December 9, 2023.

Below are the 10 snappers that will be narrowed to 3 finalists on November 27, 2023. The distinguished Selection Committee for the Award will carefully review the film and bios of the final 3 to help select the winner.

All three of last year’s finalists signed NFL contracts and winner Chris Stoll (Seahawks) and runner-up Alex Ward (Rams) both made rosters as rookies.

Posted in Patrick Mannelly Award | Comments Off

Week Nine in Review

Posted on November 7, 2023 by longsnap

There will finally be a change at the snapping position but it will happen in Week Ten. Scott Daly of the Lions was injured on the final snap in Week Eight and will require knee surgery. Veteran Jake McQuaide, who was in camp with the Lions, was added to the practice squad and should be activated next Sunday since the Lions had a bye this week.

While not directly related to snapping, there were some unique accomplishments with kickers in Week Nine. Cowboys rookie Brandon Aubrey broke an NFL record by making his first 19 field goal attempts to start his career. Aubrey is 28 years old and was a software engineer before giving the NFL a shot after a pro soccer career in the MLS and time in the USFL. Josh Lambo, who kicked for the Chargers and Jaguars, had a similar path from playing pro soccer in the MLS to the NFL.

Texans running back Dare Ogunbowale became the first position player since Wes Welker in 2004 to kick a field goal in an NFL game. After regular kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn suffered a quad injury in the second quarter, Ogunbowale took over kicking duties and kicked a 29-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.

Two snappers recorded tackles in punt coverage as Zach Triner (Buccaneers) had a solo tackle and Luke Rhodes (Colts) added an assisted tackle.

The NFL Long Snappers Chart after Week Nine is below.

2023 Week Nine Download

Posted in NFL, Tackles, Transactions, USFL | Comments Off