Week Sixteen in Review

Posted on December 29, 2015 by longsnap

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Week Sixteen featured the second rookie snapper this season, as Rick Lovato had a smooth debut with the Packers.  Lovato replaced injured Brett Goode and joins Joe Cardona of the Patriots as the only snappers to snap in a regular season game from the 2015 Draft class.   Goode was the third consecutive veteran snapper to go on injured reserve the past three weeks, joining Jon Condo (Raiders) and Zak DeOssie (Giants).

Lovato’s signing also generated some significant media attention since, like most snappers not snapping in the NFL, he had to work another job while waiting for his next chance.  For Lovato, that was a sub shop in New Jersey when he got the call from the Packers.

The only snapper to have a workout this past week was rookie Andrew East, who worked out for the Packers after Lovato was signed.

Four snappers recorded tackles in punt coverage this week, with Clark Harris (Bengals), Jon Weeks (Texans), Andrew DePaola (Buccaneers) and Clint Gresham (Seahawks) each tallying solo tackles.  With one week remaining, it appears Jon Weeks may win the tackle title among snappers, as Weeks has eight total tackles and leads Carson Tinker of the Jaguars, who has six.

The NFL Long Snappers Chart after Week Sixteen is below.

Week Sixteen NFL Long Snappers Chart

 

 

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Packers Place Goode on IR; Sign Lovato

Posted on December 22, 2015 by longsnap

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Week Sixteen of the NFL will bring a fourth change at the snapping position.  Client Brett Goode of the Packers tore his ACL in Sunday’s win against the Raiders and will miss the remainder of the season.  The Packers quickly added rookie Rick Lovato, who was in training camp with the Bears and coincidentally worked out with the Packers late last week.

The injury will break Goode’s 137 consecutive game streak as he has handled every snap for the Packers since the 2008 season.

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Week Fifteen in Review

Posted on December 22, 2015 by longsnap

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Just two weeks remain in the NFL’s regular season.  In Week Fifteen, Thomas Gafford debuted as a Raider, marking the third snapping change in the last three weeks.  Two snappers from this year’s Draft class, Rick Lovato and Sam Rodgers, had tryouts with the Packers this week.

Four snappers recorded tackles in punt coverage. with Clark Harris (Bengals) recording two solo tackles and Matt Overton (Colts), Garrison Sanborn (Bills) and Kyle Nelson (49ers) each tallying solo stops.

The NFL Long Snappers Chart after Week Fifteen is below.

Week Fifteen NFL Long Snappers Chart

 

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Ravens Punter Koch Changing the Punting Game

Posted on December 17, 2015 by longsnap

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A recent ESPN.com story on punter Sam Koch of the Ravens brought to light how Koch has, somewhat anonymously, changed punting in the NFL.  Kevin Seifert wrote an extensive profile, including pictures, describing how Koch began experimenting last year with various strategies to execute unpredictable punts.

Koch has developed approximately 10 distinct punts he can execute, such as the hook, liner and knuckler, as needed.  It is rare to see much change in the way special teams play is conducted in the NFL but Koch has apparently achieved it with respect to punting and done so quietly…until now.

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Raiders Add Gafford

Posted on December 16, 2015 by longsnap

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With Jon Condo out for the season, the Raiders quickly added veteran snapper Thomas Gafford.  Gafford, who began the season with the Bears before being replaced by Patrick Scales after Week Twelve, spent most of his NFL career with the Chiefs.

After a regular season with no changes at the snapping position, there have now been three changes since Week Twelve.

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Week Fourteen in Review

Posted on December 15, 2015 by longsnap

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Week Fourteen brought another change at the snapping position, as Danny Aiken debuted for the Giants last night, replacing injured Zak DeOssie.  Two snappers recovered fumbled punts this weekend, as Mike Windt of the Chargers and Jon Condo of the Raiders each had recoveries.

Condo’s recovery was notable because he injured his shoulder on the play.  While Condo received treatment, and with the team’s emergency snapper still recovering from his own injury, the Raiders went for a two point conversion instead of an extra point attempt.  Condo later returned to snap the remainder of the game.  However, reports from last night indicated his season may be over and that the Raiders may add a veteran snapper.

Multiple snappers had tackles yesterday, with Nick Sundberg (Redskins), Kyle Nelson (49ers),  Charley Hughlett (Browns), Carson Tinker (Jaguars), Windt, Garrison Sanborn (Bills) and Jon Dorenbos (Eagles) all tallying solo tackles.

The NFL Long Snappers Chart after Week Fourteen is below.

Week Fourteen NFL Long Snappers Chart

Posted in NFL, Tackles | Comments Off on Week Fourteen in Review

College All-Star Game Snappers Chosen

Posted on December 12, 2015 by longsnap

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Three long snappers will conclude their college careers in all-star games next month hoping to impress NFL scouts.

Jeff Overbaugh of San Diego State has been selected to both the Senior Bowl and NFLPA Collegiate Bowl.  Jimmy Landes of Baylor is the other snapper in the Senior Bowl and LSU’s Reid Ferguson will be the other snapper for the NFLPA game.  All three snappers are considered among the top long snapping prospects for the 2016 NFL Draft.

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Giants Place DeOssie on IR: Sign Aiken

Posted on December 9, 2015 by longsnap

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After a rare start to the NFL season with no snapping changes, the trend is changing.  Yesterday, the Giants placed veteran and captain Zak DeOssie on injured reserve due to a wrist injury.  DeOssie, who played in 140 consecutive games since being drafted in the Fourth Round in 2007, hurt his wrist a few days prior to Sunday’s game but was able to finish the game and even recorded a tackle.

To replace DeOssie, the Giants added veteran snapper Danny Aiken, who recently spent a few days with the Panthers.  The Giants also worked out Andrew East and Tyler Ott.

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Week Thirteen in Review

Posted on December 8, 2015 by longsnap

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Patrick Scales replacing Thomas Gafford in Chicago at snapper was not the only change implicating special teams this week.  The Chargers made a rare in-season special teams coaching change before this week’s game.  Kevin Spencer was let go and replaced by Craig Aukerman.

The new extra point rule continues to create new excitement to a previously automatic aspect of the game.  After eight misses all of last season, there were more than that missed this week alone and 57 missed extra points to date.

Five snappers had punt coverage tackles, with Kevin McDermott (Vikings), Zak DeOssie (Giants) and Carson Tinker (Jaguars) recording solo tackles, while John Denney (Dolphins) and Mike Leach (Cardinals) had assisted tackles.

The NFL Long Snappers Chart after Week Thirteen is below.

Week Thirteen NFL Long Snappers Chart

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Week Twelve in Review

Posted on December 1, 2015 by longsnap

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Week Twelve was the first week that brought a potential change and an actual change at the snapping position.   JJ Jansen of the Panthers was in doubt as to whether he could snap in the Thanksgiving game against the Cowboys.  Jansen was able to snap but, in a precautionary move, the Panthers signed former Patriot Danny Aiken.  Aiken was waived after being inactive for the game.

The Bears signed client Patrick Scales after the game against the Packers.  Scales, who was previously featured in this post about his long journey to the NFL, will replace Thomas Gafford starting in Week Thirteen.  This will be the first snapping move of the NFL season.

Multiple snappers recorded tackles in punt coverage, led by Joe Cardona of the Patriots, who tallied his first three tackles of his career in one game.  Andrew DePaola (Buccaneers), Jonathan Weeks (Texans), Mike Windt (Chargers) and Beau Brinkley (Titans) had solo stops and Jake McQuaide (Rams) and Nick Sundberg (Redskins) chipped in with assisted tackles.

The NFL Long Snappers Chart after Week Twelve is below.

Week Twelve NFL Long Snappers Chart

Posted in NFL, Transactions | Comments Off on Week Twelve in Review