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NFL Snapping News

Posted on January 20, 2013 by longsnap

With the Super Bowl teams to be determined today, there has been significant snapping news off the field since the end of the regular season. As usual, the off-season brings many coaching changes and the special teams coaching position is not immune.

In addition to the changes that have already taken place in Buffalo, Chicago and Kansas City, some other new coaches that have been named include Tom McMahon (Indianapolis), Nate Kaczor (Tennessee), John Bonamego (Detroit), Bobby April (Oakland) and Kevin Spencer (San Diego).

Pittsburgh snapper Greg Warren was named to the USA Football All-Fundamentals Team based on his fundamentals and techniques that provide examples for younger football players. Warren will receive a $1,500 grant to donate to the youth football program of his choice.

The folks at Football Outsiders do an excellent job of developing creative statistical analysis of all aspects of football, including special teams. The rankings of all 32 special teams units during the regular season, based on such things as field goals/extra points, kickoffs, kick returns, punts and punt returns, are complete. The top five clubs were Baltimore, Cleveland, Seattle, New England and Minnesota. The lowest ranked team was Houston, with Oakland, Detroit, Carolina and Tampa Bay rounded out the bottom.

The Wall Street Journal recently did a feature story on how NFL teams spend their money that included detailed breakdowns of team spending, including money allocated to special teams. The Raiders spent the most on its special teams unit, followed by Tampa Bay, Miami, San Francisco and Tennessee. The Jets spent the least, with St. Louis, Dallas, Houston and Carolina the next highest.

ESPNW.com recently did a feature story on Colts snapper Matt Overton and his inspirational path to the NFL. Overton’s journey began in 2007 after college and involved many ups and downs in different leagues and tryouts until he finally made the roster in Indianapolis this season.

Finally, some future NFL snappers are likely on the rosters of the various college all-star games and a new name to watch is Kevin McDermott of UCLA. McDermott was one of the snappers in the Casino Del Sol game but was accidentally left off my prior post listing the snappers in the various games.

Posted in Coaching, College, High School, NFL, NFL Draft, Snapping in the Media, Tackles, Transactions | Leave a comment

The Future is Now for Some Snappers and ST Coaches

Posted on January 16, 2013 by longsnap

Although the 2012 NFL season is still continuing with the final four teams this weekend, some teams have already signed players to what are known as future contracts for next season. In addition, as a result of some firings, there will be many new special teams coaches next season.

Four teams have already added snappers for 2013 rosters, including the Jets (Travis Tripucka), Bucs (Andrew DiPaola), Bengals (Bryce Davis) and Cowboys (Charley Hughlett).

Some special teams coaches who have found new homes already include Danny Crossman (Bills), Dave Toub (Chiefs) and Joe DeCamillas (Bears).

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Pro Bowl Long Snappers Announced

Posted on January 15, 2013 by longsnap

The snappers for the AFC and NFC Pro Bowl teams were announced today. John Denney of the Dolphins will snap for the AFC and was selected by the coaching staff of the Broncos. Denney entered the NFL in 2005 and was previously the AFC Pro Bowl snapper in 2010. Don Muhlbach of the Lions earned his first Pro Bowl appearance after being selected by the Packers staff. Muhlbach joined the NFL in 2004. The Pro Bowl will be played on January 27th in Honolulu, Hawaii.

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College All-Star Game Snappers

Posted on January 14, 2013 by longsnap

With the college bowl season over, some of the best college snappers are participating in college all-stars games for additional exposure to NFL teams.

The premier game, the Senior Bowl on January 26th, will feature Carson Tinker (Alabama) and Luke Ingram (Hawaii). Ingram will also snap in the Texas vs. The Nation game on February 2nd. On January 19th, there are two games, with Dax Dellenbach (Florida State) snapping in the Raycom College Football All-Star Classic, while Evan Jacobsen (New Mexico) and Jordan Cowart (Notre Dame) will handle the snaps in the NFLPA All-Star Game. One game, the Casino Del Sol College All-Star Game, is already in the books and featured Brandon Hartson (Houston).

Posted in College, NFL, NFL Draft | Leave a comment

The Heart of a Long Snapper

Posted on January 8, 2013 by longsnap

I was just made aware of an inspirational video that reminded me of the type of person that I frequently encounter in the long snapping world. Most snappers have unbelievable amounts of determination, heart and passion for their craft.

To capture those traits, below is a video from former college long snapper and current snapping instructor Nolan Owen. Over the course of a year, Owen helped a community college student, Nick Adams, who never played in high school, to achieve his dream of snapping at the Division One level. Enjoy!

Posted in College, Snapping in the Media | Leave a comment

NFL Long Snapper Charts

Posted on January 2, 2013 by longsnap

The “NFL Long Snappers” page of Longsnap.com has been updated to include not only this year’s final NFL Long Snappers Chart, but also the final Long Snapper Charts from the 2010 and 2011 NFL Seasons.

You can access the page below or by clicking on the “NFL Long Snappers” tab on the top of Longsnap.com

NFL Long Snappers Charts

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Week Seventeen in Review

Posted on December 31, 2012 by longsnap

The NFL Regular Season ended last night and, for the second consecutive season, Zak DeOssie of the Giants was the leading tackler in punt coverage among snappers. DeOssie had a solo tackle this week and concluded the season with 8 total tackles. Last season, DeOssie had 10 tackles.

Andrew Economos (Bucs) and Cullen Loeffler (Vikings) also had solo tackles, while Christian Yount (Browns), Beau Brinkley (Titans), and Jon Condo (Raiders) had assists yesterday.

During the 2012 season, there were only a handful of snapping changes, all of which were due to injury as opposed to performance. Condo and Redskins snapper Nick Sundberg were both injured in Week One. Sundberg missed half the season while client Justin Snow filled his role, while Condo was able to snap the following week. Mike Windt of the Chargers was injured in Week Eleven and Kyle Nelson finished the season.

The final NFL Long Snappers Chart for the 2012 Regular Season is below.

2012 NFL Season Final

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Week Sixteen in Review

Posted on December 24, 2012 by longsnap

NEWS & NOTES

Week Sixteen is complete and without a Monday Night Football game, this post is a day earlier than usual. It was announced today that veteran snapper Patrick Mannelly of the Bears, who was scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent after the season, has signed a one year extension that will keep him in Chicago for at least the 2013 season.

With one week left in the regular season, Zak DeOssie of the Giants leads all snappers with 7 tackles, 6 of which are solo tackles. Matt Overton of the Colts is second with 6 tackles in punt coverage, 4 of which are solo stops, in his first NFL season.

The NFL Long Snappers Chart after Week Sixteen is below.

Week Sixteen NFL Long Snappers Chart

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Week Fifteen in Review

Posted on December 18, 2012 by longsnap

Week Fifteen of the NFL season is complete and the snapping position remains stable. With the end of the regular season approaching, teams out of contention are likely looking forward to next season and the start of veteran free agency.

The snapping position has a number of free agents heading into the off-season. Unrestricted free agents, who can sign with any team once free agency starts, include Clark Harris (Bengals), Patrick Mannelly (Bears), Jon Dorenbos (Eagles), Don Muhlbach (Lions), Greg Warren (Steelers), LP Ladouceur (Cowboys), Thomas Gafford (Chiefs) and Andrew Economos (Bucs).

Restricted free agents can be retained by their existing teams if the team offers them a one-year contract, but the player can entertain offers from other teams that can be matched by the existing club. Snappers who are scheduled to be restricted free agents after the season are Morgan Cox (Ravens), Justin Drescher (Saints), Mike Windt (Chargers), Tanner Purdum (Jets), Clint Gresham (Seahawks) and Nick Sundberg (Redskins).

In game action, three snappers, Aaron Brewer (Broncos), Cullen Loeffler (Vikings) and Zak DeOssie (Giants), each recorded tackles in punt coverage this week.

The NFL Long Snappers Chart after Week Fifteen is below.

Week Fifteen NFL Long Snappers Chart

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Week Fourteen in Review

Posted on December 11, 2012 by longsnap

Week Fourteen is complete and was relatively uneventful at the snapping position. Perhaps the biggest news occurred off the field, as it was revealed by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell in an interview with Time magazine that the NFL is considered eliminating the kickoff. The concept is to avoid the dangerous collisions that tend to occur on kickoffs.

An alternative being discussed could benefit snappers, as teams would be given the ball at their own 30 yard line after a score. It would be a fourth and 15 play in which the team could either go for it or punt. This move could increase the number of punts in a game.

49ers snapper Brian Jennings was featured in an ESPN.com story on how he uses yoga to keep his body in balance. Yoga is a big part of his “wellness lifestyle”, which includes other elements such as massages, acupuncture, nutrition and supplements. Jennings is a certified yoga instructor and believes that yoga has helped his posture, range of motion as well as his balance.

Snappers Beau Brinkley (Titans), Andrew Economos (Bucs), Garrison Sanborn (Bills) and Zak DeOssie (Giants) had solo tackles, while Morgan Cox (Ravens) has an assisted tackle.

The Week Fourteen NFL Long Snappers Chart is below.

Week Fourteen NFL Long Snappers Chart

Posted in NFL, Snapping in the Media, Tackles | Leave a comment