The normally stable snapping situation in San Diego, in which David Binn has handled all of the snaps for many years, continues to change. The team’s replacement for the injured Binn, James Dearth, has himself suffered a season-ending injury. The Chargers quickly added former Bills and Rams snapper Ryan Neill, who becomes the third snapper in one week.
A recent issue of ESPN The Magazine had an interesting graphic showing the number of things that occur in a typical NFL season. Some revealing special teams numbers were that there are 27 game-winning field goals, 13 punt return touchdowns, 15 kick return touchdowns, 2,412 punts, 789 field goals and 149 missed field goals in a typical season.
Another recent issue of ESPN The Magazine also contained various NFL lists, including the list of most games played by non-kickers. Long snapper Trey Junkin, who played from 1982-2002, is sixth on the all-time list with 281 games.
A reported hamstring injury to veteran snapper David Binn has forced the Chargers to place him on injured reserve, ending his season after one game. The Chargers have signed former Jets snapper James Dearth to replace Binn, who had just played in his 179th consecutive game on Monday night.
The first week of the NFL season is now complete. Six different snappers recorded tackles, including two solo tackles by Andrew Economos of the Bucs, who also had a forced fumble. Jon Condo of the Raiders also had two solo stops, while Thomas Gafford of the Chiefs had one solo and one assisted tackle. Mike Leach (Cardinals), Garrison Sanborn (Bills) and Lonie Paxton (Broncos) each had solo tackles.
JJ Jansen of the Panthers had a poor punt snap in rainy conditions against the Giants, while Nick Sundberg of the Redskins had a high field goal snap in his NFL regular season debut.
Below is the NFL Long Snappers chart following Week One.
The United Football League will begin its second season later this month with five teams. Teams have just reached the 52 man roster limit. Below are the current snappers and special teams coaches for each UFL club.
Florida Tuskers Ryan Senser (Ohio); Special Teams Coach Al Roberts
Hartford Colonials Jared Retkofsky (TCU); Special Teams Coach Kevin O’Dea
Las Vegas Locomotives Rigo Morales (Texas A&M Kingsville); Special Teams Coach Larry MacDuff
Omaha Nighthawks Matt Overton (Western Washington); Special Teams Coach Kirk Doll
Sacramento Mountain Lions Aaron King (UTEP): Special Teams Coach Martin Bayless
Prior to tomorrow evening’s 53 man roster deadline, the Steelers released Matt Stewart and, with that move, all of the snappers for the 2010 NFL regular season have been determined. Two rookies, Morgan Cox (Ravens) and Clint Gresham (Seahawks), made rosters, while first-year snappers Jonathan Weeks (Texans), Tanner Purdum (Jets) and Nick Sundberg (Panthers) will make their regular season debuts.
Below is the 2010 updated snapper chart.
Since Longsnap.com started in 2000, the visibility of the otherwise anonymous long snapper has been raised significantly. For example, snappers are selected to the Pro Bowl, chosen in the NFL Draft, invited to the college all-star games and NFL Combine among other things. However, the snapper is rarely including in the well-known EA Sports video game Madden NFL, including the latest version Madden NFL 11.
Vikings snapper Cullen Loefller, who has never appeared in the game despite being in his 7th season, received some media attention for his apparent dismay at the exclusion of snappers. Only Giant snapper Zak DeOssie appears in this year’s version. Loeffler’s story was picked up by many newspapers, radio programs and even ESPN. EA Sports ultimately responded, noting that the game rosters are limited to 55 and that they “prioritize impact positions over specialists.” In the past, there were other video games, including 2K Sports’ NFL 2K series, that included a number of long snappers.
Today is the day that all NFL rosters must be at 75 players and, as a result, just one team has a snapping competition. The Redskins released James Dearth, while the Bengals waived rookie Mike Windt leaving Clark Harris as the Bengals snapper and Nick Sundberg to handle snaps for the Redskins. Following these moves, the Steelers are the only club with two snappers, with Matt Stewart challenging Greg Warren.
In a recent post, I described the enhanced Rule 7, Section 2, Article 2 that takes effect this season in the NFL to better protect snappers on punts and placements. The NCAA also has Rule 9-1-2-o that prohibits a defensive player from making contact with the snapper until one second has elapsed after the snap. In addition to the NCAA Rule, there are also three Approved Rulings that relate to the protection of the snapper.
Below are the new NFL Rule, NCAA Rule and Approved Rulings.
I. NFL Rule 7, Section 2, Article 2
Article 2 During a punt, field-goal attempt, or a Kick Try, a Team B player, who is within one yard of the line of scrimmage at the snap, must have his entire body outside the snapper’s shoulder pads.
Note: This restriction does not apply if a team does not present an apparent punt, field goal, or Kick Try formation, or if, after the offensive team has assumed a set position, there is a shift, or a player goes in motion.
II. NCAA Rule 9-1-2-o
When a team is in scrimmage kick formation, a defensive player may not initiate contact with the snapper until one second has elapsed after the snap (A.R. 9-1-2-XVIII-XX).
III. NCAA Approved Ruling 9-1-2-XVIII-XX
XVIII. A10 is in a shotgun- type formation 7-1/2 yards behind the snapper, who has his head down and is looking backward through his legs. Immediately after the snap, nose guard B55 charges directly at the snapper and contacts him by pushing him backwards. RULING: Legal. The snapper is not afforded any special protection because it was not reasonably obvious that a kick might be attempted (Rule 2-15-10). The snapper does have the usual protection against any personal foul for unnecessary roughness.
Team A is in an obvious scrimmage kick formation. Immediately after the snap, nose guard B55 charges directly at the snapper, contacts him, and drives him backward. The ball is snapped to an upback three yards behind the scrimmage line or to the potential kicker, who instead runs with or passes the ball. RULING: Foul. Penalty – 15 yards and automatic first down. The snapper may not be contacted until one second has elapsed after the snap when Team A is in a scrimmage kick formation and it is reasonably obvious that a kick might be attempted.
Immediately after the snap, with Team A in an obvious scrimmage kick formation, noseguard B71 attempts to “shoot the gap” between the snapper and the adjacent lineman. B71’s initial legal contact is with the lineman next to the snapper. RULING: Legal. Incidental contact with the snapper after this initial legal contact is not a foul (Rule 2-15-10).
The Steelers have just re-signed snapper/linebacker Matt Stewart, who was signed and released a few weeks ago. It is unclear if the move has anything to do with the health of incumbent snapper Greg Warren. Snapping competitions also remain in Cincinnati (Clark Harris and Mike Windt) and Washington (Nick Sundberg and James Dearth).
Week Two of the preseason also served as a reminder to NFL teams about the value of a strong snapper and the difficulty in having a good back-up plan. With Pat Mannelly out of action due to a shoulder stinger, the Bears used tight end and reserve snapper Desmond Clark, who had a few bad snaps. Mannelly has now returned to practice.
