Longsnap.com

Week Ten of the the NFL season is now complete and did not involve any major snapping incidents.  Jon Condo of the Raiders had two assisted tackles and may have recovered a fumbled punt against the Chiefs, but the fumble recovery was credited to a teammate in the official NFL Game Book.  Cowboys snapper LP LaDouceur had a fumble recovery on a punt erased on a replay reversal in the loss to the Packers.

Client Justin Snow had a solo and assisted tackle for the Colts, while John Denney (Dolphins), Garrison Sanborn (Bills) and Mike Leach (Cardinals) each had a solo tackle.  The NFL Long Snappers chart is now updated with the most current information and punt coverage tackle statistics.

Week Nine was an uneventful one at the snapping position.  Client Bryan Pittman had a smooth debut with the Falcons, while Matt Katula of the Ravens was able to snap against the Bengals despite an elbow injury that limited him all week.  Joel Dreessen continues to get regular tight end work and snap for the Texans.

Clark Harris of the Bengals and Don Muhlbach of the Lions each recorded solo tackles in punt coverage.  The NFL Long Snappers chart is now updated and available at the NFL Long Snappers page.

ESPN The Magazine ran a small story in the latest issue concerning the use of fakes, noting that punters have run and thrown for more fakes than in the last three seasons combined.  Heading into Week Nine, punters have run for 50 yards and one touchdown on four carries and thrown for 67 yards, with one touchdown and one interception.

Punter Brian Moorman of the Bills was interviewed for the story, as he has two career touchdown passes and 54 rushing yards.  Moorman described that the team will call a fake based on certain tendencies shown by the opposition, such as overloading guys to one side.

Len Pasquarelli of ESPN.com recently wrote about what he called the “golden age” of punting, with both gross and net punting averages at all-time highs.  Pasquarelli noted how last weekend’s Colts-49ers game turned on the punting efforts of Colts’ rookie Pat McAfee and the benefit the 49ers get from punter Andy Lee.  Currently, 14 punters have gross averages of 45 yards of more and nine have net averages of 40 yards or more.

However, Aaron Schatz of Football Outsiders has questioned whether the early strong numbers might be attributable to good weather and that a more relevant analysis of punting figures will be after the season ends.

Client Bryan Pittman will snap for the Atlanta Falcons after Mike Schneck was placed on injured reserve with a rib injury, ending his season.  Pittman last snapped in the regular season last year with the Texans  and was slated to be the Seahawks’ snapper this season before suffering a finger injury just prior to training camp.  Pittman had a workout Wednesday with the Falcons, along with other veteran snappers Nate Hodel and Joe Zelenka.

Week Eight is complete and was a relatively uneventful one for the snapping position.  Ryan Neill performed well as the new Rams’ snapper and was part of a succesful fake punt for a touchdown.  Texans’ snapper Joel Dreessen will likely see his tight end workload increase now, as starting tight end Owen Daniels is injured and out for the season.

Dolphins’ snapper John Denney and Mike Schneck of the Falcons each recorded a solo tackle this week, while client Brett Goode (Packers) and Brian Jennings (49ers) each had an assisted tackle.  The NFL Long Snappers chart is now updated.

The Rams are expected to sign former Bills’ snapper Ryan Neill today to replace Chris Massey, who was lost for the season.  Neill was originally an undrafted free agent signing for the Bills in 2006 and snapped for them in the 2007 and 2008 regular seasons.  The NFL Long Snappers chart will be updated later today with Neill’s biographical information and the latest snapper punt coverage tackle stats.

Week Seven has produced another change at the snapping spot, as Rams’ snapper Chris Massey was lost for the season after injuring his left knee during a punt return against the Colts.   Tight end Billy Bajema finished out the game for the Rams.  Four NFL veteran snappers, client Bryan Pittman, Joe Zelenka, Nate Hodel and Ryan Neill, were all in St. Louis for a workout yesterday.  A decision is expected today as to who will replace Massey and the Longsnap.com blog will be updated, along with the NFL Long Snappers chart, once the decision is known.

On the tackle front, Mike Leach (Arizona), Dave Binn (San Diego), Jon Condo (Oakland), Mike Schneck (Atlanta) each had solo tackles, while Jason Kyle of the Saints had an assist.

Week Six was a calm one at the snapper position, with no major snapping issues.  Clark Harris, the new Bengals’ snapper, brought some stability to the position, with a solid day.

On the tackle front, Jason Kyle (Saints) and Ken Amato (Titans) each had a solo tackle, while Thomas Gafford of the Chiefs had an assisted tackle.  The NFL Long Snappers chart, available on the NFL Long Snappers page,  is updated with the most current NFL snapper information and tackle figures.

The Bengals have released veteran snapper Brad St. Louis and added Clark Harris.  St. Louis had numerous short snapping issues this season and could not overcome them.  Harris, who can also play tight end, has previous experience with the Texans, Lions and Packers.  Harris worked out with the Bengals last Wednesday, along with client Bryan Pittman.  The Bengals also brought in former Bills’ snapper Ryan Neill and veteran snapper Nate Hodel as well.  St. Louis was drafted by the Bengals in the Seventh Round in 2000.