Someone Help me Understand

[Cowboy4ever]

With such a talented team, or what we at least think is going to be a very talented team, why are we wasting a spot on Long Snapper?

I completely understand the importance of the position, but I don't understand why we can't teach someone that has another role on the team to do it. Some one like the 3rd TE or one of the underused LB's or something.

I did that job in HS and it is not THAT difficult. I really don't understand why we are using a roster spot for someone that does that exclusively.

Does every team have a player thats only function is to long snap?

 

[jimmy40]

With such a talented team, or what we at least think is going to be a very talented team, why are we wasting a spot on Long Snapper?

I completely understand the importance of the position, but I don't understand why we can't teach someone that has another role on the team to do it. Some one like the 3rd TE or one of the underused LB's or something.

I did that job in HS and it is not THAT difficult. I really don't understand why we are using a roster spot for someone that does that exclusively.

Does every team have a player thats only function is to long snap?

I seem to remember the Cowboys taking the "long snapper is not that difficult" approach a few years ago, obviously you don't.

 

[YosemiteSam]

With such a talented team, or what we at least think is going to be a very talented team, why are we wasting a spot on Long Snapper?

I completely understand the importance of the position, but I don't understand why we can't teach someone that has another role on the team to do it. Some one like the 3rd TE or one of the underused LB's or something.

I did that job in HS and it is not THAT difficult. I really don't understand why we are using a roster spot for someone that does that exclusively.

Does every team have a player thats only function is to long snap?

The long snappers role is very important. Punting and field goals are his domain. You would be surprised how hard long snapping is in the NFL. There are quite a few long snap specialist in the league. You don't have specialist for easy jobs. NFL != High School.

 

[Cowboys22]

If its not that difficult, then why aren't you playing in the NFL?

The NFL is much different from High School. The snap has to be fast and accurate everytime or the kick will be blocked. On top of that, after snapping the ball, you have to block NFL caliber players. Finding someone who can do both is very difficult and thats why many teams have a spot just for the snapper. I do agree that it would be great if a backup lineman or TE could do it but you just can't teach someone who has never done it and expect them to be good enough for the NFL. It just doesn't work very often. The guy we got is one of the best and I'm glad he is a Cowboy.

 

[dogunwo]

Trey Junkin is very offended by this thread

 

[CoCo]

In reality, we've had a specialist doing that job for a good 20 years.

Hellestrae pretty much did only that. He certainly was never a threat to get regular playing time at any other position.

Same with Jeff Robinson after him. Yeah, he was a TE, and I recall him insisting he was more than a LS, but reality was that he was far and away utilized as just a LS.

It'd be great if we didn't have to use a roster spot for just that contribution but I don't think its regarded as a skill that just anyone can easily pick-up.

It'd also be nice if we didn't use a roster spot just for a KO guy. But there is a distinct possibility it could happen because in the same way teams value the reliability and consistency of a great LS, they also value that in a FG kicker & KO's. And you know those players are going to play every single week, whereas the extra lineman, DB, LB or whatever who'd otherwise get that spot is certainly a backup who wouldn't have as direct an impact week in and week out.

And that logic is also why you are seeing teams carry only two QB's. Hurts your long term development, but helps your game day contributions.

 

[Cowboy4ever]

In reality, we've had a specialist doing that job for a good 20 years.

Hellestrae pretty much did only that. He certainly was never a threat to get regular playing time at any other position.

Same with Jeff Robinson after him. Yeah, he was a TE, and I recall him insisting he was more than a LS, but reality was that he was far and away utilized as just a LS.

It'd be great if we didn't have to use a roster spot for just that contribution but I don't think its regarded as a skill that just anyone can easily pick-up.

It'd also be nice if we didn't use a roster spot just for a KO guy. But there is a distinct possibility it could happen because in the same way teams value the reliability and consistency of a great LS, they also value that in a FG kicker & KO's. And you know those players are going to play every single week, whereas the extra lineman, DB, LB or whatever who'd otherwise get that spot is certainly a backup who wouldn't have as direct an impact week in and week out.

And that logic is also why you are seeing teams carry only two QB's. Hurts your long term development, but helps your game day contributions.

That makes sense.. I just wish the player doing the job, at least had a possiability of contributing elsewhere.. such as a back up TE or LB or something..

 

[burmafrd]

Jeff Robinson was good depth at TE and caught some TD passes with us. Ideally that would be about the best you could hope for. A LS that gave you quality depth at another position. BUT they are very rare and VERY expensive.
You could be paying someone like that maybe as much as 2-3 million a year. Maybe more.

 

[dargonking999]

You think its easy to snap a ball from between your legs as fast and accurate as humanly possible, and then snap your head and and arms up to stop a 300+ pound man from coming through the line and putting you on your behind on there way to the football?

Thought so

This aint HS bro

 

[Cowboy4ever]

You think its easy to snap a ball from between your legs as fast and accurate as humanly possible, and then snap your head and and arms up to stop a 300+ pound man from coming through the line and putting you on your behind on there way to the football?

Thought so

This aint HS bro

Wow Such hostility! First off,, your head should be up before you snap the ball.. but the point is.. the mechanics are the same.. don't matter if its pop warner or nfl.. the mechanics are the same.. (maybe not pop warner since you don't actually snap the ball 15 yards) but you get the idea.

I wasn't comparing the players but the mechanics.. and why someone that has a role on the team can't learn it. I have coached it to kids who picked it up with some work, in a couple of months.

 

[Hostile]

Answering a question with a question.

Can you name me one NFL team that doesn't have a designated Long Snapper as a specialist?

 

[zeromaster]

I did that job in HS and it is not THAT difficult. I really don't understand why we are using a roster spot for someone that does that exclusively.

That statement says it all for me...

 

[THUMPER]

Dale Hellestrae was the greatest long-snapper of all-time. He went some 13 seasons without a bad snap, that is well over 2000 snaps (13 X 16 X about 10 deep snaps per game on punts, FGs, & XPs) without a single mistake (he did have a bad snap in a playoff game once though). That is the equivalent of a guy making 2000 3-pointers in a row or pitching 2000 strikes in a row.

Helly was also a decent backup OL. I'll give you a little known stat on him, he once led the team in ST tackles! For the deep-snapper to be down that quickly on punts is amazing. He was a very good athlete and had incredible talent at long-snapping the ball.

If they ever induct a punter into the HoF then they should consider inducting Helly as well. Who knows how many games we DIDN'T lose because he did his job perfectly every time.

It pays to have a guy that is reliable rather than holding a spot for some developmental player who likely will never see the field in an actual game.

 

[HopeCowboyFan]

We should have drafted Zak DeOssie......

LB/LS and Ivy schooled. Pedigree guy to boot

 

[tomson75]

We should have drafted Zak DeOssie......

LB/LS and Ivy schooled. Pedigree guy to boot

I liked him too...but we didn't. That's that.

 

[AsthmaField]

Most long snappers play other positions as well, like Dale Hellestrae. However, even though Hellestrae was listed as a center... make no mistake... he wouldn't have made the team as just a center. He made the team because of his long snapping ability.

So, we kept a center who really wasn't that good and he wouldn't have played unless there was an emergency. Why? Because he was an excellent long snapper.

So, even back in the early 90's we kept a long snapper specialist on the team. We simply listed him as a center.

Either way you use a roster spot on the long snapper... what does it matter if we call him a center or a long snapper?

 

[AsthmaField]

I liked him too...but we didn't. That's that.

We have Stanback my friend! You can already see from all he's done in camp that he'll be worth a hundred Zak DeOssie's!

Oh, wait...






j/k I think Stanback will be fine once he's healthy.

 

[tomson75]

We have Stanback my friend! You can already see from all he's done in camp that he'll be worth a hundred Zak DeOssie's!

Oh, wait...






j/k I think Stanback will be fine once he's healthy.

Damn you!

j/k I hope so.