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View Full Version : Broncos have legit backup longsnapper in Joel Dreessen



Denver Native (Carol)
09-13-2012, 08:05 PM
The Broncos will not likely endure the same longsnapping debacle that all but paralyzed the Oakland Raiders on Monday night.

Broncos starting tight end Joel Dreessen was both the starting tight end and longsnapper for the Houston Texans in 2009.

“That was a tiring year,” Dreessen said. “But I wasn’t complaining.”

rest - http://blogs.denverpost.com/broncos/2012/09/11/broncos-legit-backup-longsnapper-joel-dreessen/15636/

Dzone
09-13-2012, 08:10 PM
Thats good to know after what happened monday night.

Buff
09-13-2012, 08:17 PM
In other news, someone wrote the phrase "legit backup longsnapper" for the first time in the history of the world.

BroncoWave
09-13-2012, 08:38 PM
:championship:

Ziggy
09-13-2012, 09:39 PM
Tamme is a longsnapper as well.

FanInAZ
09-14-2012, 01:50 AM
I say trade him to the Raiders for 2 1st round draft picks. :heh:

HORSEPOWER 56
09-14-2012, 07:37 AM
I have a really stupid question... if your specialist long snapper is injured why wouldn't you just go with your starting Center or backup Center? These guys are used to snapping the ball, they do it all the time in practice and yeah, there's a difference between snapping to a QB in the shotgun and a placeholder or punter, but it's only a few more yards of distance. A center can hit a QB in the shotgun 5 yards behind him in the hands 95% of the time, but can't hit the placeholder at 7 yards deep, or hit the punter at 10? Makes no sense to me whatsoever.

Yes, I know long-snapping has become and art form but FFS, the long-snapper doesn't even have to worry about blocking because nobody can hit him or line up over him. If we lost our long-snapper, wouldn't Walton or Blake be a better option than a TE who doesn't snap often?

vandammage13
09-14-2012, 08:27 AM
Speaking of backup TE...Whatever happened to Julius Thomas?

Has he been deemed a complete bust or is there still talks that he has he potential to develop?...Or is he even still on the roster? (don't feel like looking up the depth chart)

Didn't hear much about him during TC.

Buff
09-14-2012, 09:14 AM
I have a really stupid question... if your specialist long snapper is injured why wouldn't you just go with your starting Center or backup Center? These guys are used to snapping the ball, they do it all the time in practice and yeah, there's a difference between snapping to a QB in the shotgun and a placeholder or punter, but it's only a few more yards of distance. A center can hit a QB in the shotgun 5 yards behind him in the hands 95% of the time, but can't hit the placeholder at 7 yards deep, or hit the punter at 10? Makes no sense to me whatsoever.

Yes, I know long-snapping has become and art form but FFS, the long-snapper doesn't even have to worry about blocking because nobody can hit him or line up over him. If we lost our long-snapper, wouldn't Walton or Blake be a better option than a TE who doesn't snap often?

I think the main reason is practice structure: A #1 center doesn't have time to sit in on special teams drills with all of their other responsibilities. But also because their roles really aren't all that similar, as you mentioned they are more concerned with kick coverage than blocking - so a center isn't ideally suited for that role.

blamkin86
09-14-2012, 11:53 AM
Speaking of backup TE...Whatever happened to Julius Thomas?

Has he been deemed a complete bust or is there still talks that he has he potential to develop?...Or is he even still on the roster? (don't feel like looking up the depth chart)

Didn't hear much about him during TC.

He's still listed on the roster. Here's the closest news I could find from a couple weeks ago...

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/6598/player?r=1

Ravage!!!
09-14-2012, 12:01 PM
I have a really stupid question... if your specialist long snapper is injured why wouldn't you just go with your starting Center or backup Center? These guys are used to snapping the ball, they do it all the time in practice and yeah, there's a difference between snapping to a QB in the shotgun and a placeholder or punter, but it's only a few more yards of distance. A center can hit a QB in the shotgun 5 yards behind him in the hands 95% of the time, but can't hit the placeholder at 7 yards deep, or hit the punter at 10? Makes no sense to me whatsoever.

Yes, I know long-snapping has become and art form but FFS, the long-snapper doesn't even have to worry about blocking because nobody can hit him or line up over him. If we lost our long-snapper, wouldn't Walton or Blake be a better option than a TE who doesn't snap often?

Its not the same thing. Its completely different than snapping the ball in shotgun. Floating the backwards five yards, with one hand, without the need to be "accurate" is COMPLETELY different than a long snap. Completely. Long snapping is like taking a football, holding it over your head, and throwing it forward with 2 hands. But you can't miss your target but by a couple inches. Shotgun, you only have a 6 foot square window to worry about.

The reason the center be the long snapper is because of practice. Practicing over and over and over again on the offensive blocking schemes and assignments are MUCH more important than taking time away to practice long snapping.

Dressen isn't taking time to practice the long snaps, but probably a few minutes when the teams is working on special teams. He might get a snap in, here and there, just to get a couple reps. But the time it would take to teach a guy, that has never done it, to throw a two handed pass, back between his legs, takes time.

HORSEPOWER 56
09-14-2012, 06:46 PM
Its not the same thing. Its completely different than snapping the ball in shotgun. Floating the backwards five yards, with one hand, without the need to be "accurate" is COMPLETELY different than a long snap. Completely. Long snapping is like taking a football, holding it over your head, and throwing it forward with 2 hands. But you can't miss your target but by a couple inches. Shotgun, you only have a 6 foot square window to worry about.

The reason the center be the long snapper is because of practice. Practicing over and over and over again on the offensive blocking schemes and assignments are MUCH more important than taking time away to practice long snapping.

Dressen isn't taking time to practice the long snaps, but probably a few minutes when the teams is working on special teams. He might get a snap in, here and there, just to get a couple reps. But the time it would take to teach a guy, that has never done it, to throw a two handed pass, back between his legs, takes time.

I understand the philosophy of long snapping, but I'm thinking about the Raiders game for instance. They let that same backup long snapper screw up 3 times which pretty much cost them the game. Why not just put your real Center in there and give him a shot. I'd be willing to bet that Walton or Blake could long snap just fine. The difference only being distance. The long snapper has the advantage in that he can snap with his head between his head looking at the holder/punter because he doesn't have to worry about keeping his head up. Sure, he uses both hands and has to put a little more oomph into it. The Center has to get his head up and be in position to block the man in front of him the second he snaps the ball.

I just can't imagine that it would take more than one or two practice snaps for Walton, Blake, or now Koppen to be able to get the feel for it. Most high school teams' Centers are also their long snappers (at least from what I've seen). I understand why pro teams have "specialized" long snappers these days, I just don't think it shouldn't be part of the duties of the teams' Centers to be able to long snap in a pinch.