Who is the backup to the backup at center?

[Patler]

It's a bad situation. Having a bigger guy who can't even reliably get a snap back to the QB is worse.

What makes you think a long snapper can? Because he can rifle it back 15 yards to the punter, or because he can snap it 18 inches off the ground 7 yards deep. When Tretter did that last week, people were pissed.

[Harlan Huckleby]

What makes you think a long snapper can? Because he can rifle it back 15 yards to the punter

ding ding ding

I expect a long snapper can execute any sort of snap. But if nothing else he can snap to QB in shotgun or pistol.

Just as critically, he knows how to maintain balance and transition from snapper to a blocker in half a second.

[Patler]

ding ding ding

I expect a long snapper can execute any sort of snap. But if nothing else he can snap to QB in shotgun or pistol.

Just as critically, he knows how to maintain balance and transition from snapper to a blocker in half a second.

Not sure I agree with any of those conclusions, especially not the last.

[Harlan Huckleby]

Not sure I agree with any of those conclusions, especially not the last.

Watch what a long snapper has to do. They have to snap then block. Read the discussions I linked to.

You have narrowed the skills of a long snapper to an absurd degree. They can long snap to a punter but not a QB. They can't/don't block.

They are muscular, 255 pound football players who are used to contact with other large players - blocking and tackling. They are not european metrosexual specialists who only know how to pass a ball between their legs.

[Cheesehead Craig]

He would probably snap it back too hard, injuring Rodgers. Probably give him an ankle.

[mraynrand]

They are not european metrosexual specialists who only know how to pass a ball between their legs.

the voice of experience!

[Harlan Huckleby]

I think a snapper trying to function as a center would be a lot like a blocking TE trying to fill-in at LT. It would be a bad situation, but maybe the team could get by.

Truth is, we'd really have to talk to an NFL-level snapper to hear how well he think he would function.

To the extent this topic can be interesting, here is discussion about long snapping, but more from the perspective of why it exists as a specialist position in NFL:

http://www.thephinsider.com/2014/8/21/5945187/an-in-depth-look-at-long-snappers

The average weight of an NFL LS is only 246.

That article points out that they have to be able to accurately make tough snaps to every player in in the backfield in punt formation (fake punts) so these guys are very skilled and versatile at snapping; safe bet they can perform any snap you want, probably better than a starting center.

[Harlan Huckleby]

ps. There are 4 LSs in the NFL who are also backup centers, so some guys can do it.

http://www.thephinsider.com/2014/8/21/5945187/an-in-depth-look-at-long-snappers

Buffalo Bills Garrison Sanborn 6' 1" 240 lbs
Pittsburgh Steelers Greg Warren 6' 3" 252 lbs
Chicago Bears Patrick Mannelly 6' 5" 265 lbs
Carolina Panthers J. J. Jansen 6' 2" 245 lbs

[pbmax]

OK, I'll bite. Who was the last long snapper to log regular minutes at a different position?

[Maxie the Taxi]

OK, I'll bite. Who was the last long snapper to log regular minutes at a different position?

Per Bill Belicheck:

"You want your best holder to be the holder," Belichick said. "I think that the key thing in the NFL now is just with the opportunity of your specialist. Again, the game has evolved from when I came into the league. Most teams had kicker. Most of the punters played another position, and I would say all of the long snappers played another position, either center or linebacker or tight end or whatever it was. Then punters became pretty much specialized so every team carried a kicker and a punter. Occasionally you had a guy who could do both, but that was more the exception than the rule.

"Eventually, teams started going to just pure long snappers. Like Steve DeOssie, who came into the league as a linebacker/snapper, kind of ended as a snapper and was one of the best snappers in the league. He was part of that transition and in that era where teams went and committed fully to a long snapper that played no other position. You’ve also seen that now in college. Most college teams have a pure snapper as well as a pure kicker and a pure punter.

"I just think that when you have that situation, if your punter can hold, then the amount of snaps and time that those guys get to practice together, work together, meet together, watch film together, watch slow-motions films, concentrate on the technique as opposed to the backup quarterback or somebody like that who has a lot of other responsibilities. It’s just a time -– if your holder can be your punter, then the amount of practice time, consistency, preparation time that those guys have together just so outweighs what it would be with any other player.

"Receivers have been holders. Then you go through the whole thing, if it’s a position player like a defensive back or like it was back in the ‘60s, a Jimmy Patton or a receiver and something happens to them, now whose your backup player because those guys are regular players. Not only do you have to replace them at their offensive or defensive position, you have to replace them in the kicking game, so it just cuts into your depth. Back when you had 36, 37 players, that was a whole different ballgame. Everybody doubled up in one way or another. I think that’s the way it is on most teams. Most teams punters are the holder and the snappers are the snappers and kickers are the kickers. That’s the way it is in college so we’re recruiting players that are in that very specialized phase themselves."

from: https://www.reddit.com/r/GreenBayPac...belichick_was/

I wonder who made the long snaps for Lombardi's Packers?

[Patler]

ps. There are 4 LSs in the NFL who are also backup centers, so some guys can do it.

http://www.thephinsider.com/2014/8/21/5945187/an-in-depth-look-at-long-snappers

Buffalo Bills Garrison Sanborn 6' 1" 240 lbs
Pittsburgh Steelers Greg Warren 6' 3" 252 lbs
Chicago Bears Patrick Mannelly 6' 5" 265 lbs
Carolina Panthers J. J. Jansen 6' 2" 245 lbs

Yes, and you will notice the most common "other position" for a long snapper, including Brett Goode, is "None". Rob Davis was listed as a LS/DE for a few years, too, and occasionally played a snap or two in his earliest years. I wonder how many today have taken any snaps in a game, or a meaningful practice rep at another position. I wonder if Goode ever has since HS, or in his career at GB.

I suspect they will go with any other OL combination before Goode gets in the game.

[Harlan Huckleby]

Yes, and you will notice the most common "other position" for a long snapper, including Brett Goode, is "None".

That is irrelevant. A blocking TE is not listed as "Left Tackle", but all of them could fill-in at LT in an emergency.

The key fact is that some long snappers are also formally backup centers. That proves unquestionably that it is credible for a LS to fill-in at center, and it suggests that other LS's might also be options if two interior linemen go down.

[Harlan Huckleby]

any other OL combination before Goode gets in the game.

You would put a big lug with no snapping experience out there before you played Goode?
I don't think so.
Maybe they have several backup snappers, don't know.

[mraynrand]

You would put a big lug with no snapping experience out there before you played Goode?
I don't think so.
Maybe they have several backup snappers, don't know.

I think it really depends on what the team has set up. If they've practiced with other OL (or even DL) in there as backup centers, but no with Goode, then you have your answer. So my question is pretty simple: Have the Packers ever practiced with Goode at center in any offensive (non-kicking) drills?

[Harlan Huckleby]

I think it really depends on what the team has set up. If they've practiced with other OL (or even DL) in there as backup centers

They aren't going to be practicing any DL at center. No overlap in skills there at all.