Steelers select long snapper in the 6th round

[raleighpanther]

Wow. I don't know if this has ever happened before.
With that, what are we going to see in the 7th round..."With the 210 pick, the Pittsburgh Steelers select...Goalie Michael Smith."

 

[Pitt1992]

Actually it's happaned a lot,their LS is retiring and they got the best one in college football

 

[PittPanther44]

I saw the LS on the scroll in tv and was like "WTF". Didn't realize what it was.

 

[Revenge Of The Noise]

Lol. Saw it and thought "whazzat? Left Safety?"

 

[wbrpanther]

Wow. I don't know if this has ever happened before.
With that, what are we going to see in the 7th round..."With the 210 pick, the Pittsburgh Steelers select...Goalie Michael Smith."

By taking him in the 6th round I'm guessing he must be pretty good and the Steelers figured he would be scooped up in the 7th

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

their LS is retiring

If he is that's new, because he just signed a new contract about a month ago.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

If he is that's new, because he just signed a new contract about a month ago.

http://www.steelers.com/news/transa...g-Warren/fe4daef1-6802-4e43-a1e8-ad8e9b6a16c5

 

[Revenge Of The Noise]

Wasn't it s couple years back the Steelers lost their LS and Harrison had to do it?

 

[TempleBAPittMPA]

Wasn't it s couple years back the Steelers lost their LS and Harrison had to do it?

Correction: Harrison THOUGHT he could do it. So much for the notion that anybody can "hike" the ball.

 

[pitt-girl]

Lol. Saw it and thought "whazzat? Left Safety?"

Agree. I raced through all the abbreviations of football positions and eventually succumbed to asking Mr. Pitt-girl (hard for me ). We both were like wtf? A long snapper?

 

[Pittx9]

If he is that's new, because he just signed a new contract about a month ago.

Yeah that's why this pick doesn't make sense to me. Taking a long snapper is fine, but there's no need until you no longer have one on your roster. It's not like a backup at any other position that you can just keep on your roster until you need them. They can try and stash him on the practice squad.

 

[Parkview57]

this pick doesn't make sense to me

Yes, I am also puzzled. I am wondering if the combination of age/money is a factor. Is there a minimum salary that a veteran with 13 years must make, thus forcing an impact on the cap that the Steelers feel can be used elsewhere if the younger LS is as good? That is the best I can come up with.

 

[Pittx9]

Yes, I am also puzzled. I am wondering if the combination of age/money is a factor. Is there a minimum salary that a veteran with 13 years must make, thus forcing an impact on the cap that the Steelers feel can be used elsewhere if the younger LS is as good? That is the best I can come up with.

Yes. Not sure what it is, but being such a tenured player Greg warren has a minimum salary that he can make. I honestly don't even know if it's the actual veteran league minimimum or lower but I heard them trying to rationalize the pick by saying that yes warren's contract he signed had to be for at least so much money. Even at that though, was this kid really going before the 7th round?

I'm just thrilled JC is staying home and the rest of their draft was pretty good too. Not gonna complain much about what they did, just the few teams I've seen take a long snapper did not have one returning to their roster. Last I remember was Joe Cardona from navy I believe went in the draft to New England.

 

[Jpripper88]

Yes, I am also puzzled. I am wondering if the combination of age/money is a factor. Is there a minimum salary that a veteran with 13 years must make, thus forcing an impact on the cap that the Steelers feel can be used elsewhere if the younger LS is as good? That is the best I can come up with.

Yes. Not sure what it is, but being such a tenured player Greg warren has a minimum salary that he can make. I honestly don't even know if it's the actual veteran league minimimum or lower but I heard them trying to rationalize the pick by saying that yes warren's contract he signed had to be for at least so much money. Even at that though, was this kid really going before the 7th round?

I'm just thrilled JC is staying home and the rest of their draft was pretty good too. Not gonna complain much about what they did, just the few teams I've seen take a long snapper did not have one returning to their roster. Last I remember was Joe Cardona from navy I believe went in the draft to New England.

The Steelers would only save about $250k against the cap if Holba makes the team over Warren.

I am not defending selecting this long snapper or any long snapper (when you still have one who did a capable job last season), but I understand doing it in the 6th round, instead of waiting until their pick in the 7th, if they felt he was the best LS and felt he was going to be drafted. Essentially, because they picked so late in the 7th, the Steelers had no shot of drafting Holba, if they thought he was going to be drafted, unless they took him in the 6th. 6th and 7th round draft picks have essentially zero difference in the likelihood of ending up successful pros, so there is very little practical difference between the picks and when a team is picking so late in the 7th, they basically have to use their 6th to take their last player they want, who they project to be drafted. After that, you just use the 7th on the last lottery pick you think has a shot or might be hard to sign as a UDFA.

Think of it this way: If the Steelers took Adams in the 6th and Holba in the 7th, would anyone really have an issue with it?

 

[Revenge Of The Noise]

Correction: Harrison THOUGHT he could do it. So much for the notion that anybody can "hike" the ball.

Yes, I recall it not working out well. So I'm not too surprised THEY remember this too.

It seems a more critical position than most are assuming. Messed up snaps on kicks, punts, etc. can be game changing disasters.

Plus it at least occasionally seems the LS (see how comfortable I am using that abbreviation now, LOL) is one of the first to get downfield and make tackles on punts. So they aren't just snapping the ball and cracking open a cold one.

 

[upj87]

Actually it's happaned a lot,their LS is retiring and they got the best one in college football

wonder if there is some kind of metric to make this determination...

 

[Parkview57]

Think of it this way

Agreed. In fact they can try the new one out and if he is good enough they have solved a problem for another 12 years with a 6th round pick.

 

[Swervin27]

Yes, I recall it not working out well. So I'm not too surprised THEY remember this too.

It seems a more critical position than most are assuming. Messed up snaps on kicks, punts, etc. can be game changing disasters.

Plus it at least occasionally seems the LS (see how comfortable I am using that abbreviation now, LOL) is one of the first to get downfield and make tackles on punts. So they aren't just snapping the ball and cracking open a cold one.

Not working out too well? Harrison snapped it into the concession stand, 500' behind the endzone.. Think he knocked out a fan who was waiting in line for the restroom..

 

[upj87]

The Steelers would only save about $250k against the cap if Holba makes the team over Warren.

I am not defending selecting this long snapper or any long snapper (when you still have one who did a capable job last season), but I understand doing it in the 6th round, instead of waiting until their pick in the 7th, if they felt he was the best LS and felt he was going to be drafted. Essentially, because they picked so late in the 7th, the Steelers had no shot of drafting Holba, if they thought he was going to be drafted, unless they took him in the 6th. 6th and 7th round draft picks have essentially zero difference in the likelihood of ending up successful pros, so there is very little practical difference between the picks and when a team is picking so late in the 7th, they basically have to use their 6th to take their last player they want, who they project to be drafted. After that, you just use the 7th on the last lottery pick you think has a shot or might be hard to sign as a UDFA.

Think of it this way: If the Steelers took Adams in the 6th and Holba in the 7th, would anyone really have an issue with it?

Really how much of a gap is there between the best snapper you waste a draft pick on and the number three you pick up as a free agent? Seems to me there were probably twenty kids in college that get the ball there accurately and consistently with not that much differentiation.

 

[Jpripper88]

Really how much of a gap is there between the best snapper you waste a draft pick on and the number three you pick up as a free agent? Seems to me there were probably twenty kids in college that get the ball there accurately and consistently with not that much differentiation.

There are definitely not 20 LS capable of getting NFL jobs. Not even close. Maybe there are 5 and many still need a lot of work because the responsibilities are different college to pro for protection and coverage.

How much of a gap is there between Holba and the best UDFA LS? How much of a gap is there between the LB, DB, WR, OL, etc. taken at the end of the 6th and a UDFA? The answer is probably about the same, but the LS probably has a much, much bigger chance of not only making the team, but affecting the season. So, with that said, I can understand prioritizing the LS. Bill Belichick took one in the 5th round.

 

[upj87]

There are definitely not 20 LS capable of getting NFL jobs. Not even close. Maybe there are 5 and many still need a lot of work because the responsibilities are different college to pro for protection and coverage.

How much of a gap is there between Holba and the best UDFA LS? How much of a gap is there between the LB, DB, WR, OL, etc. taken at the end of the 6th and a UDFA? The answer is probably about the same, but the LS probably has a much, much bigger chance of not only making the team, but affecting the season. So, with that said, I can understand prioritizing the LS. Bill Belichick took one in the 5th round.

many still need a lot of work because the responsibilities are different college to pro for protection and coverage....they snap the ball on punts and field goals and cannot be touched and release to make special team tackles exactly as in college. Mark Wahlberg is responsible for making coverage changes on punts . ...there is no difference as this is not Wernher von Braun type stuff here. Pretty much think Belichick guy is the same as Cleveland's guy. Never once heard of a long snapper being listed with the tale of the tape who has the edge deal.

 

[Jpripper88]

many still need a lot of work because the responsibilities are different college to pro for protection and coverage....they snap the ball on punts and field goals and cannot be touched and release to make special team tackles exactly as in college. Mark Wahlberg is responsible for making coverage changes on punts . ...there is no difference as this is not Wernher von Braun type stuff here. Pretty much think Belichick guy is the same as Cleveland's guy. Never once heard of a long snapper being listed with the tale of the tape who has the edge deal.

Completely incorrect. In college LS can release immediately and cover. In the NFL, they have to protect and wait until the ball is kicked.

http://www.windycitygridiron.com/20...ck-mannelly-scott-daly-colin-holba-cole-mazza