We’re back for Week 2 to look at special teams. There were not nearly as many snaps to look at here compared to in the Packers’ Week 1 game, but we get to look at them through the lens of a win, which is exciting.
We kicked this series off in earnest last week. In this space, we’re talking about every long snap on a field goal and extra point and looking at the placement of the snap. I made a beautiful and complex image to help us track and visualize the location of the snaps.
Because we are in a constant state of learning, I have slightly updated the template we’re using, based on a comment on last week’s article. In the comments of that article, 31-Wedge had this to say:
I held for kicks two years in HS, and my only ultra-small quibble on the chart would be that a low or ground-ball snap into the body was, for me at least, easier to handle than a low snap away, if only because you’re more prone to lose balance reaching away from your body and trying to draw the ball back into place. A stable base is everything to a holder.
I held for kicks two years in HS, and my only ultra-small quibble on the chart would be that a low or ground-ball snap into the body was, for me at least, easier to handle than a low snap away, if only because you’re more prone to lose balance reaching away from your body and trying to draw the ball back into place. A stable base is everything to a holder.
31-Wedge, thanks for your input. As you can see, the area on the ground in the place where the hold is to be placed has been changed to a light red.
All four snaps (2 extra points, 2 field goals) are in the green zone: 2 to the body, 2 over the hold spot. I will admit that the second extra point felt a bit dicey – it was right on the line of being too low – but it was up off the ground so I ultimately put it in the green area.
For the sake of transparency – and also in an attempt to keep improving – here are all the videos, with the snap-to-hold operation slowed down to 30% speed.
This is just about perfect. Laces rotated slightly towards Whelan so he can easily catch it and spin it on the hold. With the rain and a little wind, it looks like the ball is leaned forward a bit more and the lean away from Smack isn’t quite as extreme as we see in perfect conditions.
Harder to see from this angle (I wish we still got both angles available through NFL Pro). Snap is a bit low, but off the ground and into the body. Slightly less than ideal, but still more than good enough.
Like the first one, this is just about perfect. Whelan seems to have a slight issue on the catch-to-hold. Ball looks like it slips a bit, but it was a rainy day and he still gets the hold down.
Game-winner. Snap into the body in a good spot, with the laces in a good spot for Whelan to catch and get the ball down.
Albums listened to: Lizzy McAlpine – Angel; Babehoven – I see them, I see me
Discover more from NAIRAVOICE.COM.NG
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
