Why Paxton is, and will be, a Patriot

[ctpatsfan77]

Because this is what can happen when your long snapper is teh suck:

PITTSBURGH - In the end, there was one injury the Pittsburgh Steelers couldn't overcome: the knee injury to long snapper Greg Warren.

With Warren out late in the fourth quarter, the Steelers tried outside linebacker James Harrison and failed miserably. Leading 14-12, Harrison's snap sailed over punter Mitch Berger's head and through the end zone for a safety.

Berger's ensuing free kick was returned to near midfield, and it took the New York Giants just seven plays to score the winning touchdown in a 21-14 win Sunday at Heinz Field.

So, much as some people might love to see his roster spot used elsewhere, as long as he can do what he does, he'll be a Patriot.

 

[cavtroop]

Because this is what can happen when your long snapper is teh suck:



So, much as some people might love to see his roster spot used elsewhere, as long as he can do what he does, he'll be a Patriot.

why use a LB? Why not use the C as the backup long snapper? Makes no sense to me?

 

[Gwedd]

I was thinking exactly the same thing as I watched Goober Jr & his team win that game.

Accurate long-snapping is as much art as skill, and it's a position that not many think about until bad things start to happen.

You can think of the FG/PAT as a three-man team" Long snapper, holder & kicker. Everyone talks about the kicker, but few discuss the other two, and to be frank, they are of equal importance. They are like a milking stool, for those old enough to remember what that is, a 3-legged stool. If one leg is out of kilter, or wobbly, or longer or shorter than the others, the stool tips over.

It's like that for these three players. No matter how good the kicker, if the center botches the snap, you won't score. No matter how well the snap, if the holder drops/bobbles the ball (see Tony Romo, playoffs, et al) you won't score. You can have a perfect snap, and textbook hold, and the kicker can shank it or smack the upright, etc.

We are fortunate to have had an excellent long snapper and good holders these past years. they are as much a part of Vinni's & Ghost's successes as the kickers themselves.

Team. Always team.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

They are like a milking stool...

Ahh the joys of a cold, wet, nasty tail slap on a winter's morning whilst balanced on a shaky seat precariously placed on the brink of disaster!

 

[FreeTedWilliams]

If you watch Paxton, is always practcing on the sidelines, it is very hard for an every down player to turn around and long snap, they do not have time to get ready for the sanp.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

If you watch Paxton, is always practcing on the sidelines, it is very hard for an every down player to turn around and long snap, they do not have time to get ready for the sanp.

Come to think of it, though, since sending it through the end zone is also a safety, is there a specific reason--other than making a point--that Paxton hit the goalpost on the intentional safety against Denver?

 

[dhamz]

I'm not sure what that situation has to do with Lonnie Paxton. If the same situation happenned to the Pats, wouldn't Paxton be the one with the injury? Pitt has a long snapper, we have Paxton. Neither team is carrying a back-up long snapper.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Come to think of it, though, since sending it through the end zone is also a safety, is there a specific reason--other than making a point--that Paxton hit the goalpost on the intentional safety against Denver?

Visual target.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

I'm not sure what that situation has to do with Lonnie Paxton. If the same situation happenned to the Pats, wouldn't Paxton be the one with the injury? Pitt has a long snapper, we have Paxton. Neither team is carrying a back-up long snapper.

The OP is referring to off again-on again arguments about the need to carry a longsnapper on roster at all and using the Pittsburgh injury to highlight the Pro-longsnapper side of the debate. Hochstein or Dave Thomas would be the most likely emergency long snappers if Lonnie went down - then the big Pioli machine woould grind into gear and find Lonnie's replacement.

 

[SVN]

wasnt paxton injured in one of the sb teams during the season ? i think we had someone else snapping in SB 38 i believe.

 

[FreeTedWilliams]

Paxton was also one of the reasons that Hall wasted 10 of the last 15 seconds of the game running around the endzone yesterday.

He makes a decent amount of tackles.

 

[mgteich]

Yes, a top long snapper is important and worth a roster spot. I hope that Paxton will sign a long-term extension with the patriots.

HOWEVER, the situation is about backup long snappers. Hochstein is our backup, as he has been for years. Hochstein is also our backup center and backs up at both guard positions on Game Day. Finally, he is sometimes a 3rd TE in the jumbo, with Vrabel as the fullback. I would like us to extend his contract.

 

[Mike the Brit]

wasnt paxton injured in one of the sb teams during the season ? i think we had someone else snapping in SB 38 i believe.

I remember that Paxton was injured and, what's more, his back-up got injured so the Pats pulled in someone who was out of the NFL and teaching in a "faith school". He did the job, got his ring, and went back to keeping kids safe from evil theories.

 

[Pats726]

wasnt paxton injured in one of the sb teams during the season ? i think we had someone else snapping in SB 38 i believe.

IN 03.....The Miami game game 13..the snow game..Paxton injured a knee laste in the game..was out..They brought in Seam McDermott..who was in the Jax game...BUT he injured a shoulder..IRed...so they brought in Brian Kinchen an OLDER player who had retired..CoachB knew him..and he was the long snapper in teh last 2 games and the 3 PO games...

 

[Sivy]

Patriots have welker, they dont have to worry about an injury to players that have no backups (like punters and kickers and what not) he can do it all.

 

[JoePats]

Come to think of it, though, since sending it through the end zone is also a safety, is there a specific reason--other than making a point--that Paxton hit the goalpost on the intentional safety against Denver?

I think we were on the left hashmark so I'm guessing that's it. If we were in the middle, it probably would have split 'em.

 

[DaBruinz]

I'm not sure what that situation has to do with Lonnie Paxton. If the same situation happenned to the Pats, wouldn't Paxton be the one with the injury? Pitt has a long snapper, we have Paxton. Neither team is carrying a back-up long snapper.

Actually, Hochstein has practiced long snapping as has David Thomas.

 

[JoePats]

Here is a Tomlin quote from the Pitt Tribune-Review.

Miscue haunts Steelers - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

"I take my hat off to James Harrison for stepping up and volunteering," Tomlin said. "We just weren't able to get it done."

Now, I find it hard to believe that an NFL team would not have to resort to volunteers on the field to be the backup anything during a game if a starter were to go down. But this is apparantly what happened, at least according to this quote. How do you not have a backup in mind, how do you need someone to "volunteer?"

 

[signbabybrady]

Anyone who thinks Paxton is expendible is just naive. He plays such an important ST role. I didn't need to see the injury to the Steelers guy to now how consistant Paxton is and to know how important that is.


Must be frustrating as a fan of the steelers to think they could have won that game if the punter and/or the snapper were healthy.

 

[Pats726]

Anyone who thinks Paxton is expendible is just naive. He plays such an important ST role. I didn't need to see the injury to the Steelers guy to now how consistant Paxton is and to know how important that is.


Must be frustrating as a fan of the steelers to think they could have won that game if the punter and/or the snapper were healthy.

and it's simple..u always have backups...