Special teams

[ramp1028]

Special players on special teams
Special teams coordinator Joe Marciano was not happy with the players’ overall performance in special teams practice on Friday, but there were some positives to come out of the morning session. It looks like the Texans have three special teams stars in the making in rookies Cushing, Barwin and tight end James Casey.

After Friday’s practice, Marciano was discussing how far the Texans have come in terms of depth since 2002, when most of his special teams player were street free agents that no other club wanted, when he compared Casey and Barwin to Jim Thorpe – one of the greatest, most versatile athletes in history.

“They can do everything," he said.

They did do just about everything in college. Barwin was a defensive end, tight end and walk-on basketball player at Cincinnati. Casey was a tight end, running back, quarterback and punt returner at Rice – and that was after he played minor league baseball for three years. He is being groomed to be the Texans’ long snapper.

“Casey was a quarterback, so that helps,” Marciano said. “He can throw. You show him the motion. I did it. I snapped a perfect spiral back to him. So he did it, and did the perfect spiral. So if he can do that, he can put two hands on the ball and do it. If you watch on Monday, he'll be snapping for us."

Is this saying that Casey is the long snapper?

And who is receiving the punts, and kicks? Jones?

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by ramp1028

Is this saying that Casey is the long snapper?

My understanding is that Casey, Dreessen, and Clark Harris are all working on snapping. And if we get lucky one of the regular TE will win the job to save a roster spot.

[nunusguy]

“Casey was a quarterback, so that helps,” Marciano said. “He can throw. You show him the motion. I did it. I snapped a perfect spiral back to him. So he did it, and did the perfect spiral. So if he can do that, he can put two hands on the ball and do it. If you watch on Monday, he'll be snapping for us."
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Never occured to me that being able to throw a pass could be transferred to being an effective long-snapper, but guess it makes sense when you think about it. I dunno, kinda like throwing a pass while standing on ones head ?

[WMH]

Originally Posted by painekiller

My understanding is that Casey, Dreessen, and Clark Harris are all working on snapping. And if we get lucky one of the regular TE will win the job to save a roster spot.

Hmmm, enter QB3? That could save a spot for Grossman.....or Orvlosky, depending on how that plays out.

[ramp1028]

Originally Posted by WMH

Hmmm, enter QB3? That could save a spot for Grossman.....or Orvlosky, depending on how that plays out.

CBSsportsline had a quote the otherday that Orvlosky looked sharp... havn't heard that about Grossman...

[barrett]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

“Casey was a quarterback, so that helps,” Marciano said. “He can throw. You show him the motion. I did it. I snapped a perfect spiral back to him. So he did it, and did the perfect spiral. So if he can do that, he can put two hands on the ball and do it. If you watch on Monday, he'll be snapping for us."
************************************************** ***
Never occured to me that being able to throw a pass could be transferred to being an effective long-snapper, but guess it makes sense when you think about it. I dunno, kinda like throwing a pass while standing on ones head ?

I know when I coached Freshman Football, on the first day of practice we made every kid who had ever played QB start practicing at deep snapper because of the similarities. And when I say we, I mean the other coach who was far wiser than I could ever claim to be.

[NBT]

Originally Posted by painekiller

My understanding is that Casey, Dreessen, and Clark Harris are all working on snapping. And if we get lucky one of the regular TE will win the job to save a roster spot.

Isn't Harris still in the running for deep snapper? He did well when he finished the season there last year.

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by NBT

Isn't Harris still in the running for deep snapper? He did well when he finished the season there last year.

All three are being looked at. With Harris still the "starter".