Piotr Czech

[Corvus]

So I know how difficult it would have been to take 2 kickers and I didn't think he would make the final cut. BUT I figured a good place for him to land would be on the practice squad so we could maintain rights on him and yet we completely sever ties with him to add Bramlet. He was doing a solid job in camp and he did drill the only preseason FG he attempted against the Pats. Stover can't kick forever and I wouldn't be surprised if he does retire after this season at age 40. Someone else in need of a raw yet talented kicker will sign him no doubt. In any case, what are your thoughts on Czech being outright cut before the 53 man roster cut?

I also have a related special teams question that someone may know more about than I do. Is long snapping really that much more different of a skill than snapping as a center. Not to belittle him but is keeping Katula on the roster to only snap the ball for FGs and PATs that crucial. Couldn't Brown or Chester or another lineman learn how to do it? And also does Katula ever play center or anything, even as a 2nd or 3rd stringer? I wouldn't be so critical of his job if I knew he was contributing to the team in other manners. It seems to me that it would save another roster space for a position of greater need by using him as a backup center and cutting a so-so player like Chester or vice versa having a lineman start working on his longsnapping ability. Thoughts?

[#1 D]

So I know how difficult it would have been to take 2 kickers and I didn't think he would make the final cut. BUT I figured a good place for him to land would be on the practice squad so we could maintain rights on him and yet we completely sever ties with him to add Bramlet. He was doing a solid job in camp and he did drill the only preseason FG he attempted against the Pats. Stover can't kick forever and I wouldn't be surprised if he does retire after this season at age 40. Someone else in need of a raw yet talented kicker will sign him no doubt. In any case, what are your thoughts on Czech being outright cut before the 53 man roster cut?

I also have a related special teams question that someone may know more about than I do. Is long snapping really that much more different of a skill than snapping as a center. Not to belittle him but is keeping Katula on the roster to only snap the ball for FGs and PATs that crucial. Couldn't Brown or Chester or another lineman learn how to do it? And also does Katula ever play center or anything, even as a 2nd or 3rd stringer? I wouldn't be so critical of his job if I knew he was contributing to the team in other manners. It seems to me that it would save another roster space for a position of greater need by using him as a backup center and cutting a so-so player like Chester or vice versa having a lineman start working on his longsnapping ability. Thoughts?

idk. good question. i think Katula has a different body figure than a regular OL. he's more agile and quick, so he can perform a dual role in special teams, maybe even try to make tackles. just a guess though.

as for Czech, the dude is great as a kicker. he's solid, but for now and until Stover retires, we're doing fine.

[Moderator 3]

Cutting a talented player early is done as a favor to that player. He's earned the right to try to get in with another team. If no one picks him up, we may try to sign him to the Practice Squad. Still, that's no guarantee that we'll keep him. Any team can raid any other team's Practice Squad.

[Borris]

I also have a related special teams question that someone may know more about than I do. Is long snapping really that much more different of a skill than snapping as a center. Not to belittle him but is keeping Katula on the roster to only snap the ball for FGs and PATs that crucial. Couldn't Brown or Chester or another lineman learn how to do it? And also does Katula ever play center or anything, even as a 2nd or 3rd stringer? I wouldn't be so critical of his job if I knew he was contributing to the team in other manners. It seems to me that it would save another roster space for a position of greater need by using him as a backup center and cutting a so-so player like Chester or vice versa having a lineman start working on his longsnapping ability. Thoughts?

I believe the reason that Katula does not play center is in fact because he is too big for the position. He is too tall for the typical center and I think he is too tall in his stance, making it more difficult for quarterbacks to handle the snap, but makes it much easier for longsnapping. In his defense, I would like to throw it out there that that he is typically one of the top three every year in special teams tackles.

[Moderator 3]

A long-snapper has to be able to get down the field faster than a "regular" Center, too. In a pinch, Matt can fill in as Center. I think it actually happened during a game once.

Oh, and we once had a long-snapper who was horrible. We called him Harper "LeSmell". Balls were flying everywhere except where they needed to go. He cost us a few games. Having seen that mess, I fully appreciate having a good long-snapper like Matt Katula.

[bossman419]

once you get a good one you dont let him go

[macbrak]

I think had the O Line and 2ndary been healthier we would have kept him, but there is no room without leaving open the door to what happened last year.

[berad]

Every single year there's one of these guys that runs through the revolving door of Matt Stover. I'm not upset by it, not at all.

Also, Katula is good on ST. On punts, he snaps the ball and is usually one of the first guys to the returner.

[Corvus]

Just bumping this since it's related to the topic but, this is from the article on baltimoreravens.com about the practice squad.

[quote]Meanwhile, defensive tackle J