Seahawks Sign Tyler Schmitt

by John Morgan on Jun 25, 2008 10:42 AM PDT

Jose Romero is reporting that highly controversial 6th round selection Tyler Schmitt has signed. Talent acquisition is all about value over replacement. For Schmitt to be worth his pick, he must be much more valuable than an average long snapper that could be attained cheaply through free agency. Does Schmitt satisfy that criteria--well he's only the greatest long snapper I've ever seen. What makes someone the greatest long snapping prospect, perhaps, ever?

How man of us can throw a spiral that tight forward?

Tweet Comment 6 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

wow

Don’t know how many of you will take the time to sit through 7:50 of long snapping drills, but this kid is freakin’ good.

Again. Wow.

by mjkleko on Jun 25, 2008 12:01 PM PDT reply actions

Did I just watch 7+ minutes of long snapping?

My God. What the hell is wrong with me?

By the way, what is the big deal about spending a 6th on a LS? We drafted Jason Kyle in 1995 in the 4th round.

"Those who fear disorder more than injustice inevitably produce more of both." -- Rev. William Coffin

by dcrockett17 on Jun 25, 2008 4:09 PM PDT reply actions

I watched it twice.

What a weird world we live in where a person can become so good at something so arcane.

by John Morgan on Jun 25, 2008 5:16 PM PDT up reply actions

Almost totally unrelated, but I was watching coordinated diving earlier today and had

the exact same thought. Seeing pair after pair of flawlessly executed synchronized dives produced an odd epiphany of sorts. I actually did sit through this video of long-snapping drills, and found myself impressed with the guy’s consistency.

Of course, I know nothing about the intricacies of football, but I am well-aware that we have recently lamented our long-snapping prowess as a team.

by misterjonez on Jun 26, 2008 9:59 AM PDT up reply actions

Impressed

I watched the video, and I was impressed. I am not saying I know one way or another if every college long snapper can do the same or not, but I was impressed anyhow.

The sixth and seventh rounds are for taking flyers. For every Matt Hasselbeck you get late in the draft you get far more players who do not ever make the team, Schmitt has an exellent change of making the team. If we drafted a slow running back with little power it would be ok but not the best long snapper in the draft, or even the past 5 drafts from what I hear.

by germpod on Jun 26, 2008 10:32 AM PDT reply actions

The video establishes what? He sure looks but good compared to who? Is he the very best there is?????

The question isn’t whether Schmitt will be a valuable addition or not, but, whether he should have been taken in the 6th round. Said another way, if he was taken later or as an FA, then the Hawks still get Schmitt and another equally or more valuable addition could have been picked up in the 6th. Of course, this was the problem with nearly all of the Hawks picks. It wasn’t that they were the wrong people as much as the right people at the wrong time. Dropping a few a little bit lower would have enabled the opportunity to pick up another stud or two.

by bigmaq on Jun 27, 2008 10:21 AM PDT reply actions