TopFrog
Lifelong Frog
http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/04/14/21...a-snap-for.html
[SIZE=14pt]NFL career should be a snap for TCU's Clint Gresham[/SIZE]
TCU's Clint Gresham hopes you've never heard his name.
Gresham has an upside-down view of football. He is a long snapper. So being anonymous means he's doing his job.
"It's definitely different," Gresham said. "I never thought long snapping would be the reason I went to play football in college or to have an opportunity in the NFL. It's a fun little twist on things, that's for sure."
Gresham was the only long snapper invited to the NFL Scouting Combine. Scouts rate him as one of the best long snappers to come out of college in the past 10 years, ranking with former Texas long snapper Cullen Loeffler. Loeffler has played for the Minnesota Vikings for six seasons after going undrafted in 2004.
"I don't think [Gresham] has ever had a bad snap," said draft analyst Gil Brandt, the Cowboys former player personnel director. "He really gets the ball back there with velocity and accuracy. He gets it back there in .60 seconds. He can do both long and short snapping, and he does a good job in coverage also. He'll probably be about a 12-year player in the NFL."
Gresham's father, Jim, played at Texas from 1974-76. While Clint was in high school, the Texas coaches recommended a long-snapping video that Gresham watched over and over again.
Long snapping came naturally to Gresham, a former quarterback.
"Instead of throwing over my head, I'm throwing between my legs," Gresham said.
Gresham started his career at Oklahoma -- sacrilege for a die-hard Longhorns fan -- and stayed for one season before transferring to TCU. He was the Horned Frogs' long snapper the past three seasons, having replaced Jared Retkofsky. Retkofsky won a Super Bowl ring with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the 2008 season.
Gresham can hit the crossbar from the 30-yard line. He has hit a watermelon and a Barbie doll and has cleared hoops. He even can hit receivers running pass routes.
"I joke with [TCU quarterback] Andy Dalton, telling him I'm going to take his job," Gresham said.
Gresham's job is a snap.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/04/14/21...3/overview.html
[SIZE=12pt]NFL countdown: Special teams players[/SIZE]
Overvie
There could be more specialists drafted this year than in recent years. TCU's Clint Gresham is the best long snapper in a long time and should be drafted. Kickers Leigh Tiffin of Alabama, Aaron Pettrey of Ohio State and Garrett Lindholm of Tarleton State could be drafted, as could punters Zoltan Mesko of Michigan, Brent Bowden of Virginia Tech and Matt Dodge of East Carolina. Florida's Brandon James, LSU's Trindon Holliday and Kansas State's Brandon Banks could be drafted as return specialists.
Cowboys' needs
The Cowboys have drafted two kickers in the past three drafts. It's not out of the question that they'll draft another. Nick Folk, a sixth-rounder in 2007, went into a slump he couldn't pull himself out of last season, and the Cowboys cut him. They signed Connor Hughes, a former Arena League kicker who has been in two NFL training camps, and he will compete with David Buehler. Buehler, a fifth-round pick last year, was used as a kickoff specialist and led the league with 29 touchbacks. He also had three special teams tackles. Mat McBriar remains one of the league's top punters, and L.P. Ladouceur is a fine long snapper. The Cowboys would like to find a return threat.
Top five
Leigh Tiffin, K, Alabama, 6-1, 209, NA, He is the most productive kicker in school history with 385 points and 83 field goals in 46 games.
Zoltan Mesko, P, Michigan, 6-5, 240, 4.79, He had a gross punting average of 44.5 yards per punt last season.
Clint Gresham, LS, TCU, 6-3, 236, NA, He was the only long snapper invited to the combine.
Aaron Pettrey, K, Ohio State, 6-1, 202, 4.94, He is coming off a torn right medial collateral ligament.
Brent Bowden, P, Virginia Tech, 6-3, 202, 4.80, He had 52 punts inside the opponents' 20 over the past two seasons.
Sleeper
Garrett Lindholm, Tarleton State, 5-8, 185, NA, He has a great shot at being drafted after making a 64-yarder last season and three 60-yarders in his Pro Day.
Texas ties
Hunter Lawrence, K, Texas, 5-11, 184, 4.90, He went 10 of 11 from 40-49 yards, which could get him drafted.
[SIZE=14pt]NFL career should be a snap for TCU's Clint Gresham[/SIZE]
TCU's Clint Gresham hopes you've never heard his name.
Gresham has an upside-down view of football. He is a long snapper. So being anonymous means he's doing his job.
"It's definitely different," Gresham said. "I never thought long snapping would be the reason I went to play football in college or to have an opportunity in the NFL. It's a fun little twist on things, that's for sure."
Gresham was the only long snapper invited to the NFL Scouting Combine. Scouts rate him as one of the best long snappers to come out of college in the past 10 years, ranking with former Texas long snapper Cullen Loeffler. Loeffler has played for the Minnesota Vikings for six seasons after going undrafted in 2004.
"I don't think [Gresham] has ever had a bad snap," said draft analyst Gil Brandt, the Cowboys former player personnel director. "He really gets the ball back there with velocity and accuracy. He gets it back there in .60 seconds. He can do both long and short snapping, and he does a good job in coverage also. He'll probably be about a 12-year player in the NFL."
Gresham's father, Jim, played at Texas from 1974-76. While Clint was in high school, the Texas coaches recommended a long-snapping video that Gresham watched over and over again.
Long snapping came naturally to Gresham, a former quarterback.
"Instead of throwing over my head, I'm throwing between my legs," Gresham said.
Gresham started his career at Oklahoma -- sacrilege for a die-hard Longhorns fan -- and stayed for one season before transferring to TCU. He was the Horned Frogs' long snapper the past three seasons, having replaced Jared Retkofsky. Retkofsky won a Super Bowl ring with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the 2008 season.
Gresham can hit the crossbar from the 30-yard line. He has hit a watermelon and a Barbie doll and has cleared hoops. He even can hit receivers running pass routes.
"I joke with [TCU quarterback] Andy Dalton, telling him I'm going to take his job," Gresham said.
Gresham's job is a snap.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/04/14/21...3/overview.html
[SIZE=12pt]NFL countdown: Special teams players[/SIZE]
Overvie
There could be more specialists drafted this year than in recent years. TCU's Clint Gresham is the best long snapper in a long time and should be drafted. Kickers Leigh Tiffin of Alabama, Aaron Pettrey of Ohio State and Garrett Lindholm of Tarleton State could be drafted, as could punters Zoltan Mesko of Michigan, Brent Bowden of Virginia Tech and Matt Dodge of East Carolina. Florida's Brandon James, LSU's Trindon Holliday and Kansas State's Brandon Banks could be drafted as return specialists.
Cowboys' needs
The Cowboys have drafted two kickers in the past three drafts. It's not out of the question that they'll draft another. Nick Folk, a sixth-rounder in 2007, went into a slump he couldn't pull himself out of last season, and the Cowboys cut him. They signed Connor Hughes, a former Arena League kicker who has been in two NFL training camps, and he will compete with David Buehler. Buehler, a fifth-round pick last year, was used as a kickoff specialist and led the league with 29 touchbacks. He also had three special teams tackles. Mat McBriar remains one of the league's top punters, and L.P. Ladouceur is a fine long snapper. The Cowboys would like to find a return threat.
Top five
Leigh Tiffin, K, Alabama, 6-1, 209, NA, He is the most productive kicker in school history with 385 points and 83 field goals in 46 games.
Zoltan Mesko, P, Michigan, 6-5, 240, 4.79, He had a gross punting average of 44.5 yards per punt last season.
Clint Gresham, LS, TCU, 6-3, 236, NA, He was the only long snapper invited to the combine.
Aaron Pettrey, K, Ohio State, 6-1, 202, 4.94, He is coming off a torn right medial collateral ligament.
Brent Bowden, P, Virginia Tech, 6-3, 202, 4.80, He had 52 punts inside the opponents' 20 over the past two seasons.
Sleeper
Garrett Lindholm, Tarleton State, 5-8, 185, NA, He has a great shot at being drafted after making a 64-yarder last season and three 60-yarders in his Pro Day.
Texas ties
Hunter Lawrence, K, Texas, 5-11, 184, 4.90, He went 10 of 11 from 40-49 yards, which could get him drafted.
