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Gene Clemons
Jun 13, 2020
2019
Season Rewind
A good and steady long snapper is one
of the most underrated positions on a football team, but in Casey Kreiter, the
Giants have ensured continuity in the position with a one-time Pro Bowler.
Over the last three seasons, Kreiter
took every long snap for the Denver Broncos. During that time, he has only one
holding penalty.
This past year, he followed up his 2018
Pro Bowl season by being just as perfect. Kreiter, who got his start in 2014
with the Cowboys (and offensive coordinator Jason Garrett), delivered 148 flawless snaps in
2018; in 2019, he produced 146 just as flawlessly.
It
is a surprise that the 6'1", 250-pound Iowa product was available in free
agency considering how effective he's been over the past four seasons in the
Mile High City., but when the Broncos allowed him to reach free agency for the
fourth year in a row, they opened the door for another team to snatch him up.
That
team was the Giants.
Looking
Ahead
Signing
Kreiter and special team ace Cody Core, drafting defensive back Darnay Holmes
from UCLA, and signing rookie free agent running back Javon Leake from
Maryland, points to an emphasis on making special teams a weaponized part of
their attack.
For
Kreiter, there's always more pressure on a specialist when the head coach is a
special teams coach. When John Harbaugh (a former special teams coach) took
over in Baltimore, the special teams was an emphasis as well.
They made two significant special teams acquisitions in his first season, signing linebacker Brendan Aysnbadejo and defensive back Frank Walker. So there is precedent set for special teams to be such a focus of a new head coach with a special teams background.
Kreiter,
meanwhile, will be reunited with punter Riley Dixon who punted for the Broncos
during the 2016-17 seasons. That familiarity should help accelerate their
chemistry and snap operation. A great operation often ensures a punt has a
chance at success.
The combination of Kreiter and Dixon,
along with Core and possibly Holmes as the two gunners, has an opportunity to
become one of the best punt coverage units in the league.
It's
early, but it would not be unrealistic to project the Giants having three
players up for Pro Bowl consideration. At the very least, the punt coverage
team should be an advantage.
As
for Kreiter, who was signed to a one-year deal, he will look to turn his
situation into a more long-term, stable situation in New York. If his
relationship with Dixon proves to be a good one, it certainly would be worth it
to the Giants to extend Kreiter's contract.
Good specialists are difficult to find.
General Manager Dave Gettleman, head coach, Joe Judge, and special teams coordinator,
Thomas McGaughey, think enough of the one-time Pro Bowler as a replacement for
long-time snapper Zak DeOssie.
At just 29 years of age, maybe Kreiter is the seamless transition that gives the Giants stability at the position for another eight seasons.
