Panthers Analysis

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Replacing Kyle won't be a snap

Inexperienced players vying to fill vacancy left by veteran long snapper, who was caught in salary-cap crunch.

By Charles Chandler
cchandler@charlotteobserver.com
Posted: Friday, Jul. 31, 2009
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    Jansen

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    Linebacker Jason Kyle didn't miss a game during nine seasons with Carolina, and he handled long snaps for eight of those years.

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    Kyle

More Information

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    As players prepare to report to training camp Sunday, the snapper position is one of the primary concerns for a team with much promise, but also some significant vulnerabilities.

    The previous two days, we looked at the lack of experienced depth on the offensive line and at defensive tackle. In Saturday's paper, we'll focus on the slim depth at receiver.

    To read analyses published this week, visit www.charlotteobserver.com/panthers.


Things didn't begin, or end, so well the last time the Carolina Panthers opened a season with an inexperienced snapper.

Team officials decided to include steady veteran Mark Rodenhauser among their final cuts before the 1998 season, opting to go with rookie Jerry Jensen as their long snapper.

Rodenhauser had only one bad snap during his three seasons.

Jensen had two during his first game, hiking the ball over the head of punter Ken Walter for a safety and snapping another slightly high, resulting in a blocked punt and eventual field goal for Atlanta.

The five points from those two plays were the difference in a 19-14 Atlanta win in Charlotte in the season opener.

The Panthers struggled to an 0-7 start that season and finished 4-12, resulting in the firing of coach Dom Capers.

There were many things that went wrong that season, but Jensen's struggles played a significant role in getting the year started poorly.

Eleven years later, the Panthers again are considering starting the season with an inexperienced snapper.

A salary-cap crunch contributed to the decision to not re-sign steady Jason Kyle, who held the job eight seasons and now is with New Orleans.

The leading candidate to replace Kyle is J.J. Jansen (one letter removed from Jensen).

Jansen looked set to be Green Bay's snapper last season, but he was hurt during the preseason and spent his rookie year on injured reserve. Carolina acquired him for a conditional seventh-round pick.

Jansen will try to beat out undrafted free agent Nick Sundberg from California.

One big difference between Jensen and Jansen/Sundberg is that Jensen long-snapped only during his junior season in college at Washington, where he was a star linebacker. Jansen and Sundberg, however, were full-time, standout snappers at Notre Dame and California, respectively.

The Panthers' decision not to re-sign Kyle is risky. However, the team also could argue that at age 37, he's at the end of his NFL career and was going to have to be replaced soon anyway.

Team officials are banking on Jansen or Sundberg continuing the consistency they showed as collegians.

But if the plan backfires, as happened during 1998, the consequences could be far-reaching.

Carolina will play one of the NFL's most difficult schedules and will need to start the season well. Its first four games will be against Philadelphia, Atlanta, Dallas and Washington – all expected to be playoff contenders.

Charles Chandler: 704-358-5123; follow @CharlesChandler on Twitter.

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