In the National Football League, there are some positions that fans don’t think about until something bad happens.
Holding for place kicks is one of those positions.
That’s considered a routine part of the game, almost an automated task that you can imagine detaching yourself from while watching games from your couch. But it’s harder than it looks, and there are a lot of moving parts. From making sure the field goal unit is set, to catching the snap cleanly, to putting the ball down in the right spot and rotating the straps from the kicker, and finally getting the angle of the ball right based on the kicker’s personal preference.
It’s also something I did for four years in college, so I know what it looks like when it’s right … and what it looks like when it all goes awry.
That brings me to Jacksonville Jaguars punter — and holder — Logan Cooke, who played a key role in Jacksonville’s stunning 19-17 win on Sunday.
Jacksonville lost long snapper Ross Matiscik with a shoulder injury early in Sunday’s game in London against the Philadelphia Eagles. That forced Liam Coen and the Jacksonville coaching staff to turn to defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton to handle the snapping duties against the Eagles.
While Hamilton’s first long snap on Sunday, on a punt, was perfect it was less accurate after that.
Before diving into these clips, let’s talk about operational handling. Cooke holds Cam Little, a right-footed kicker. What happens before the snap is this: Cooke will go about seven yards behind the ball, stand up, lower his left hand to mark where the ball will be placed, and then stick his left elbow to his left leg as a guide. Cooke does this so that after he catches the snap, he returns the ball with both hands and the left leg prevents that movement, allowing him to put the ball where Little expects it.
You can see that in the photo below, as Cooke has his left elbow pinned inside his left leg, waiting for the snap. In a clean operation he would catch the snap, pull the ball back with both hands, drive his left elbow to his left leg to guide him, bring the ball down with his left hand, and spin it with his right to clear the laces:
That’s when everything goes as it should.
But when it doesn’t, the holder has to do a little magic.
Following a Jacksonville touchdown Hamilton, Cooke, and the Jaguars field goal unit entered the game to attempt the extra point. Hamilton takes a high shot, but watch as Cooke catches the snap, gets the ball in and then … DOES OFF HIS LEFT FOOT BEFORE IT’S CAM LITTLE:
Even though Cooke had to adjust to get the high snap, he got the ball down where Little expected it. However, the adjustment Cooke made to catch the snap moved his left foot a little, and into the path of Little’s swing. So Cook lifted that leg a bit, giving Little a clear path to the football.
On a field goal attempt later in the game, a similar situation unfolded: A high snap, a great adjustment from Cooke, and a last step with his left foot to clear the path for Little:
Here’s a better look at it:
The kicking operation seemed to affect how Coen handled some fourth-down decisions Sunday. At the end of the half the Jaguars faced a 4th-and-goal from the Philadelphia 1-yard line, and instead of attempting a field goal to make it a 14-10 game, Coen left his offense on the field.
A jet sweep was stopped for a six-yard loss.
Midway through the fourth quarter, Jacksonville again faced a 4th-and-goal decision, now trailing 14-10, and Coen kept the offense on the field. A Trevor Lawrence pass was incomplete.
There was another high snap later in the game, following an incredible touchdown reception from Parker Washington Jr. Hamilton’s snap was high, but Cooke still managed to get the ball down, but the timing may have been lost as Little pulled the kick to the left.
That moment looked like it would be a deciding factor in this game, as the Eagles responded with a field goal in the closing minutes to take a 17-16 lead. But on the ensuing kickoff, Jaguars running back Ameer Abdullah ripped off a 53-yard return, putting Jacksonville in field goal range for Little.
And it gives Cooke another chance to do something special as well.
Again, Hamilton’s snap was high, but Cooke made the save, Little split the uprights, and the Jaguars had a stunning 19-17 win:
But when it comes to Cooke, handling is one of those specialties you don’t think about until you have to. And usually, in those situations, it’s because something is terribly wrong.
But sometimes, it’s because a holder has a dome that’s a little special.
As Cooke did on Sunday in London.