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Wednesday open thread: Who will be the Lions’ starting long snapper in 2021?

The Lions brought in another long snapper Tuesday.

Houston Texans v Detroit Lions Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images

The Detroit Lions signed long snapper Scott Daly on Tuesday, adding on yet another foe to Don Muhlbach’s legacy. That makes for two long snappers on this Lions roster, and as always, there’s only space for one. How will it play out? That’s the million dollar question.

Question of the day: Who will be the Lions’ starting long snapper in 2021?

My answer: I gotta go with the Muhl.

If there ever was a year for Muhlbach to lose his seat, it was last year, with a new punter and holder in Jack Fox. You see, continuity goes a long way in long snapper performance. Different players like receiving the ball in different ways, and Muhlbach already has a year (two, if you count Fox’s brief practice squad season) under his belt with Jack Fox.

Daly will certainly have his shot but is on the outside looking in. He had a stint with the Cowboys as well as in the AFL, which doesn’t necessarily have the same meaning as it would for a skill position. Chances are, if you play any other position in the AFL, it’s because you weren’t good enough for the NFL, but with long snappers that’s not the case. It’s hard to unseat incumbent special teamers because consistency is king, and lots of them bounce between leagues before coming back to the NFL.

It’ll be hard to outperform someone who already has an established rapport with the special teams unit, so I don’t see Daly dislodging Muhlbach from the starting spot. Plus, it can’t hurt that Muhlbach and Dan Campbell were teammates.

Who do you think takes the crown? Let’s hear it:

Poll

Who will be the Lions’ starting long snapper in 2021?

This poll is closed

  • 94%
    Don Muhlbach
    (540 votes)
  • 5%
    Scott Daly
    (31 votes)
571 votes total Vote Now

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