Well, it was my dream to build or create a Free Agent Specialists Combine and assemble elite kicking talent for the National Football League (NFL), Canadian Football League (CFL) and United Football League (UFL) coaches and Pro Personnel to evaluate.
Below are some of the 32 NFL, CFL and UFL staff showing up early Monday morning at Paradise Valley High School for a 8:30 organizational meeting with me. Included are Jim Fassel new Head Coach of the UFL - Las Vegas Team arriving with his staff to evaluate the specialist talent.
Also, in the photo (white shirt left) walking directly behind his father is John Fassel, Special Teams Coordinator for the Oakland Raiders.
Above, Matt Overton executes his skills in the Snap / Vertical Set & Block Drill. The coaches and Pro Personnel had a front row seat to watch and evaluate all the snapping drills.
The coaches, scouts and Pro Personnel were given access to the entire field to get up close and personal to evaluate the talent. The talent pool consisted of a total of 41 kicking specialists. This included 16 kickers, 15 punters and 10 snappers/utility players.
This was my first attempt at running an event of this magnitude and I was amazed at how many teams supported the event. In all 26 NFL, 2 CFL, and 4 UFL teams attended.
Many of the NFL Special Teams Coaches that attended, were guys I had coached against in the league for 13 years. They said came to support my effort and because of the high quality specialist talent I had gathered.
Below (left in white shirt) you see Pete Rodriguez standing and watching drills in front of the other coaches, scouts and Pro Personnel.
Here is the list of teams that attended Monday's Free Agent Combine:
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE (NFL)
Arizona - Special Teams Coach Kevin SpencerAtlanta - Special Teams Coach Keith Armstrong
Baltimore - Assistant Special Teams Coach Marwan Maalouf
Buffalo - Kevin Meganck Pro Personnel and Assistants
Chicago - Dir. Pro Personnel Bobby DePaul & ST Coach Chris Tabor
Cincinnati - Special Teams Coach Darrin Simmons
Cleveland - Assistant Special Teams Coach Tracy Smith
Denver - Assistant Special Teams Coach Keith Burns
Detroit - Assistant Special Teams Coach Bradford Banta
Green Bay - Special Teams Coach Shawn Slocum
Houston - Special Teams Coach Joe Marciano
Indianapolis - Special Teams Coach Ray Rychleski
Jacksonville - Special Teams Coach Russ Purnell
Miami - Assistant Special Teams Coach Darren Rizzi
New England - Pro Personnel Representative
New Orleans - Assistant Special Teams Mike Mallory
New York Jets - Assistant Special Teams Coach Kevin O'Dea
Oakland - Special Teams Coach John Fassel
Philadelphia - Pro Scout Jeremy Snyder
St. Louis - Assistant Special Teams Coach Derious Swinton
San Diego - Special Teams Coach Steve Crosby
SF 49ers - Director of Pro Personnel Tom Gamble
Seattle - Director of Pro Personnel Will Lewis and Assistant
Tampa Bay - Personnel Assistant
Tennessee - Special Teams Coach Al Lowry
Washington - Assistant Coach Billy Khayat
CANADIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE (CFL)
Toronto Argonauts - Assistant GM Greg Mohns
Winnipeg Blue Bombers - Special Teams Coach Rick Campbell
UNITED FOOTBALL LEAGUE (UFL)
San Francisco - Assistant Coach Trent Bray
LasVegas - Head Coach Jim Fassel and Coaching Staff
Orlando - Special Teams Coach Al Roberts
New York - Special Teams Coach Pete Rodriguez
Click below for a brief highlight video of
Coach Zauner Free Agent Specialists Combine:
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