LA Rams claim long snapper Matt Orzech off waivers from Titans

Well, whatever suspense and intrigue might have been simmering about the remaining open roster spots for the LA Rams and any hopes the team might have used the open slot to sign a free agent, perhaps even to bolster their offensive line, were significantly dimmed on Tuesday, May 11, 2021, as the team claimed long snapper, Matt Orzech, off the waiver wire from the Tennessee Titans instead.

Orzech had been released on Monday by the Titans. He is now the third long snapper on the Rams roster, joining Steve Wirtel and Colin Habra who were already on the Rams squad. Holba played in one game for the San Francisco Niners last season and has played in 18 other games in his career with the Jacksonville Jaguars, 49ers, and New York Giants.

Originally signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2019, Orzech played his college ball at Azuza Pacific. He went on to play for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins, and most recently, the Tennessee Titans. But he did not take a snap for the Titans last year, spending most of his time on the practice squad for the Miami Dolphins and the Titans. He filled that COVID-19 backup role in 2020.  In 2019, however, he played in 16 games for the Jaguars and recorded 136 special teams snaps.

After losing their long-time long snapper Jake McQuaide to the Dallas Cowboys in free agency to join up with his former special teams’ coach John “Bones’ Fassel, the Rams have decided to bring in a few long snappers to camp. The Rams also have three punters and two kickers on their special teams’ squad at this moment.

Improving the team’s special teams’ play has been a particular point of emphasis for the Rams this offseason, and continued through the draft, as the team drafted players such as TE Jacob Harris and RB Jake Funk with the expressed intent of hoping they might contribute immediately on special teams.

Last season the Rams ranked 27th out of 32 teams for special teams play, and new special teams coach Joe DeCamillis has been charged with improving that bottom-tier performance across the board in all aspects of special teams play – punt and kickoff coverage as well as returning punts and kicks.

Obviously, the competition for special teams play is heating up for the team in advance of training camp.