While the offensive and defensive assaults by the Oakland Raiders helped form the current return to greatness, the special teams of the Raiders also helped by a big factor throughout the 2016 season. When it comes to the special teams, each player plays a key role in presenting the worst possible field position for their opponent.
Every NFL executive and scout understands that impact special teams players are a hot commodity, giving everything they have during their one required play to help the team out. For the Raiders, punter Marquette King and wide receiver Andre Holmes may be the most notable names on the special teams.
King was voted the second team all NFL at his position, capping off a tremendous season. However, King wouldn’t have been able to effectively use his leg had it not been for the connection he has with long snapper Jon Condo.
Condo has spent the past 10 seasons with the Raiders, after his rookie season with the Dallas Cowboys. The 35-year-old was set to enter NFL free agency, but it appears as though general manager Reggie McKenzie has locked down the Pennsylvania native, via Scott Bair of CSNCalifornia.com:
Raiders announce that long snapper Jon Condo has been re-signed.
— Scott Bair (@BairCSN) March 20, 2017
After going undrafted in the 2005 NFL Draft, Condo has turned his career around and his found his permanent home in Oakland. Condo helped King and Holmes synchronize those spectacular plays last season, including the countless times King was able to pin his opponents inside their five-yard line.
Condo is a two-time Pro Bowler, representing the Raiders in 2009 and 2011. He has appeared in 157 games (out of 160) over his tenure with the Raiders, missing three games in 2015 due to a shoulder injury. No. 59 is always an influential figure to the success of kicker Sebastian Janokowski, providing countless safe snaps to King on field goal attempts as well.
The Maryland product has been able to turn to provide a successful NFL career following his release in the 2006 preseason, and should be the anchor to the special teams unit that has produced consistently on the field.
