Breaking down the 90 players on the 49ers offseason roster in 90 posts (over 90 or so days). Today is long snapper Colin Holba
With Kyle Nelson suspended for 10 games, the 49ers had to get someone in there to handle long snapping duties and they turned to Colin Holba. Is he flashy? Not really. Did he do enough in 2018 for the 49ers to have a long snapping competition of epic proportions? Nah.
Holba is here to fill in for Nelson. The 49ers have signed Nelson to an extension which is almost a stay of execution for Holba. Once Nelson is off suspension, Holba is expendable.
But could he carve a spot out elsewhere?
Basic info
Age: 24 (turns 25 July 8)
Experience: third season
Height: 6’4
Weight: 248
Cap Status
He is entering the second year of a two-year contract. His salary in 2018 will pay $645,000
What to expect in 2019
With Nelson’s suspension carrying into 2019, expect Holba to be helming long snapping duties. After the suspension is up, Holba would have to have been a god on the field for the 49ers to keep him around. He’s got six games plus a training camp to make an impact. Given that Nelson was extended in the offseason should indicate the 49ers saw all they needed of Holba in his sample size of 2018. He’s long snapping for six games, and not doing much else.
Odds of being on the team after Nelson comes back from suspension
Rather than odds being on the roster, let’s talk about his odds of sticking around after the suspension is up for Nelson. Those odds are simple: fat chance. Unless the 49ers reaaaaaally want to burn a roster spot for a backup long snapper, Holba has six games to prove to everyone that he should be the man instead of Kyle Nelson. Again: the 49ers have seen what they have out of him and extended Nelson anyways.
Holba’s days are numbered.
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