League Considering Replacing Kickoff with 4th and 15 from the 30?

[gillen033]

Goodell floats novel idea for replacing kickoffs

Posted by Mike Florio on December 6, 2012, 10:01 AM EST

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has landed on the cover of TIME magazine.  The accompanying article contains plenty of interesting nuggets.

Here’s the first one that caught our eye.

Sean Gregory of TIME writes that one of the options being considered for replacing kickoffs entails giving the ball to the team that would have been kicking off at its own 30, automatically facing a fourth down and 15 yards to go.  The team can then choose to punt or go for it, via fake punt or otherwise.

In other words, the kickoff would be replaced with the punt, and the onside kick would be replaced with a fourth-down conversion roughly half the distance of Ray Rice’s recent catch-and-run.

The idea would be to remove completely the high-speed, open-field collisions between large men who dip their heads instinctively at impact and place extra pressure on the C3-C4 area of the spine.  While other injuries would be possible during the punt play that replaces the kickoff, the risk of catastrophic injury would be reduced.

The move also would make punters, long snappers, and gunners more important, along with punt returners.  In turn, kickoff specialists would become extinct, and return specialists who are much better returning kicks than punts would be far less valuable to the broader roster.

Goodell says the idea came from Bucs coach Greg Schiano.  The fact that Goodell mentioned to Gregory it means that the league is at least considering it — and that the league perhaps wants to see how folks react to the possibility.

What do you all think of this idea? As the article mentions, this would basically replace the kickoff with a punt since coaches would not try to convert the 4th down from their own 30. However, it would replace the onside kick into a much more interesting play for those desperate enough to try and convert.

And then there's one of the most interesting parts of the article, that our own Greg Shiano suggested the idea to the league. Ha! First the kneel down play, now this . . . Shiano is taking over this league!

Link to Article:
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/12/06/goodell-floats-novel-idea-for-replacing-kickoffs/

[Chief Joseph]

I think I like it.

[BucBalla85]

That would be pretty cool. Im sure a lot of teams would go for it vs this team how bad the pass is lol.

[3rd String Kicker]

I would move it up to the 40. The punts won't sniff the end-zone at 70 yards out.

[Chief Joseph]

They don't have to. Kick it high enough and the coverage can force a fair catch around the 25. I think that's about average field position after a kick.

[MUSCLE_HAMSTER]

I would be shocked. Cuz it's brilliant and bold.

[mgchat76]

When you consider pass interference penalties, I bet there will be a much higher percentage converted than actual onsides kicks.

[BucsFTW]

I would move it up to the 40. The punts won't sniff the end-zone at 70 yards out.

Moving it up to the 40 would probably often have teams starting close to the 20.

With the NFL (and especially under Goodell) leaning towards more offensive production/output, I think starting at the 30 - and the punter kicking it from around the 15-yard line - we'd see much more scoring, with a premium on offense...

Don't know if I'd like it, strictly from a purist's viewpoint, but it would definitely make the game that much more exciting...

[TheAman]

Not gonna happen.  Can you imagine Bellichick with this rule?  The other team would never see the ball.

[Chief Joseph]

Do the Patriots actually convert 4th and 15 one hundred percent of the time? Why I'm incredulous.

[youngone]

Would P.I. still give the offensive team an automatic first in the scenario?

[3rd String Kicker]

Would P.I. still give the offensive team an automatic first in the scenario?

I think so honestly. Even scarier, defensive holding which if I recall correctly was a 5 yard penalty, could give them an automatic first down. The idea is really growing on me, because whenever an onside kick is going to occur and the other team knows it coming, there isn't much of a chance of recovery.

[youngone]

Would P.I. still give the offensive team an automatic first in the scenario?

I think so honestly. Even scarier, defensive holding which if I recall correctly was a 5 yard penalty, could give them an automatic first down. The idea is really growing on me, because whenever an onside kick is going to occur and the other team knows it coming, there isn't much of a chance of recovery.

For the chance of getting the ball back I like it but who wouldn't be scared to go for it on 4 and 15 against a bad unit like our secondary? If that was this year, freeman would never see the ball.

[TBTrojan]

Dumb idea that favors teams with a strong passing games like the Saints, Pack, & Pats (what a shocker) over those that prefer a more run based offense like the Niners or Seahawks.

It would be just another step towards doing away with any and all physicality in the game.
Those run based teams would be virtually forced to alter their entire offense identity so they could level the playing field.

[BucNY]

Why not give the other team the ball on the 20. That's what seems to happen a large percentage of the time anyways.

At first I thought this idea was incredible stupid, but after seeing Schiano suggested I know think it's brilliant.