NFL to reportedly reconsider possibility of implementing wild onside kick idea that was originally shot down

[EastRam]

Thus the rule is why kickers pound the ball into the ground to pop up.

I still think kickers can adapt to make the OSK a viable option as it is now.

 

[Dodgersrf]

That's why it would be best if it was only a possession play.
Neither team can score.
If the offense gets the 15 yds, the ball is spotted at a designated mark. If the offense gets more than needed or even a TD. The td doesn't count nor do the extra yds. The ball Is still spotted at a designated mark.

Now if sacks didnt matter, that would make it even tougher for the offense to get the 15 yds, since the defense could just stay back to defend.
There are alot of possibilities to play it

 

[EastRam]

Agreed the reason is no more running starts.

But I really don’t think it would be re-inventing the wheel for kickers to get better at kicking OSKs.

 

[Dodgersrf]

Well, wouldnt that be like just automatically getting the ball after a score?
The idea of an on side get is to regain possession.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

NFL to reportedly reconsider possibility of implementing wild onside kick idea that was originally shot down

The NFL could have a crazy new rule for the 2020 season involving onside kicks

www.cbssports.com

NFL to reportedly reconsider possibility of implementing wild onside kick idea that was originally shot down

Back in 2018, the NFL's 32 owners voted to implement a new set of kickoff rulesthat ended up having one major unintended side effect -- the new rules basically killed the onside kick. Since the new rules went into effect, it's become almost impossible to recover an onside kick. During the 2018 season, NFL teams combined to recover just 7.69% of all onside kicks (four out of 52). This season, things have actually been worse, as teams have combined to recover just 6.25% of all onside kicks (two out of 32). To put that in perspective, in the five years before the rule change, the onside recovery rate never fell below 13%.

To add some excitement to the onside kick, it appears that the NFL's owners are going to reconsider a rule that was originally shot down back in March at the Annual League Meeting. According to the Washington Post, the league is going to revisit the possibility of implementing a pretty wild rule that was proposed by the Broncos earlier this year.

Basically, the rule would allow teams to try and convert a fourth-and-15 play from their own 35-yard line, instead of attempting an onside kick. If they get the 15 yards, the team would get a first down and keep possession of the ball. If they don't get the 15 yards, the other team would take over possession from wherever the play ended.

The original rule proposal came with several stipulations, including the fact that the fourth-down play could only be attempted once per game and that the one attempt could only come in the fourth quarter. The play could be attempted after any score, including a touchdown or a field goal. A team could also attempt the fourth-and-15 after giving up a safety. Regular onside kicks could still be attempted at any point in the game as well.

If you're wondering how exactly the play would be officiated, all normal rules would apply, so if a defense got called for defensive holding, the five-yard penalty would result in an automatic first down for the offense. Also, if the offense got penalized, they wouldn't be allowed to then kickoff after the penalty is enforced. They'd have to run a fourth-down play from their new line of scrimmage.

Although the rule got shot down by owners in March, there's definitely a possibility that it could get approved this time around. For one, the NFL's competition committee seems to like the rule. The committee actually voted 7-1 in favor of the proposal back in March, and they could try to push it through again. The other reason the NFL could approve the rule is to spice up the fourth quarter of pretty much every game being played. Since onside kick recoveries have become basically impossible, this would give trailing teams a viable way to make a comeback.

For the rule to pass, 24 of the NFL's 32 owners would have to vote on it at the next Annual League Meeting, which is scheduled to be held March 29-April 1 in Palm Beach, Florida.

Oh great. Another rule change. And this one has a high probability of referee’s making the wrong call, or making a phantom call to allow it to be recalled, or taken away if successful.

They are screwing with things too much.

 

[RhodyRams]

put the ball at mid field and have a scrum

 

[kurtfaulk]

put the ball at mid field and have a scrum

Haha. Better than their college ball solution.

Rugby league got rid of competitive scrums because the ref could choose 50 different penalties to blow their whistle and the fans got sick of games being decided by which penalty the ref wanted to blow.

Rugby union kept them competitive but each one takes 5 minutes to get a result. Riveting viewing.

.

 

[Dodgersrf]

We're still talking about a replacement for the on side kick?

 

[Ram77]

4th and 15 is way to too easy. I can see a success rate of at least 25%. Better make it a 4th and 20. Defensive holding is 10 yards but not an automatic 1st down. And defensive PI is 15 yards but not an automatic 1st down. That way if the defense messes up a little it still is not a freebie for the offense

 

[Dodgersrf]

That's my point.
There is nothing normal about giving the kicking team the ball.
The point I'm trying to make is they get a chance to earn the possession.
The initial play should not allow a score or extra yards.
No team will ever approve a rule that would give the kicking team an opportunity to score. That would never pass.

Did you by chance watch Thursdays game with Houston?
There was a pass play down the sideline to Fuller. Over 50 yds I think.
Iirc the announcers said the percentage for success was somewhere around 20%. (I think that was the ballpark figure)
Just wondering if you saw it and remember the play I'm talking about.
I looked for percentage success on a 15 yard play and couldnt find anything either.

 

[dieterbrock]

And why is considered 4th down? They don’t consider 2 point conversion a 4th down.

Wouldn’t reducing the no touch area to 5 yards from 10 solve the problem?

 

[RhodyRams]

And why is considered 4th down? They don’t consider 2 point conversion a 4th down.

Wouldn’t reducing the no touch area to 5 yards from 10 solve the problem?

that would make too much sense

 

[1maGoh]

That's my point.
There is nothing normal about giving the kicking team the ball.
The point I'm trying to make is they get a chance to earn the possession.
The initial play should not allow a score or extra yards.
No team will ever approve a rule that would give the kicking team an opportunity to score. That would never pass.

Did you by chance watch Thursdays game with Houston?
There was a pass play down the sideline to Fuller. Over 50 yds I think.
Iirc the announcers said the percentage for success was somewhere around 20%. (I think that was the ballpark figure)
Just wondering if you saw it and remember the play I'm talking about.
I looked for percentage success on a 15 yard play and couldnt find anything either.

Theoretically speaking, can't the kicking team score on an onside kick now? I mean, it never happens because they are always catching it on traffic but it's possible right? If so the only change would be the likelihood that they score, not that they can score.

And isn't that the point of an onside kick anyway, to get the ball back to score? It would speed up the process. It might also lead to an increased focus on defense. You don't want to play bend-don't-break on a new "onside kick".

I guess I don't really care about the change either way, except that onside kick attempts need to succeed more often. I don't particularly understand the attachment to the onside kick format. It's still football. We would see this play at most twice a game, once by each team. Beyond that, it's the same game. NBD.

More than that, imagine the emotional rush. Rams were up by 10, but they just gave up a touchdown. So their lead is now 3 points with 1:45 left. The Seahawks come out for their 4th and 15 attempt. And you crap your pants. Then AD sacks Wilson for a 10 yard loss and everybody goes ape shit as the Rams take over at the 25. Way better emotional ups and downs (and field position) than a failed onside kick and taking over at the 45 or 50.

Or imagine the Rams scoring off their attempt, taking the lead, and ending the game.

Hell, it change strategy at the end two because you could have a 2 TD swing more easily in the last 30 seconds of a game. You want to see defensive football come back to prominence? Put this rule in place. Stingy defense will be a thing again because you can't let a losing team score, then attempt their onside and score again. Bend don't break will phase out and shutdown defense will resume.