Free Kick rule

[djp14150]

 

the rule has been around since the start of the NFL. College football eliminated this rule.

 

This was the 6th time in the last 20 seasons.

 

they  also moved the posts to the back of the end zone making it harder.

 

it’s not that common because it only happens at the end of half or end of game

 

with kickers improving today regularly kicking 55+ FGs you are likely to see it more frequently.
 

it could be used in strategy like if a team is down 9-11 points with under10 min to go, they have the team pinned deep and they punt and you fair catch it on their side of the field.

 

the kick is uncontested and can’t be blocked.

 

this was something Houston could have tried after buffalo punted from deep in their own end. I don’t know if coaches even thought about this scenario.

 

 

 

the one I remember was the divisional playoff game of niners vs Vikings in 1989 where the niners tried it and failed.

 

this sometime occurred on fair catches of attempted onside kicks.
 

 

https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/packers-missed-an-opportunity-at-a-rare-fair-catch-free-kick-before-halftime
 

 

 

Edited 6 hours ago by djp14150

[Ed_Formerly_of_Roch]

9 minutes ago, djp14150 said:

 

the rule has been around since the start of the NFL. College football eliminated this rule.

 

This was the 6th time in the last 20 seasons.

 

they  also moved the posts to the back of the end zone making it harder.

 

it’s not that common because it only happens at the end of half or end of game

 

with kickers improving today regularly kicking 55+ FGs you are likely to see it more frequently.
 

it could be used in strategy like if a team is down 9-11 points with under10 min to go, they have the team pinned deep and they punt and you fair catch it on their side of the field.

 

the kick is uncontested and can’t be blocked.

 

this was something Houston could have tried after buffalo punted from deep in their own end. I don’t know if coaches even thought about this scenario.

 

this sometime occurred on fair catches of attempted onside kicks.
 

 

 

 

 

Not likely they'd do this as the mentality if every time we get the ball, we're going to score, so why take 3 when you can go and get 7.  That's why it is only typically called with seconds to go.  Even if you only got one 1st down likely kicking then would be shorter.

 

I do recall one time seeing it happen, think it was in the early 70's and involved the Giants?

[djp14150]

Just now, Ed_Formerly_of_Roch said:

 

Not likely they'd do this as the mentality if every time we get the ball, we're going to score, so why take 3 when you can go and get 7.  That's why it is only typically called with seconds to go.  Even if you only got one 1st down likely kicking then would be shorter.

 

I do recall one time seeing it happen, think it was in the early 70's and involved the Giants?

I just posted the video of the one I remrmber.

 

 

thr logic innthe move us you need 2 scores and if it’s within kicking range is getting points without burning the clock thrn you have more time to get another score.

 

scenario…

 

you failed to get TD on 4 th down with 6 to go. You didn’t get a safety but punt was back of end zone. You FC atthe off 40. You kick FG preserving time to get the ball back for another score.

[eSJayDee]

The thing you're not noting is that although kickers are better, w/ far more range, but punters are, too.  In a kick away situation, netting 50 yards is a mediocre effort.  This means unless you're pinned near your goal line, you're still typically gonna out kick a placekickers range.

[djp14150]

18 minutes ago, eSJayDee said:

The thing you're not noting is that although kickers are better, w/ far more range, but punters are, too.  In a kick away situation, netting 50 yards is a mediocre effort.  This means unless you're pinned near your goal line, you're still typically gonna out kick a placekickers range.

That's the point. If you are pinned deep in your own end zone you can get FCs around your 45 to their 40.  Usually when teams are pinned inside their 5 on a punt the ball usually does not go as far as a notmal punt.

 

many kickers if they didn’t need to  wort about a snap or rush hit 60-65 yd FGs

Edited 5 hours ago by djp14150

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

That Niners game in 1989 was the one time I remembered it happening too!