Belichick believes PAT kicks are not competitive

[MoLewisrocks]

They really should give the genius a seat on the essentially useless competition committee. He is all about competitive situational football. I'd never really thought about it but point after attempts are the most boring plays on the books. I like his idea of rather than eliminating them moving them back to the point the kick isn't a chipshot gimme.

“Philosophically, plays that are non-plays shouldn’t be in the game,” Belichick said, via Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com. “I don’t think it is good for the game. Extra points, when you’re up to the 99 percent range in extra points it’s not a play. Let’s move the ball back to the 15-20 yard line and not make it a tap in. Make them kick it. Same thing with the kickoff return, if you’re just going to put the ball on the 20, put the ball on the 20.”

I'm OK with the change in the kickoff rules because I think while it will eliminate some explosive returns it will hopefully also reduce the number of explosive return hits. And it really strategivcally ups the ante in rolling the dice on taking the kick out.



Bill Belichick doesn’t see the point in extra points | ProFootballTalk

 

[DarrylS]

Yea but on kickoffs you still have guys running full tilt to get to the receiver and guys trying to impede them from getting there.. even if it is a safety. This makes little sense.. if this is the rule just spot it on the 20 and spare the ST players.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

There are 2 league motivations for the new kickoff rule

1. Concern over player health motivated by potential huge future lawsuits

2. The desire to keep the play in the game because it offers 2 natural breaks for TV commercials

Agree completely with BB that plays that don't advance the game are counterproductive. The NFL can get away with this crap today because we fans are SO football hungry but truth be told, they're BOORING..

 

[captain insano]

great idea by bb. i like the idea even more because we have one of the best kickers in the game.

 

[Tunescribe]

BB makes a great point. So, if they move the ball back for a 1-point PAT, would they bring it back to the 2-yard-line for a 2-point try? They also should make it a live ball, so the defense can score 1 or 2 points at the other end with a turnover.

 

[Shockt327]

Yeah, I'm stating to think the new kickoff rules put the emphasis less on the physical ability of the return guy (but still very important!) and more on the ability to read the field in an instant and decide on wether or not to take it out. It's actually not that bad.

Maybe the decision making should be put in the hands of the accompanying endzone blocker, rather than the returner himself -- because he has to look the ball in and then wouldn't have much time to make up his mind.

 

[Haley]

I like it.

Yes, even despite the fact that it would inhibit my ability to chuckle when Nick Folk misses the "chipshot gimmes" the way he tends to.

But it would make the 2 point conversion pretty hard.

 

[Gwedd]

One thing that we haven't seen yet is some team trying the on-side kick from the new position. That extra 5 yards further up the field could be an advantage on both ends.

If the kicking team recovers, then they are almost mid-field to begin with.

If the receiving team recovers, then they are still further back than before.

Those extra 5 yards might be right interesting come a situation that calls for the on-side try, or in sudden-death overtime.

 

[Halifax_Pats_Fan]

There are 2 league motivations for the new kickoff rule

1. Concern over player health motivated by potential huge future lawsuits

2. The desire to keep the play in the game because it offers 2 natural breaks for TV commercials

Agree completely with BB that plays that don't advance the game are counterproductive. The NFL can get away with this crap today because we fans are SO football hungry but truth be told, they're BOORING..

re: 2 ....ok...but how can fans like it. I think it is a pathetic rule myself, totally elimenating exciting plays...not a big fan.

 

[Patriot_in_NY]

I disagree with the kickoff thing. It's boring to have touchback after touchback. Now all you really need is a good kicker..... ST return team... not some much.

One of the most "exciting" situation football moments is the when a team goes up by less then a score with 1:45 left........ Before, that kick off was one of the most exciting plays of the game.

Was the return team gonna bust a big return, or was the the kicking team gonna stuff them back around the 15-20? It was ALWAYS an exciting moment.

Now...... gone. They are just gonna boom it into the endzone and everyone is gonna start that last drive from the same place (the 20).

It's a big boy game. People will get hurt. You don't need to dumb it down for the fans. Fine illegal hits, penalties and all that..... but don't take it away.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I like it.

Yes, even despite the fact that it would inhibit my ability to chuckle when Nick Folk misses the "chipshot gimmes" the way he tends to.

But it would make the 2 point conversion pretty hard.

FWIW, I'm fairly sure BB is NOT calling for the two-point play to be from the 15 or 20, only the XP, since, as he points out, it's basically a 99%+ proposition (there were just 9 misses last year on over 1,200 attempts). [Although the exact number is probably a touch lower than that, b/c aborted attempts aren't counted.]

 

[SONS_OF_BELICHICK]

BB is always thinking...... hehe ...

why not make it 10 yards for a 2 point and 20 for a point after

 

[MoLewisrocks]

re: 2 ....ok...but how can fans like it. I think it is a pathetic rule myself, totally elimenating exciting plays...not a big fan.

Well, I guess the answer could be fans might be unselfish enough to actually care about the health and welfare of the players... Given the incidence of block in the back calls alone on returns there weren't that many exciting lengthy returns per season to outweigh the decreased risk of permanant injury. And IMO there were always too many one dimentional specialist players getting way too much attention for being little more than sprinters in football unis.

 

[PatsFaninAZ]

I'm not sure whether I agree or don't on extra points. I guess anything to make the strategy call about whether to go for 2 more than a score/quarter decision might be interesting, but PATs actually are missed. Even though they get nailed most of the time, they actually are a play that requires precision.

One thing that absolutely nobody is talking about, by the way, is the combination of the new kickoff rule and last year's playoff overtime rules.

In my opinion, the combination of the two dramatically shift the percentages to the team that kicks off in overtime -- maybe to the tune of 60 percent or more. You'd be crazy to take the ball in overtime if you win the toss now. I really don't understand why nobody is talking about it.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

I'm not sure whether I agree or don't on extra points. I guess anything to make the strategy call about whether to go for 2 more than a score/quarter decision might be interesting, but PATs actually are missed. Even though they get nailed most of the time, they actually are a play that requires precision.

One thing that absolutely nobody is talking about, by the way, is the combination of the new kickoff rule and last year's playoff overtime rules.

In my opinion, the combination of the two dramatically shift the percentages to the team that kicks off in overtime -- maybe to the tune of 60 percent or more. You'd be crazy to take the ball in overtime if you win the toss now. I really don't understand why nobody is talking about it.

See below. And because the latter would constitute a thread hyjack...

FWIW, I'm fairly sure BB is NOT calling for the two-point play to be from the 15 or 20, only the XP, since, as he points out, it's basically a 99%+ proposition (there were just 9 misses last year on over 1,200 attempts). [Although the exact number is probably a touch lower than that, b/c aborted attempts aren't counted.]

 

[ctpatsfan77]

FWIW, I think the ultimate effect of the KO rule is a lot more complex than it appears at first blush.

Last year, in the preseason, there were five "full-time" kickers whose average kick grossed at least ~70 yards. They had TB percentages of 63%, 40%, 29%, 18%, and 7%.

This year, there are three "full-time" kickers with a gross of at least 70 yards—i.e., halfway into the EZ. Their TB percentages are 44%, 40%, and 29%.

Plus, one other thing that hasn't been taken into account . . . what tends to happen to kick distances as temperatures start to fall?

 

[Halifax_Pats_Fan]

Well, I guess the answer could be fans might be unselfish enough to actually care about the health and welfare of the players... Given the incidence of block in the back calls alone on returns there weren't that many exciting lengthy returns per season to outweigh the decreased risk of permanant injury. And IMO there were always too many one dimentional specialist players getting way too much attention for being little more than sprinters in football unis.

It's a football play, always has been. Profesional athletes get hurt. Look, they get millions of dollars to play a game. They have to be willing to accept some degree of risk.

I think the fans, players and coaches love the play. Might a marquee player get hurt? Of course.

I get your point, some fans are selfish, but IMHO...bottom line...the fans ARE the game.

 

[everlong]

In regards to PAT's, if you really want to make it a competitive play get rid of the single point conversion completely and make everything a two point conversion. There would be some great drama where a team trails by one and they convert to win or lose.

 

[WeBB15]

I totally agree about the XP kicks. It makes sense and would add much more drama to every TD in a close game.

As for the new kickoff rule, I am indifferent. I agree it takes away part of the excitement and consequential factor to the game, but I also agree that with the amount of injuries, and amount of penalties happening per kickoff, it doesnt aggravate me with them essentially taking it out of the game.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

It's a football play, always has been. Profesional athletes get hurt. Look, they get millions of dollars to play a game. They have to be willing to accept some degree of risk.

I think the fans, players and coaches love the play. Might a marquee player get hurt? Of course.

I get your point, some fans are selfish, but IMHO...bottom line...the fans ARE the game.

The fans are not the game. They are merely a chunk of it's audience. Audiences are easier to come by these days. Has little to do with the level of entertainment either IMO. The players and coaches are the game. And believe me, on many levels, they remain at risk throughout the season and their careers whether less kickoffs lead to runbacks or not.