The NFL should just do away with punting

[IcyPatriot]

Seriously ... I think Belichick has really proven this year that punting is a real joke. The one play in this current NFL which is like tossing a white flag.

Back in the smash-mouth days of the NFL punting was a very strategic part of the game. Teams would try to dominate the clock, they would punt the ball back and forth all the while trying to receive the punt closer to the endzone than the time they received it before.

Now...it's just okay, we didn't make it so let's punt it away. The Patriots this year, especially last night proved how dramatic going for it on 4th down can be. Sure, punting was not an idea near the end of the game...but the example of the drama is legit. I think there would be alot more drama to games if teams had to strategize how to use their 4 downs.

It would bring the running game back to the game which would be a nice balance in this pass happy NFL. Sure, good teams could run up huger scores than they do now but so what. Like I said before the drama would be intense. It would bring more excitement to games that are horrible...that's for sure.

Anyways ... seems like a crazy post .. perhaps it is. But admit it ... don't you love it how much we go for it on 4th down? How many times do you go take a leak before the punt? Easily the most boring and useless play in the league ... the punt. A sign of surrender in a game full of macho and bravado, it's use has long since past.

 

[xmarkd400x]

Re: The NFL Should Just Do Away With Punting.

You make the claim that "doing away with punting" would "bring the running game back to the game". Care to substantiate that claim?

 

[Tunescribe]

Re: The NFL Should Just Do Away With Punting.

Seriously ... I think Belichick has really proven this year that punting is a real joke. The one play in this current NFL which is like tossing a white flag.

Back in the smash-mouth days of the NFL punting was a very strategic part of the game. Teams would try to dominate the clock, they would punt the ball back and forth all the while trying to receive the punt closer to the endzone than the time they received it before.

Now...it's just okay, we didn't make it so let's punt it away. The Patriots this year, especially last night proved how dramatic going for it on 4th down can be. Sure, punting was not an idea near the end of the game...but the example of the drama is legit. I think there would be alot more drama to games if teams had to strategize how to use their 4 downs.

It would bring the running game back to the game which would be a nice balance in this pass happy NFL. Sure, good teams could run up huger scores than they do now but so what. Like I said before the drama would be intense. It would bring more excitement to games that are horrible...that's for sure.

Anyways ... seems like a crazy post .. perhaps it is. But admit it ... don't you love it how much we go for it on 4th down? How many times do you go take a leak before the punt? Easily the most boring and useless play in the league ... the punt. A sign of surrender in a game full of macho and bravado, it's use has long since past.

You're not the only one who has had this cross his mind. Maybe they could limit punting to fourth down within 40 yards of your own goal line. In other words, once you get past your own 40, you have to go for it on fourth down and if you don't make it, the ball goes over to the other team.

 

[IcyPatriot]

Re: The NFL Should Just Do Away With Punting.

You make the claim that "doing away with punting" would "bring the running game back to the game". Care to substantiate that claim?

Ball control ... teams would run on 1st down more often like they used to do back in the 70's and 80's. Back then if you could get 5 yards on 1st down then you were golden for a pass on 2nd down. Teams would run on 3rd and 5 back then ... you don't see that too much anymore. You can gamble now with throwing on 3 downs knowing you can just punt it away if you get three incompletions. If there wasn't punting teams would use 1 or 2 downs on safeer plays so they didn't have to face 4th and 10.

 

[IcyPatriot]

Re: The NFL Should Just Do Away With Punting.

You're not the only one who has had this cross his mind. Maybe they could limit punting to fourth down within 40 yards of your own goal line. In other words, once you get past your own 40, you have to go for it on fourth down and if you don't make it, the ball goes over to the other team.

Punting when you're just outside field goal range is so lame. Unless the punter nails one ... the usual exchange is like 20-25 yards in field position. I'm glad Belichick has really pushed the idea of usefull 4th downs .. it's made things way more fun.

 

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

Re: The NFL Should Just Do Away With Punting.

I am okay with punting but.....

I would like the rule changed that in the last 2 mins of the game if you get negitive yards or zero yards on a play it stops the clock including taking a knee. This would require teams that want to run out the clock to at least run the ball to get at least one yard to keep running the 45 second clock.

 

[BadMoFo]

Re: The NFL Should Just Do Away With Punting.

Since when did this become the XFL?

 

[sanvara]

Re: The NFL Should Just Do Away With Punting.

Punting is a lost art. Anyone remember Ray Guy? He was the master at using the punt as a weapon.

I would like the rule changed that in the last 2 mins of the game if you get negitive yards or zero yards on a play it stops the clock including taking a knee. This would require teams that want to run out the clock to at least run the ball to get at least one yard to keep running the 45 second clock.

That's not bad. It would add a little excitement to a close game. I've never been a fan of taking a knee.

 

[xmarkd400x]

Re: The NFL Should Just Do Away With Punting.

Ball control ... teams would run on 1st down more often like they used to do back in the 70's and 80's. Back then if you could get 5 yards on 1st down then you were golden for a pass on 2nd down. Teams would run on 3rd and 5 back then ... you don't see that too much anymore. You can gamble now with throwing on 3 downs knowing you can just punt it away if you get three incompletions. If there wasn't punting teams would use 1 or 2 downs on safeer plays so they didn't have to face 4th and 10.

Fair enough. I disagree with you about doing away with punting, but you do have a good reason backing up your opinion.

 

[IcyPatriot]

Re: The NFL Should Just Do Away With Punting.

Seriously ... I think Belichick has really proven this year that punting is a real joke. The one play in this current NFL which is like tossing a white flag.

Well now ... little did I know ...

I still think more and more Belichick will move on from the punt and it will be interesting. The team will get more used to it and it will be refined. I think it changes the play calling through the 4 downs. Sunday was another chapter in this ... and there will be more ... and it will be fun ... and exciting ... and Belichick will add to his legacy where the success of the play far outweighs the failures of the call.

 

[mosslost]

Re: The NFL Should Just Do Away With Punting.

I like all these points. Especially the idea of not being able to punt unless you are within your own 40 or so.

Think about how the game has transformed. Pinning a team deep isn't such a big deal anymore because good teams are gonna get themselves out quickly, and the bad teams you should be beating up anyway!

In all seriousness, I was HAPPY they were going for it, but you better believe I involuntarily stood up into a half stand like stance from my couch saying, "you better GET this." I still like it though.

First gut when they didn't (after screaming about the BS spot) was, "LET THEM SCORE SO WE CAN GO KICK A FG!" The game is not what it once was, and to not acknowledge that is just doltish.

 

[A.C Vegas]

Re: The NFL Should Just Do Away With Punting.

I like hte suggestion that you can't put from inside the oppoints 40 but i would modify it a little nad say that you can't use a punter i'd like to see more quick kicks from QBs it's daring it catches team of guard and is just kind of a cool thing to see nad would add some statgy to the game

 

[mosslost]

Re: The NFL Should Just Do Away With Punting.

I like hte suggestion that you can't put from inside the oppoints 40 but i would modify it a little nad say that you can't use a punter i'd like to see more quick kicks from QBs it's daring it catches team of guard and is just kind of a cool thing to see nad would add some statgy to the game

Throw that in with a punt from a qb = fair game like on a kickoff, and then you'll just have rugby. Not really, but whatever.

 

[PatsFan24]

Re: The NFL Should Just Do Away With Punting.

ok....but you should still be allowed to line up for a punt as long as you fake it