Tag: Onside kick rules

NFL owners meetings to consider interesting rule changes

Some interesting rule proposals are to be discussed at the NFL owners meetings. Others, not so much.

The Commanders ownership is so central for Commanders fans; however, at the NFL owners meetings this weekend, it is some rule changes proposals that are going to bring the most energetic discussions/debates.

Some proposals simply don’t matter very much, and we can go with or without them and not lose any sleep whatsoever.

Is tripping going to become a personal foul? Will a touchback following a punt now be returned to the 25 instead of the historical 20-yard line?

There will even be a discussion on whether the numeral zero can be used on jerseys (yawn).

However, the discussion concerning onside kicks will no doubt generate much more interest. The Eagles are proposing “to permit a team to maintain possession of the ball after a score by substituting one offensive play (4th-and-20 from the kicking team’s 20-yard line) for an onside kickoff attempt”.

Isn’t this much more entertaining than the current mess the NFL has made of the onside kick? They have virtually made it nearly impossible for the kicking team to recover a kick, requiring those on the kicking unit not run forward until after the ball is kicked.

Also of more interest, the Rams are proposing to make fouls for roughing the passer called on the field subject to replay assist and/or review by a coach’s challenge. Remember last year the horrible calls officials made of roughing the passer?

The Lions are proposing to expand the coaches’ challenge system to include personal fouls called on the field and also to provide clubs with more opportunities for a third challenge. Both of these moves would have impacting ramifications.

The Texans want to expand the replay official’s jurisdiction to allow for review on failed fourth-down attempts.

Yes, these team proposals will be of much more interest for fans next season. For any new rule proposal to be adopted, it must receive 75 percent or 24 of 32 votes.

 

Chiefs HC Andy Reid has ‘mixed thoughts’ on potential onside kick changes

On one hand, Kansas City Chiefs HC Andy Reid prefers to stick to the integrity of the game. On the other, he has Patrick Mahomes.

Kansas City Chiefs HC Andy Reid commented on potential changes to the NFL’s onside kick rules during Friday’s media availability.

The proposed rules changes for the 2020 NFL season are scheduled to go to a vote next Thursday. When asked about the proposed rules to onside kicks, where a team would have an opportunity to convert a fourth-and-15 from their own 25-yard line to retain possession of the ball, Reid had mixed feelings. On one hand, Reid prefers to stick to the spirit of the game.

“Listen, I don’t know if it’s going to pass or not,” Reid began. “I know the special teams coaches aren’t real big on that. It takes away, obviously, one of the elements of theirs and then the kickoff, which has been under big scrutiny here, and kickoff returns. To keep the integrity of the game, you’d like [to keep] that part of it.”

Reid, however, feels pretty good about the situation even if it does pass. Because the Chiefs just so happen to have one of the quarterbacks most equipped to convert those fourth-and-15 tries.

“On the other hand if it does pass, we’ve got a guy [Patrick Mahomes] that can do fourth-and-15,” Reid said. “I mean he would give us an opportunity to be able to do that. So I’ve got kind of mixed thoughts on it. Being an old guy, I would probably stick with the integrity of the game as it sits right now. But I can also see how the other part of it would be exciting too.”

Sticking to the old way might be a favorable decision for Coach Reid, but he’s right. It’s hard not to get excited about the prospect of seeing Mahomes in action on these proposed fourth-and-15 plays. Whatever happens it seems like Kansas City will come out of the situation prepared to handle their business when it comes to onside kicks.

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