Onside Kick (Maybe) Going the Way of the Dodo

[AP1]

After three onside kicks have been recovered in 41 attempts. The NFL is considering doing away with them.

One proposal by the Eagles is being considered: After scoring, a team may attempt a single down needing 20 yards, essentially a 4th and 20. If they convert. They retain possession. 

We shouldn't be surprised by this, the inter-possessional kicking game has been gutted.

20 yards may be a bit much. I think 15 is too little; 17-18 yards, and we may be cooking with peanut oil.

[Dutch Oven]

23 minutes ago, AP1 said:

After three onside kicks have been recovered in 41 attempts. The NFL is considering doing away with them.

One proposal by the Eagles is being considered: After scoring, a team may attempt a single down needing 20 yards, essentially a 4th and 20. If they convert. They retain possession. 

We shouldn't be surprised by this, the inter-possessional kicking game has been gutted.

20 yards may be a bit much. I think 15 is too little; 17-18 yards, and we may be cooking with peanut oil.

Here’s the problem with that: If the defense gets a defensive holding call, that’s an automatic first down 

[AP1]

1 hour ago, Dutch Oven said:

Here’s the problem with that: If the defense gets a defensive holding call, that’s an automatic first down 

Here's how I'd handle penalties for that specific down:

Procedural penalties (offense) and pre-snap penalties (defense) get assessed as they would regularly. 

For penalties occurring during the play: any offensive penalty results in the loss of the down. Any defensive penalty would be half the distance. Two consecutive defensive penalties in a row would result in the team attempting to retain possession of the ball retaining possession of the ball.

[Orion]

3 hours ago, AP1 said:

After scoring, a team may attempt a single down needing 20 yards, essentially a 4th and 20. If they convert. They retain possession. 

I've never liked changing the game in that manner.  I don't like Make It - Take It.  

[AP1]

3 hours ago, Orion said:

I've never liked changing the game in that manner.  I don't like Make It - Take It.  

I don't like the change either, but now the game has been changed so much they need to do something to make a comeback feasible. 

First, they took away overloading one side and pre-kick motion for onside kicks because there were 6-7 head hunters on one side and 2 players going after the ball.

That created fewer recoveries.

Then they changed the kickoff alignment and limited onside kicks to the last two minutes. Even fewer recoveries.

Coming back is virtually impossible. 

[ballpeen]

Just toss a coin.  If the kicking team calls 3 in a row correctly, they keep the ball.

 

That or maybe make it entertaining for the fans and have some sort of face slapping contest on the 50.

 

 

[Orion]

Ya know, in basketball, when you score a basket, the other team gets the ball...even if the scoring team is 20 points down.  In baseball, after 3 outs, the other team gets to come to the plate...you don't get 4 outs just because you're losing.  Who's dumb-ass idea is it that in football, if one team is losing, it's unacceptable such that the losing team should get the ball again so they can win?  If you're losing, then you deserve it.  The winning team shouldn't be penalized because they're winning.  That's just plain stupid.  

[AP1]

9 hours ago, ballpeen said:

Just toss a coin.  If the kicking team calls 3 in a row correctly, they keep the ball.

Imagine the degenerate gamblers having that as part of their parlay...

[Orion]

The onside kick has always been a very low percentage, desperation play.