Successful onside kicks are more rare than black-footed ferrets.
Both are endangered species.
In 2017, NFL teams recovered 11 of 54 (21 percent) onside attempts. Then the league changed the rule.
Players on the kicking team must be within one yard behind the kicker, eliminating the running start. It’s very impossible for the special teams players to get to the ball, which must travel 10 yards unless it strikes a player on the receiving team first.
Last season the onside kick succeeded just seven percent (4 of 56) of the time.
This year the Bears became the first to break the barrier against the Saints in Week 7. Kicker Eddy Pineiro pooched the ball just seven yards, but New Orleans star receiver Michael Thomas rushed up to grab the ball, and it slid out of his hands. The Bears recovered. A yellow flag was dropped, indicating a penalty. But the referee explained that a beanbag (signaling fumble) was supposed to be tossed instead of the violation flag.
Celebrate?
It was the only effective onside result of 2019 in 19 tries.
The idea for teams trailing by 10-14 points late always used to be: Score in the final two minutes, onside kick to get the ball back, and score again for a tie or victory.
Forget it.
Onside kickoffs are disappearing like Amur Leopards.
The Alliance of American Football, which didn’t make it through a full year, gave teams an alternative option to the onside kick.
In the last five minutes, the losing side was given back the ball on its own 28-yard line with a fourth-and-12 situation. At least teams had a somewhat viable opportunity in that scenario.
The Denver Broncos tried to introduce a similar new rule for the NFL in the off-season. A team would have the alternative to kicking with a 4th-and-15 play at its own 35. The proposed rule didn’t pass, but owners showed some interest and might consider the possibility again in the off-season – especially if the onside success rate is 5 percent or lower.
There have been other proposals from outside of the NFL: Change the 10-yard rule to five yards so the kicker and the kicking team have what I would call a “sporting chance’’.
Maybe.
Last weekend I saw a college team do a drop-kick, an element of the game out of the 1930s. Justin Tucker even tried the drop-kick earlier in the season for the Ravens, but it looked like Daffy Duck with a leg issue.
The XFL likely will come up with its own play before the start of season.
I have a solution that should be tried by the XFL or next season in NFL exhibitions.
Years ago, or perhaps a two or three decades ago, there was a bowl or an all-star game that instituted a novel rule. I researched the concept, yet couldn’t find it. I’m sure I didn’t make it up, and someone out there will help me remember.
I think it went something like this: In the second half or the fourth quarter or the last five minutes, the team that was behind by 3, 7, 10, maybe 20 would get the ball back every time it scored.
Imagine this: An XFL or NFL team, and possibly a college team, is down 31-10 in the fourth quarter. The team scores to cut the deficit to 14, and itis on the receiving end of the next kickoff. The team kicks a field goal with three minutes left to make it 31-21. It gets the ball again, and again kicks a field goal with two minutes remaining. Then the procedure is repeated. And the team that had been down 21 points scores a touchdown as time expires, goes for two, converts and wins the game 32-31.
That’s excitement.
Trailing teams wouldn’t give up even being 28 points behind at the start of the fourth quarter because they would have possession every time. The teams that are ahead would have to be on defense throughout the last five or 10 or 15 minutes.
OK, there are problems with my revolutionary creation, but college football devised an overtime with each team having opportunities to score from 25 yards away. And the NFL changes rules every year and did adopt the two-point conversion and banned the kickoff wedge.
I’m open to responses, alternatives and insults. Email me at woody@woodypaige.com.
In the meantime, the onside kick in the NFL will become extinct.
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My son coaches a team in the smallest 11 man division in Texas. They win almost all the time. They were way ahead a couple of years ago, and the kicker made a beautiful
drop kick for the extra point. The referee said he’d been calling games for over 20 years and that was the first time he’d ever seen it. It was pretty cool.
It does make for excitement in a close game. But looks really stupid in a blowout. I like you solution but think that if you are the behind team and you don’t score on your first possession the game should end right then and there. The defense has proven that they did their job and you do not deserve another shot at glory. But there is another issue that needs attention. You win the coin toss and then you defer to the second half. 99.99% of the teams receive at the third quarter. If you want the ball n the third just kickoff in the first.
What if you got the ball back if you are trailing and your kicker converts a field goal on the kickoff? Kickers seem to routinely kick off thru the end zone so the distance is possible.
Good math. The team behind scores a TD to be down 14 (should be 31 – 17) and then kicks a field goal and is down 10 (31-21). In this scenario the team behind actually needs the two-point conversion to tie at 31. Still an exciting option.
No way Woodrow. Just change the rule back to the way it used to be. Let them live on the edge a little, LIKE MEN.
What about the Schiano Proposal where teams would receive the ball at 4th and 15 on their own 35 after scoring? Keeps the “Kickoff” but replaces it with a much safer (and more exciting) punt. Also gives better odds for conversion while still putting the odds in the defences favor and not rewarding them for previous failure.
No system is perfect, but this addresses a lot of the concerns while also making kickoffs a play from scrimmage!
To me it’s a win-win!