Penalty Rule Change

[phnxfan]

In watching todays game between Ohio and Jacksonville State, I'm reminded of a rules change that, I feel, needs to be made, concerning a penalty that's assessed on the Defense, on a Touchdown, or Extra Point play. Right now, the penalty is applied on the ensuing Kickoff. Which turns out being no penalty, or punishment, at all. Most kickoffs go into the end zone, or are Fair-Caught, anyway, and come out to the 25 yard line. So, having the kicking team kick off 5, 10, or 15 yards closer to the far End Zone, does not have any effect on, nor penalize, the offending team, at all. I feel, if the Defense commits a Penalty on a touchdown play, or the extra point play, the penalty yardage should be assessed at the end of the kickoff play. In other words, if there's a 15 yard penalty called on the touchdown play, the 15 yards should be marked off 'after' the end of the kickoff play. If it's a Touchback, instead of the ball being placed on the 25 yard line, it be placed on the 10 yard line, and the offending team starts from there. Thus, they are penalized. If the runner runs the ball back to, say, the 50 yard line, the ball is moved back to the 35 yard line, and the offender is penalized the appropriate yardage. And, to make it even more punishing, if the kickoff is returned for a touchdown, the TD is nullified, and the ball is placed at the 15, or appropriate, yard line. But that is intense, and would have to be thought about some more.

 

[secondasky]

In watching todays game between Ohio and Jacksonville State, I'm reminded of a rules change that, I feel, needs to be made, concerning a penalty that's assessed on the Defense, on a Touchdown, or Extra Point play. Right now, the penalty is applied on the ensuing Kickoff. Which turns out being no penalty, or punishment, at all. Most kickoffs go into the end zone, or are Fair-Caught, anyway, and come out to the 25 yard line. So, having the kicking team kick off 5, 10, or 15 yards closer to the far End Zone, does not have any effect on, nor penalize, the offending team, at all. I feel, if the Defense commits a Penalty on a touchdown play, or the extra point play, the penalty yardage should be assessed at the end of the kickoff play. In other words, if there's a 15 yard penalty called on the touchdown play, the 15 yards should be marked off 'after' the end of the kickoff play. If it's a Touchback, instead of the ball being placed on the 25 yard line, it be placed on the 10 yard line, and the offending team starts from there. Thus, they are penalized. If the runner runs the ball back to, say, the 50 yard line, the ball is moved back to the 35 yard line, and the offender is penalized the appropriate yardage. And, to make it even more punishing, if the kickoff is returned for a touchdown, the TD is nullified, and the ball is placed at the 15, or appropriate, yard line. But that is intense, and would have to be thought about some more.

Long thought this myself.. 15 yd penalty on the first offensive play from scrimmage.

 

[bang63]

Terrible idea

 

[phnxfan]

Terrible idea

Why? The existing rule results in, essentially, no punishment to the offending team. The kickoff will most certainly end in a Touchback, and they will still get the ball at the 25 yard line. Unless, of course, the receiver tries to run it out, and gets tackled short of the 25, which would be silly, since the kicking team defense is so much closer to the receiver. Even a short kickoff, and a Fair Catch, brings the ball out to the 25 yard line. Bad rules! Both of them!

 

[bang63]

Why? The existing rule results in, essentially, no punishment to the offending team. The kickoff will most certainly end in a Touchback, and they will still get the ball at the 25 yard line. Unless, of course, the receiver tries to run it out, and gets tackled short of the 25, which would be silly, since the kicking team defense is so much closer to the receiver. Even a short kickoff, and a Fair Catch, brings the ball out to the 25 yard line. Bad rules! Both of them!

I’m not sure why you feel the need to repeat your argument, I got it the first time. My disagreement is with the part where a player returns a kick for a touchdown and he and the team don’t get credit for it.
The defensive penalty didn’t prevent the offense from scoring so it’s not serious enough to possibly cost the return team a score.

 

[phnxfan]

I’m not sure why you feel the need to repeat your argument, I got it the first time. My disagreement is with the part where a player returns a kick for a touchdown and he and the team don’t get credit for it.
The defensive penalty didn’t prevent the offense from scoring so it’s not serious enough to possibly cost the return team a score.

Because you didn't specify what part of my statement was a "terrible idea". And, I believe I did say, that part of it, would require more thought.

 

[Crossblock]

The other penalty I have always questioned is this one. Offense runs a play and gets a first down. Following the end of the Play, an Offensive Player is flagged for a dead ball personal foul or Unsportsmanlike Conduct penalty. Logic says that the point of play for establishing the new set of downs was set at the end of the Play and the foul followed. You should set the first down markers at the new spot and then walk off 15 yards from the spot of the ball, making it first and 25. However, by rule the first down is ignored, 15 yards is marked off and Offense has 1st and 10.
A comparable one came up in an NFL game several years ago that I questioned. Defensive Player recovers fumble and runs it back for TD. During the play, at the 5 yard line the defensive Player turns around, jogs into the end zone backwards holding up the football taunting the other team. Flag is thrown during the play for Unsportsmanlike Conduct. My first thought was that the TD should be overturned with the 15 yards marked back to the 20. The Touchdown stood with the yardage assessed on the kickoff. The explanation was that even though the foul occurred during the course of play, an Unsortsmanlke Conduct is defined by rule as a dead ball foul.

 

[ButHerEmails]

Because you didn't specify what part of my statement was a "terrible idea". And, I believe I did say, that part of it, would require more thought.

Maybe no kickoff at all and the offending team just gets the ball at the 15 or whatever, depending on what yardage the penalty would normally enforce. Unless it was a penalty that could be declined so you can take the touchdown.

I suppose taking away a kickoff return opportunity and changing the starting yardage line would have to be for unsportsmanlike conduct after the play was over.