FG kicking is too easy in the NFL, time for changes

[Warner2BruceTD]

Justin Tucker has made 22 consecutive kicks, including a 61 yard game winner last night. Matt Prater just broke the NFL record. Guys like Blair Walsh & Greg The Leg can routinely drill from 55+. Nobody misses from inside 45 yards, even shitty kickers. Actually, shitty kickers don't really exist anymore. The skill has advanced to the point that the new breed of kicker can not only drill 50 yarders with room to spare, but with incredible accuracy. 60 is the new 50. 50 was a rare kick not that long ago.

The NFL needs to make the FG game a challenge again. Two changes need to be made. Move the goal posts back 5 yards, and narrow them by 5 feet.

Advancing to the 35 would go from what is quickly becoming a relatively easy 52 yard attempt, to a far more challenging 57 yarder with a more narrow target. This would not only make FGA's more challenging and more dramatic, but also would lead to more 4th down situations where head coaches will GO FOR IT, which is something the league severely lacks with 32 spineless coaches who fear for their jobs. There is nothing more exciting in football than a 4th down play. You'd see far more of these inside "no man's land" between the 30 & 45 yard lines if FG's were more difficult to make. Nobody is punting on 4th & 2 from the 35. But the challenging FGA would lead to more GO FOR ITS, which we all want.

MOVE THE GOAL POSTS.

 

[KINGOFOOTBALL]

Justin Tucker has made 22 consecutive kicks, including a 61 yard game winner last night. Matt Prater just broke the NFL record. Guys like Blair Walsh & Greg The Leg can routinely drill from 55+. Nobody misses from inside 45 yards, even shitty kickers. Actually, shitty kickers don't really exist anymore. The skill has advanced to the point that the new breed of kicker can not only drill 50 yarders with room to spare, but with incredible accuracy. 60 is the new 50. 50 was a rare kick not that long ago.

The NFL needs to make the FG game a challenge again. Two changes need to be made. Move the goal posts back 5 yards, and narrow them by 5 feet.

Advancing to the 35 would go from what is quickly becoming a relatively easy 52 yard attempt, to a far more challenging 57 yarder with a more narrow target. This would not only make FGA's more challenging and more dramatic, but also would lead to more 4th down situations where head coaches will GO FOR IT, which is something the league severely lacks with 32 spineless coaches who fear for their jobs. There is nothing more exciting in football than a 4th down play. You'd see far more of these inside "no man's land" between the 30 & 45 yard lines if FG's were more difficult to make. Nobody is punting on 4th & 2 from the 35. But the challenging FGA would lead to more GO FOR ITS, which we all want.

MOVE THE GOAL POSTS.

Narrow the bars , shorten them and put a bar on the top making it look like a strike zone. Have thousands of little laser beams turn on so when the ball goes through it lights up eliminating all confusion.

In all seriousness , is it just this year ? Or has this been a trend...Cowboys always have shitty kicking all of a sudden this guys money from 50. Did the "dont touch the snapper" rule eliminate al blocked field goals ? Cant recall seeing one last 2 years.

 

[seaplus]

didn't some team miss a critical FG in OT this week? who played the Cardinals?

 

[Primetime]

Justin Tucker has made 22 consecutive kicks, including a 61 yard game winner last night. Matt Prater just broke the NFL record. Guys like Blair Walsh & Greg The Leg can routinely drill from 55+. Nobody misses from inside 45 yards, even shitty kickers. Actually, shitty kickers don't really exist anymore. The skill has advanced to the point that the new breed of kicker can not only drill 50 yarders with room to spare, but with incredible accuracy. 60 is the new 50. 50 was a rare kick not that long ago.

The NFL needs to make the FG game a challenge again. Two changes need to be made. Move the goal posts back 5 yards, and narrow them by 5 feet.

Advancing to the 35 would go from what is quickly becoming a relatively easy 52 yard attempt, to a far more challenging 57 yarder with a more narrow target. This would not only make FGA's more challenging and more dramatic, but also would lead to more 4th down situations where head coaches will GO FOR IT, which is something the league severely lacks with 32 spineless coaches who fear for their jobs. There is nothing more exciting in football than a 4th down play. You'd see far more of these inside "no man's land" between the 30 & 45 yard lines if FG's were more difficult to make. Nobody is punting on 4th & 2 from the 35. But the challenging FGA would lead to more GO FOR ITS, which we all want.

MOVE THE GOAL POSTS.

I thought I read that it was like 33 consecutive for Tucker, no?

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

This new wave of kickers entering the league the last couple of seasons is exponentially better than the previous gens. A couple of years from now every team will have a Tucker or Walsh or Greg The Leg. The position has evolved.

Let's face it, I tend to be ahead of the curve on most things NFL, bump this in two years when the league makes some sort of change.

 

[Glenbino]

But wouldn't those changes directly start to affect the college game? Alabama has spent the last two seasons proving FGs are no sure thing.

This seems reactionary to a couple big weeks of kicking. There's still plenty of subpar kickers floating around.

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[MrBill]

I agree with Warner and not just because that last FG from 61 yards last night cost me a shot at $1,000 and a minimum $500 payout in one of my fantasy leagues.

 

[NAHSTE]

Sounds kinda socialist to me. Restricting the success of the haves to bring them closer to the have-nots. I won't stand for it. Not in my America.

Kick moar field goals. Win moar games.

 

[Glenbino]

This new wave of kickers entering the league the last couple of seasons is exponentially better than the previous gens. A couple of years from now every team will have a Tucker or Walsh or Greg The Leg. The position has evolved.

Let's face it, I tend to be ahead of the curve on most things NFL, bump this in two years when the league makes some sort of change.

So we just legislate the position out of the game because the talent has gotten better?

Lol @ bump this in two years when the league makes a change. What leads you to believe this will happen? The NFL's recent history of cracking down on increased scoring?

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[Warner2BruceTD]

But wouldn't those changes directly start to affect the college game? Alabama has spent the last two seasons proving FGs are no sure thing.

This seems reactionary to a couple big weeks of kicking. There's still plenty of subpar kickers floating around.

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Again, i'm ahead of the curve here. If you can't see the trend, that's alright pal, i'm here for you. Kicking is becoming too easy.

 

[Glenbino]

Again, i'm ahead of the curve here. If you can't see the trend, that's alright pal, i'm here for you. Kicking is becoming too easy.

The trend that is boosting scoring and trying to reduce contact?

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[Warner2BruceTD]

So we just legislate the position out of the game because the talent has gotten better?

Lol @ bump this in two years when the league makes a change. What leads you to believe this will happen? The NFL's recent history of cracking down on increased scoring?

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This is not what I said at all.

And rules change in every sport when the talent gets better. In fact, nearly every change that has been made in the NFL in recent years is because the players are bigger/faster/stronger/better.

 

[NAHSTE]

There was not a single extra point missed last season. I noted after the season that we should do away with the PAT.

Exactly what curve are you ahead of, here?

ffside:

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

The trend that is boosting scoring and trying to reduce contact?

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Rules are always in a constant state of evolution, the NFL will eventually look for ways to reduce scoring if this scoring pace keeps up (and there is no reason it won't), and this would be one very easy way.

 

[KINGOFOOTBALL]

Simple solution. Stop allowing artificial fields and demand more open stadiums.
Weather conditions and softer fields would automatically slow down players, decrease the impact of some tackles , lessen the likely hood of knee injuries and the "hamstring epidemic" , all while forcing teams to think twice before passing or kicking.
Its really sad that people have accepted Football as a game that requires a surgical environment to be fun.

 

[Maynard]

i like narrowing the posts. i wouldnt mind some changes that will motivate more coaches to go for it rather than kick a FG.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

There was not a single extra point missed last season. I noted after the season that we should do away with the PAT.

Exactly what curve are you ahead of, here?

ffside:

Good point. I agree, they will eliminate the PAT at some point, it will take away 3 or 4 needless contact plays per game. Same for kickoffs, those will be gone too, they're just waiting a few years to collect the touchback data with the new kickoff line to sell it to the public.

Also, as noted by me two years ago, three point stance. Bump when they outlaw that. Already mumblings about that one floating around.

 

[jms493]

The ball is juiced!

 

[jms493]

If this is the case they need to raise the hoop in Basketball, no?

 

[dell71]

Food for Thought...

NFL|40-49yds|50+yds|Overall
1992|58.0%|50.0%|72.6%
1997|62.4%|67.6%|78.1%
2002|64.3%|52.4%|77.5%
2007|74.2%|47.3%|82.8%
2008|74.5%|63.5%|84.5%
2009|72.9%|52.9%|81.3%
2010|73.2%|54.6%|82.3%
2011|74.0%|64.3%|82.9%
2012|80.2%|60.9%|83.9%
2013|82.7%|65.2%|86.1%

No surprise that kickers have been getting progressively better over the years.

When did the rule change regarding the center? '12? Did any other rules that I'm not aware of go into effect concerning field goals? The sudden jump in accuracy from 40+ doesn't make sense otherwise. It's a much larger increase than we normally see from one year to the next.