Twitter: NFL 2020 rule change proposals

Bullflop

Cowboys Diehard
Messages
24,534
Reaction score
29,886
Jeez -- I can't help but to feel sympathetic for the officials trying to keep up with all these constant rule changes!

Then, if that's not enough -- they'll be crucially responsible for making sure to enforce them, under pressure! o_O

I realize it's not actually commonplace for a fan to sympathize with these guys but I really do feel sorry for them!
 
Last edited:

Big_D

Well-Known Member
Messages
10,774
Reaction score
14,729
Not a fan of the on-side proposal


A cheesy defensive holding call or PI (especially with today’s officiating) can ruin things

they should just go back to the old onside kick. Kickoff rules stay the same! They took away a major proponent of the game. And you’re correct. Teams will be looking for a penalty to circumvent that new rule. And refs will be quick to throw one!
 

KJJ

You Have an Axe to Grind
Messages
56,547
Reaction score
34,788
Wouldn’t be that difficult to convert a 4th and 15. It would lead to more teams settling for field goals just to give themselves an opportunity at a 4th and 15 to get the ball back. They need to extend it to a 4th and 20 or 25. It would certainly add a lot more drama. The odds are extremely slim of recovering an onside kick due to the recent rule change but 4th and 15 is too doable.
 

John813

Well-Known Member
Messages
22,109
Reaction score
33,858
Eh, need some special rules for that 4th and 15...
Not a fan of a "defensive holding" or PI giving the other team an easy possession.

At this point, might as well kill the kickoff if the onside rule passes
 
Last edited:

Reverend Conehead

Well-Known Member
Messages
9,919
Reaction score
11,788
I just want them to repeal the 1978 bump and run rule. A defender should be allowed to hit and rough up a receiver as much as he wants until the ball is in the air. I can't stand the dumb rule that says it can only be within the first 5 yards of the line de scrimmage. The made that rule in 1978 to handicap the game in favor of the offense, and I've never liked that. The game was better before they made that rule. I don't think games with a lot of scoring are better. I don't think the rules should help the offense. If a receiver wants to be able to get open, he should have to earn it. No more of that annoying "illegal contact" penalty.

Also, fix the PI challenge. If the red flag is thrown, it should not be that complicated. The ref should just watch the video and see if there's PI or not, and then rule accordingly. They tried to make it too complicated, saying a reversal could only happen if it's blatant. The heck with that. If the defender is there before the ball gets there, it's PI. If he arrives at the same time or after, it's not PI. It's that simple. Rule accordingly.
 

Bigtex67

Well-Known Member
Messages
404
Reaction score
423
Wouldn’t be that difficult to convert a 4th and 15. It would lead to more teams settling for field goals just to give themselves an opportunity at a 4th and 15 to get the ball back. They need to extend it to a 4th and 20 or 25. It would certainly add a lot more drama. The odds are extremely slim of recovering an onside kick due to the recent rule change but 4th and 15 is too doable.

What if the whole series is 4th and 15...

You pass for 20 yards so you are setup on the 45 with another 4th and 15....keep it going until you either score or fail.
 

KJJ

You Have an Axe to Grind
Messages
56,547
Reaction score
34,788
What if the whole series is 4th and 15...

You pass for 20 yards so you are setup on the 45 with another 4th and 15....keep it going until you either score or fail.

You can’t give an offense who just had the ball for who knows how long and just scored, a series of 4th and 15s, the opposing defense could be left on the field far too long. It wouldn’t be fair especially if the game were to go into OT. You have to remember this is in regulation.
 

HungryLion

Well-Known Member
Messages
26,533
Reaction score
60,409
they should just go back to the old onside kick. Kickoff rules stay the same! They took away a major proponent of the game. And you’re correct. Teams will be looking for a penalty to circumvent that new rule. And refs will be quick to throw one!


Good idea. I hadn’t thought about the penalty factor @WillieBeamen Mentioned. But now that he did. The idea sounds less appealing.

I understand the safety concerns with kick offs. So you’re right. They should just allow kicking teams to either 1. Give an automatic touchback to the receiving team or 2. Allow an onside kick under the old onside kick rules.

This will allow special teams to focus solely on practicing and preparing for onside kicks. Which should give the kicking team a decent chance to get the ball.
 

KJJ

You Have an Axe to Grind
Messages
56,547
Reaction score
34,788
Another big problem with allowing a team a 4th and 15 to get the ball back is they could be facing a very tired defense. Let’s say an offense has the ball for 8+ minutes and converts a field goal. It wouldn’t be fair for them to be able to set up their offense again against a tired defense that’s been on the field for over 8 minutes, giving them an opportunity at a 4th and 15 to continue another drive. I’ll be surprised if this rule passes.
 

Jake

Beyond tired of Jerry
Messages
36,067
Reaction score
84,350
Wouldn’t be that difficult to convert a 4th and 15. It would lead to more teams settling for field goals just to give themselves an opportunity at a 4th and 15 to get the ball back. They need to extend it to a 4th and 20 or 25. It would certainly add a lot more drama. The odds are extremely slim of recovering an onside kick due to the recent rule change but 4th and 15 is too doable.

4th and 15 conversion rates are very similar to onside conversion rates prior to the rule changes (15-20%).

Why Fourth-and-15 from the 25?

nfo-059-lopez-converstion-rate-charts-rl-10_what-happens_outlined.svg
 

Jake

Beyond tired of Jerry
Messages
36,067
Reaction score
84,350
The rule changes and these multi wide receiver sets would result in a high rate of 4th down conversions if the rule passes.

The chart you're dismissing is from 2002-2018 4th down plays. What dramatic changes have occurred offensively since 2018 that would render that data useless?

In 2019 teams made 25 attempts on 4th and 15. They failed on 19 of them. Again, where is this "high rate" going to come from?
 
Top