There's a reason range for kickers continues to increase

[Diehardblues]

The 50+ hard FG’s that were once a rarity in the NFL have become routine. Late game strategies have changed with the range for many kickers exceeding 60 yards.

The kicking revolution has sparked questions about whether the balls are juiced. Not quite but there is a major difference this year with having a chance to prepare kicking balls before game day and practice with same balls used in games.

Kickers are making 72.5 % of FG’s beyond 50 yards - nearly double the rate from 3 decades ago.

The change this year came after 7 teams made a proposal to reduce the stress on equipment staffs in game days. Before this season balls designated for use in kicking game were shipped directly to the officials and brought to the stadium on game day . Teams then had a 60 minute window to prepare 3 kicking balls, using only a wet towel, a dry towel and a special ball brush.

 

[Diehardblues]

The initial rules for kicking balls were put into place in 1999 after specialist were allegedly doing all sorts of things to manipulate the ball including using microwaves, ovens, dryers and saunas to soften the leather making them easier to kick.

Initially only the officials were allowed to prepare the balls for officials and punters complained they were too slick. That changed following the 2006 season with teams getting a short window on game day to prepare balls, after Romo dropped a snap in Seattle in playoffs.

Now the balls can be prepared in advance - just like the balls for the rest of the game . But teams are mostly limited to using the towels and a special Wilson branded brush.

Punts are also traveling farther averaging 47.7 yards which would have been the individual record as recently as 20 years ago.

Full story below

https://apnews.com/article/nfl-k-balls-long-field-goals-9089915b8d21a2bf879978746ee7df07

 

[Hawkeye0202]

Interesting........my first time hearing the ball was partly responsible for Romo's drop during the Seahawks playoff game.

 

[diamonddelts]

The 50+ hard FG’s that were once a rarity in the NFL have become routine. Late game strategies have changed with the range for many kickers exceeding 60 yards.

The kicking revolution has sparked questions about whether the balls are juiced. Not quite but there is a major difference this year with having a chance to prepare kicking balls before game day and practice with same balls used in games.

Kickers are making 72.5 % of FG’s beyond 50 yards - nearly double the rate from 3 decades ago.

The change this year came after 7 teams made a proposal to reduce the stress on equipment staffs in game days. Before this season balls designated for use in kicking game were shipped directly to the officials and brought to the stadium on game day . Teams then had a 60 minute window to prepare 3 kicking balls, using only a wet towel, a dry towel and a special ball brush.

Something is juiced but it's not the balls.

 

[diamonddelts]

The initial rules for kicking balls were put into place in 1999 after specialist were allegedly doing all sorts of things to manipulate the ball including using microwaves, ovens, dryers and saunas to soften the leather making them easier to kick.

Initially only the officials were allowed to prepare the balls for officials and punters complained they were too slick. That changed following the 2006 season with teams getting a short window on game day to prepare balls, after Romo dropped a snap in Seattle in playoffs.

Now the balls can be prepared in advance - just like the balls for the rest of the game . But teams are mostly limited to using the towels and a special Wilson branded brush.

Punts are also traveling farther averaging 47.7 yards which would have been the individual record as recently as 20 years ago.

Full story below

https://apnews.com/article/nfl-k-balls-long-field-goals-9089915b8d21a2bf879978746ee7df07

Putting footballs in the microwave is just too funny. Bill Belichick level of cheating going on there.

 

[Ranching]

Been around a long time...the old rule didn't affect Aubrey last year. Some are just better than others.

 

[diamonddelts]

Interesting........my first time hearing the ball was partly responsible for Romo's drop during the Seahawks playoff game.

His choking D.N.A. was responsible for the other part.

 

[Creeper]

Interesting........my first time hearing the ball was partly responsible for Romo's drop during the Seahawks playoff game.

I remember that conversation after that game. But I also remember thinking, why is every other team fielding those snaps and setting the ball up correctly?

 

[CWR]

Interesting........my first time hearing the ball was partly responsible for Romo's drop during the Seahawks playoff game.

Go back and watch the clip of that play.

The ball shines like its been rubbed with freaking Vaseline.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

Go back and watch the clip of that play.

The ball shines like its been rubbed with freaking Vaseline.

I remember that........lol

 

[links18]

Interesting........my first time hearing the ball was partly responsible for Romo's drop during the Seahawks playoff game.

You are being sarcastic, right?

 

[Vtwin]

Interesting........my first time hearing the ball was partly responsible for Romo's drop during the Seahawks playoff game.

The announcers mentioned it during the broadcast. They noticed how bright and shiny it was. It was talked about quite a bit at the time in the media and around the internet. The league actually changed the k-ball rules the next season because of that play. I and others have brought it up here multiple times throughout the years.

Never understood how so few Cowboys fans know anything about this and write that play of completely to Romo choking.

 

[SpaceCowboy99]

I'm sure part of it is that 9 of the 10 indoor stadiums were built in the last 25 years. 1/3 of the games are played indoors.

IMHO, I think the position has just become more scientific/focused. The last round of old school kickers, the vanderjagts, vinateris, etc, were more like working class kickers. These days I think the kickers are following a similar route of TB12 and hyper focused on the process. Getting every last ounce out of their kicks.

Now add into it that they can prepare the perfect ball for Sunday and we are breaking efficiency boundaries and records.

I keep saying it, I think they need to adjust something to dial this back, as we didn't tune in to watch 30 yards of offense, +3 points, back and forth.

I'm saying 1 of these 3 options not all 3.

1) adjust the distance the holder kicker are from the line, make it a little shorter and they are forced to kick higher or have more blocks. Meaning longer kicks will have a higher percentage of being blocked.

2) narrower Field goals. Bring them in 3ft on each side.

3) make FGs over 60 yards count for less. (I know, backwards logic)

 

[Runwildboys]

The announcers mentioned it during the broadcast. They noticed how bright and shiny it was. It was talked about quite a bit at the time in the media and around the internet. The league actually changed the k-ball rules the next season because of that play. I and others have brought it up here multiple times throughout the years.

Never understood how so few Cowboys fans know anything about this and write that play of completely to Romo choking.

They know about it. They'd just rather blame Romo.

 

[SoupcanSam]

Interesting........my first time hearing the ball was partly responsible for Romo's drop during the Seahawks playoff game.

That ball was shiny as hell

 

[csirl]

I dont agree with kicking balls or any pregame 'preparation" of balls.

Each game should be played with a new set of league supplied balls straight out of the box.

 

[MonsterD]

So this is not a mass issue, it is friction. I think that too many are overvaluing what friction on the ball can do, control? absolutely I get that is an advantage. Distance/power because of friction? Naww that isn't going to be that much of a factor, it is leg's power and the ability to use technique to drive it further not friction.

 

[DFWJC]

Interesting........my first time hearing the ball was partly responsible for Romo's drop during the Seahawks playoff game.

Crazy stuff. People have been saying for years that Seattle sent out a brand new ball for that play. On a wet day that would make it very tough to handle.
Some even say they oiled it a little, but that seems like a stretch.

Either way, they switched after that to where there were special teams balls...to avoid dicey moves by the home team.

oops....you were tongue-n-cheek I think?

 

[DFWJC]

They know about it. They'd just rather blame Romo.

Yeah, almost all of us knew about it

That dude was snake-bit.
NFL rules changes were made after two unusual events occurred in the playoffs involving Dallas and him, as well as the Dez catch.

 

[SoupcanSam]

The 50+ hard FG’s that were once a rarity in the NFL have become routine. Late game strategies have changed with the range for many kickers exceeding 60 yards.

The kicking revolution has sparked questions about whether the balls are juiced. Not quite but there is a major difference this year with having a chance to prepare kicking balls before game day and practice with same balls used in games.

Kickers are making 72.5 % of FG’s beyond 50 yards - nearly double the rate from 3 decades ago.

The change this year came after 7 teams made a proposal to reduce the stress on equipment staffs in game days. Before this season balls designated for use in kicking game were shipped directly to the officials and brought to the stadium on game day . Teams then had a 60 minute window to prepare 3 kicking balls, using only a wet towel, a dry towel and a special ball brush.

At the end of the day, no matter how the balls were prepped, most coaches are not trotting their kicker out on the field to kick 65 yard FG.

When I went to my first Cowboys game week1, I did the stadium tour that Saturday. When on the cowboys field, I actually walked back the distances Aubrey kicks alot of his FGs from, and standing 65-70 back and looking far out at the FG post is freaking insane. Seeing him do it in person was more crazy.

It also still takes leg power, range, aim and skill to even make those. I am not taking not a single thing from Aubrey. What he does is still freaking impressive.