There's a reason range for kickers continues to increase

[rambo2]

Surely Bill could have had someone else learn how to hold the ball once Romo started. He should have been on the sidelines with overhead shots (no Surface then) instead.

Can you imagine the switching of gears that had to happen?

It's easy, fun..and really in the know to blame Romo. But Bill...come on man!

Parcells was the last coach to have his qb be the holder. His ignorance or whatever it was cost him and the Cowboys greatly. All you 30 year guys put that in your pipe and smoke it. Another thing he did was keep his best qb on the bench for several years.

 

[tm1119]

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.

Have you ever played a sport in your life? Using a ball “straight out of the box” isn’t something that’s ever done

 

[AbeBeta]

I was watching a sports documentary that addressed this.

Apparently, if you sever the iliofemoral ligament, kickers can get better hip rotation, which makes the ball go much further.

Pretty sure Aubrey and a few others had this procedure.

 

[Wildcat711]

I still have PTSD from that game. Can't watch it.

Me too..

At the time I was screaming that Witten had made the first down..

I have never watched it again to see if I was right or too emotional about the whole thing.

(and that's off the top of my head.. I think that was the game)

I was also extremely pissed that Bledslow was sitting on his arse and not holding for kicks.

 

[Whirlwin]

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.

Wheaties

 

[Whirlwin]

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

I’m sticking with Wheaties. Lol.

 

[wecasa]

Carbon fiber insoles in the shoe of the kicking foot. Soccer players do it. I bet it's come to the nfl. Rog will find out and ban them

 

[RD21]

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.

The other day I was listening to NFL on SiriusXM. I can't remember who said it, but they were talking about this in depth. They said that Wilson puts a silicone like coating on new footballs before they are boxed up. It's to protect the leather from drying out in the box.

One of the reasons teams "work" the balls out of the box, is to remove this coating.

I have no idea how true this is or isn't, but it kind of makes sense, especially when going back to Seattle and Romo's fumbled snap.