Article Worst rule in football won’t change until it affects a championship game (1 Viewer)

[Optimistic Ozzy]

No problem with the rule. However, on this particular time in the game, score, down and distance, time remaining, timeouts remaining by Carolina, ....................I questioned the play call to the point of frustration. Not after what happened, but way before. This would have been four down territory for me as a coach. If I score, game over, if I go for it on 4th and come up short, Carolina has the ball inside the five with about 45 seconds to go. I just don't get it.

 

[ilvdsnts]

Honestly, I think it's dumber. So a defense allows an offense to get to the 1 and the guy loses control and it rolls out of bounds just past the pylon. OH, WELL IT DIDN'T ROLL OUT OF BOUNDS 1 MM BEFORE THE PYLON SO IT'S A TURNOVER! ..... but if that ball doesn't make it to the pylon, it's offenses ball? That makes no logical sense and lacks any kind of consistency whatsoever.

Its because the goal line is different, there is also no other line that gives you 6 points for crossing it. If you get down to 1 mm before the pylon, no points, but if you get an extra 1 mm they give you an entire 6 points.

 

[mountaineerdude]

What change do you propose to that rule?

 

[Mr. Sparkle]

It's a weird rule but its not like its a secret or something you can't reasonably prepare for - Belichick coaches Pats players NOT to extend the ball at the goalline in order to protect against losing possession under this exact scenario.

https://www.sbnation.com/2017/12/18/16791694/bill-belichick-patriots-goal-line-touchback-genius

I can only hope Payton uses this as a teaching opportunity - if TLL had any football sense he would have gone down in bounds at the 1 like Gurley did earlier this year.

 

[SaintsBrazil]

The rule is logical, and it is consistent with the other rules of football. It should not change.

 

[FullMonte]

Its a stupid rule. Fumble the ball anywhere else on the field out of bounds and its your ball where it went out. A fumble out of the endzone should be placed at the goaline.

But, you just said that if you fumble it anywhere else it's your ball where it went out. Shouldn't a fumble out of the endzone be a touchdown then? After all, it's your ball where it went out, which is in the endzone.

 

[msusaintsfan]

I'm ok with a turnover with the rule. Just change it to where the ball was fumbled. He fumbled on the 1? They get the ball on the 1. Shouldn't be a touchback.

 

[ilvdsnts]

Oh, also ... compare that scenario to this: 1st and 10 from the Saints 45. Ingram carries 25 yards to the opponent’s 30, where a defender punches the ball out. It somehow travels another 29.9 yards and out of bounds right before the pylon, without anyone recovering the ball. Offense gets 1st and goal at the 1 inch yard line. Compare that to today's rule. So if the ball goes 1 more inch in a negative direction for the defense, the defense makes a huge game swinging turnover vs if they bat it out at the 1 inch yard line where they're basically giving up a TD?

In your scenario, they would not get it at the 1 inch line, it goes back to the spot of the fumble if it is not possessed and goes out of bounds.

 

[ilvdsnts]

Two rules I hate more:

Spot foul for pass interference, should be 15 yards.

And

10 yd penalty for false start, should be 5.

False starts ARE 5 yards.

 

[rajncajn]

False starts ARE 5 yards.

Fixed, meant offensive holding.

 

[play action]

Bring it back to the spot where it was fumbled. We do have replay review, shouldn't be that difficult.

 

[SaintsFan742]

Everybody knows the rule, unless they don't. I see no problem with it; doesn't happen often anyway.

 

[AARPSaint]

In your scenario, they would not get it at the 1 inch line, it goes back to the spot of the fumble if it is not possessed and goes out of bounds.

That is sensible, assuming you mean that it goes out of bounds or out of the back of the endzone. If a player fumbles in the endzone and it goes out the back of the endzone, it should be a TD or a 2 point conversion as the case may be.
Maybe the defense made a play, but maybe the player just did a Jerry Rice Awarding a touchback is undeserved and inconsistent in my view.

All that said, the rule is what it is. Players need to be aware of the rule and the game situation.

 

[Alaina]

In your scenario, they would not get it at the 1 inch line, it goes back to the spot of the fumble if it is not possessed and goes out of bounds.

It makes the most sense to make every fumble work that exact same way. The idea that the goal line is somehow sacred on a fumble is goofy. It's a point of scoring if you possess the ball.

 

[guidomerkinsrules]

Have you ever road a bus or streetcar to the end of a line? You can’t just stay on and continue, they make you get off and get back on going the other way. When the ball reaches the endzone, that is the end of the line. Its either a TD if its in possession of the offense or its got to go the other way if its not in possession of the O because it reached the end. It makes sense to me.

If you get off the bus a stop early then don’t make you go the other way
You might have to pay to get back on which would be bad if you were saving that money for the analogy store shopping