Last night if you were watching Thursday Night Football you may have seen something you've never seen before. I for one had never seen it happen before, although evidently the Arizona Cardinals tried the same with Neil Rackers in 2008. The concept is a Fair Catch Free Kick. The St. Louis Rams got the football with only about 33 seconds remaining in the half. They were as inept on the following drive as they were for the better part of the game offensively, so they were left punting the football with about 4 seconds left on the clock. The 49ers then pulled out a card that hasn't been successfully used since 1976. They fair caught the ensuing punt and then let the officials know they would like to assert their right, as per arcane NFL rules, to execute a free kick. Evidently this can be done even if you fair caught the punt with 0:00 remaining on the clock. It can be an untimed play. The defense is not allowed to rush the kick. They have to sit 10 yards off the ball just like a kickoff. There is no long snap, either. The ball may not be placed on a tee, but you can have a holder holding the football on the ground while the place kicker runs up and kicks the ball like he would a kickoff. the defense is allowed to return the kick like they would a kickoff, but if you nail it through the uprights? Three points. Most bizarre thing I have ever seen. Thankfully Tony Sparano didn't know about this rule otherwise he'd have traded a 1st round pick for Sebastian Janikowski and our offense never would've seen the field after a punt. But the thing is, I'm running through some of the scenarios in my mind, and I'm thinking I'll be damned if the Dolphins shouldn't take advantage of this arcane rule at some point now that we have Caleb Sturgis knocking in 59 yarders like it ain't no thang. There are some place kickers out there that average 73 to 75 yards on their kickoffs. That means they kick off from the 35 yard line and the ball lands about 8 to 10 yards deep in the end zone on average. Now that the kickoff line has been moved to the 35, I think it's entirely possible there have been place kickers getting the ball through the uprights a few times, CFL-style. What if you fair caught the ball at the 50 yard line? Having to execute a 60 yard field goal would seem daunting, but what about executing a 60 yard kickoff with a guy who regularly gets about 73 to 75 yards on those? Something to think about. Something I'd practice, too.
I had no idea this even existed. Kinda surprised we haven't seen it used more often, because I'm sure the scenario has played out a few times where it would've worked. I learned something new today...so, success!!
This part I knew (or thought I did) about a fair catch, because I thought you got one un-timed down, period. Not that it had to be a free kick.
That would be hilarious if it wasn't so tragically true. It is something to think about, because Sturgis = Gus. [video=youtube;Ts6ZrUitpSI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ts6ZrUitpSI[/video]
Here it is in action, although it is highly anti climatic. I remember watching this live lol. [video=youtube;2uEiL8JGwAE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uEiL8JGwAE[/video]
I saw this during the game last night and was wondering what happened(was outside watching without sound). I have never seen this before and left me scratching my head. I wanted to read up on it to find out what happened, but then when I woke up this morning I completely forgot about it. Thanks for bringing this up and explaining. TIL.
I always wondered if the kicker kicks off and it goes thru the uprights what happens...apparently nothing..lol,should be at least worth a point.
Right there with you CK. Been thinking of Sturgis knocking down 70 yard free kicks since last night! Certainly in that scenario it is worth giving it a try.
It is in the CFL, I believe. Was a moot point when the NFL had moved kickoffs to the 30 yard line. No kicker was getting THAT much distance.
Why would anyone do this if the time isn't running out? It would show 0 confidece you offense can get 20 yards
So if they fair catch the ball, like you say CK, at the 50. The holder gets to place the ball at the 50? No 7 yards back?
I've known about this rule and have always wondered why this hasn't been attempted more often. I have a feeling the rule is probably too arcane for most all but the most open-minded coaches to consider.
You wouldn't. You would do it if time is running out on the half or the game. Or if you're winning the game by a whole lot and you feel like doing something historical. Sort of like when the Patriots had Doug Flutie drop kick an extra point against the Dolphins in Week 17 one year where they were beating us by like three touchdowns.
I thought we won that game? Made us 9-7...Nick Saban's first year...Ronnie was gimpy *nitpick hat is on*
Reason # 12,345,837,610,529 to just despise the Patriots. [FWIW, I probably wouldn't have minded and might even have thought it uniquely cool if the same thing would have happened to a team other than the Miami Dolphins. But it didn't. It happened against us. I hate it.]
If that's the case. I take a chance on Stergis kicking it 60-65 yards everytime rather then a Hail Mary.
Yeah, we did. But I think the Patriots had their playoff seeding wrapped up and really weren't playing for anything.
Oh yeah that's right...Matt Cassel played like 3/4 of the game or something Foggy memory is foggy..haha
Ah I guess we did win. It was a meaningless game for the Pats though and they sort of treated it like one. Bill Belichick's pal Nick Saban was coaching us at the time too. I wonder how Dicky Nick felt about that.
But seriously if I'm Philbin I bring Darren Rizzi into my office and I ask him what he can expect from Caleb Sturgis if we get into this kind of scenario at the end of a half or a game, I tell him to practice it, and I tell him to practice it with the goal of setting a new field goal distance record with Sturgis. Part of that would be in the interests of winning games in case the right situation came up, and part of it would just be to make the game fun for the players, which I think is important. And if we did get into a scenario where we're winning by a lot or time is expiring or we're in a meaningless game, why not go for the record?
Because football is a team sport and not about individual records..... On the serious side, kicking a ball 65 off a tee is way easier than off the ground. That's probably why you don't see it often.
I could have sworn we've been involved in a free kick before. I want to say the Broncos, in Denver, in the 90s. Mr Clean will know this...I also believe that if the punter kicks it out of bounds (vs a fair catch) there is no free kick option. It was interesting that the time ticked off the clock last night when the ball was kicked (not when it was touched by the return team).
First off, I would consider it a team building exercise. I think the team would get a kick out of getting the record on an arcane play like that, just as the entire Patriots team exploded with joy when Doug Flutie drop kicked an extra point. Second, field goals are off the ground with a holder as well and Sturgis made a 59 yarder that way. That's with a rush in his face to where he has to make sure he kicks it high so they couldn't block it. On a free kick he not only gets to take a bigger run up to the ball than on a field goal, he can drive the kick instead of making sure he gets it high. There's no worrying about rushers.
Yup, he can take all the time he needs really to try and get it right. No sense of urgency like a normal FG.
That was the first time I saw that too although I have heard of it.Makes you wonder why it has not been attempted a little more though.
Gotta keep in mind though that kicking the ball off a tee is much easier than on the ground with a holder. Most kickers can kick the ball 65 yards on a tee, not so much with a holder. That said, I would absolutely try it if the opportunity arose. Even if it would be 70 yards.
Actually I think you might be getting the 65 yard number off the NFL stat keeping which only measures to the front of the end zone. Most kickers can kick it at least 70 yards on average off the tee, and some average 73 to 75 yards. You're right it's harder not on the tee than on the tee. But it's also easier than a true field goal. It's somewhere between. If guys like Sturgis can kick 55 yards on a field goal with fair accuracy (not talking 100% here but 50% or better), and can kick 75 yards on the tee, their range on a free kick would likely be somewhere between.
For those of you who missed it: http://www.nfl.com/videos/san-francisco-49ers/0ap2000000251221/Dawson-fair-catch-kick-attempt I think its a great idea.
I've heard announcers mention it as a possibility on occasion. So, if the receiving team Fair Catches the Free Kick, can they try one?
Simmer down CK, I was joking! This forum need needs a sarcasm font.... But, kicking without a rush is more pressure and a weird mental aspect the kicker needs to have. Having been a kicker and knowing quite a few I bet they would agree.
I was thinking along the same lines when I watched that last night. (Although I didn't know it could be an untimed play). My thought was that on any fair catch from our 40 yard line in, we probably have a reasonable shot at three points. I had flashbacks to Gus (I think that was his name), the mule from that Disney movie that would kick 100 yard FGs. Theoretically a team that could make 80% in that scenario could score +28 points in most games assuming their D could get them 12 possessions. Realistically though I would guess that unless you were in a no time situation, the team would prefer to try to run the kick back and get closer to make the FG easier or score a TD. I also think you would just wear your D out if you just gave the ball back after one play repeatedly.
Sorry. There was a thing I saw on the internet recently that was perfect for this, suggected the idea of Sarcastises. But since the zig-zaggy lines don't exist on the keyboard, I suggest: {these} Although now that I think about it, that suggestion ends up looking paradoxical. We also need the Morgan Freemark signaling that you are to read whatever is written below in your head in Morgan Freeman voice.
