Saw a thing where Vaval was against moving the goal posts back, because he loves the missed FG return play.
It got me to thinking. So far this year, I've see the new rouge change the punting dramatically. Punts are going into the EZ, not through. And the punters seems to be getting really good at it.
So, when the posts get moved back, yes, no "missed FG returns". But there won't be FG attempts from the 55. That becomes a punt. And the punter is going to try to keep it in the EZ and not go through.
It essentially becomes almost an identical play to a missed FG return. Except that right now more than 80% of FG's go through the uprights or through the EZ. There will be a whole new subset of kicks from between the 55 and 40 that will be designed to stay in bounds, returnable.
I will be surprised it the number of punt/FG returns started in the EZ (basically "missed FG retuns") does not INCREASE when the posts move back.
Am I wrong?
The punt cover teams and field goal cover teams are different. When we kick field goals, we have in the past had 7 beefy guys (O linemen mostly but some D linemen) lining up on the line of scrimmage along with the long snapper. The other players are typically LBs (Cadwallander, Ayers, and last year Gauthier), holder Sheehan, and Sergio.
No gunners, and other than the 3 linebackers no one very fleet of foot. It's possible they might change the configuration slightly for longer field goals, but the general principle is the same, the punt cover team has faster players.
There's also the issue of hang time.
So missed field goal returns are generally much longer than punt returns. For example, Vaval, Pimpleton and Leake averaged 65,59 and 47 yards on missed field goal returns last year. They all averaged between 12-13 yards on punt returns.
Quote from: theaardvark on June 13, 2026, 08:19:12 PMSaw a thing where Vaval was against moving the goal posts back, because he loves the missed FG return play.
It got me to thinking. So far this year, I've see the new rouge change the punting dramatically. Punts are going into the EZ, not through. And the punters seems to be getting really good at it.
So, when the posts get moved back, yes, no "missed FG returns". But there won't be FG attempts from the 55. That becomes a punt. And the punter is going to try to keep it in the EZ and not go through.
It essentially becomes almost an identical play to a missed FG return. Except that right now more than 80% of FG's go through the uprights or through the EZ. There will be a whole new subset of kicks from between the 55 and 40 that will be designed to stay in bounds, returnable.
I will be surprised it the number of punt/FG returns started in the EZ (basically "missed FG retuns") does not INCREASE when the posts move back.
Am I wrong?
Well, for sure about one thing. There won't be any punts from the 55 because there won't be a 55.
Every time a ball goes into the end zone, the returner will decide if it's going to go through the end zone or out the side before touching it.
Vaval could have let it bounce through the end zone and taken the ball on the 40 (I didn't check where they place it, so this could be the wrong spot).
The only reason to return any ball that goes into the end zone now is if it's obviously not going through.
Quote from: theaardvark on June 13, 2026, 08:19:12 PMSaw a thing where Vaval was against moving the goal posts back, because he loves the missed FG return play.
It got me to thinking. So far this year, I've see the new rouge change the punting dramatically. Punts are going into the EZ, not through. And the punters seems to be getting really good at it.
So, when the posts get moved back, yes, no "missed FG returns". But there won't be FG attempts from the 55. That becomes a punt. And the punter is going to try to keep it in the EZ and not go through.
It essentially becomes almost an identical play to a missed FG return. Except that right now more than 80% of FG's go through the uprights or through the EZ. There will be a whole new subset of kicks from between the 55 and 40 that will be designed to stay in bounds, returnable.
I will be surprised it the number of punt/FG returns started in the EZ (basically "missed FG retuns") does not INCREASE when the posts move back.
Am I wrong?
You'll probably see a few more punts (and therefore punt returns), a few more 3rd down gambles and a few less field goals attempts since you need to be 15 yards closer than you do now. You'll also see a significant reduction in missed field goal returns.
It's probably the only rule change that gives me pause, the missed field goal return is exciting, but overall I'm fine with it. I never watch an NFL game and think "this is not exciting because field goals can't be returned."
The real world impact is minor.
Quote from: TBURGESS on June 13, 2026, 09:58:13 PMEvery time a ball goes into the end zone, the returner will decide if it's going to go through the end zone or out the side before touching it.
Vaval could have let it bounce through the end zone and taken the ball on the 40 (I didn't check where they place it, so this could be the wrong spot).
The only reason to return any ball that goes into the end zone now is if it's obviously not going through.
Totally depends on the score, chances are a returner is not going to make it to the 40 yd. line so better to concede the point rather than provide his offence with bad field position.
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on June 13, 2026, 10:28:35 PMTotally depends on the score, chances are a returner is not going to make it to the 40 yd. line so better to concede the point rather than provide his offence with bad field position.
If the ball goes through the EZ there is no point to concede any more.
Quote from: Sir Blue and Gold on June 13, 2026, 09:59:27 PMYou'll probably see a few more punts (and therefore punt returns), a few more 3rd down gambles and a few less field goals attempts since you need to be 15 yards closer than you do now. You'll also see a significant reduction in missed field goal returns.
It's probably the only rule change that gives me pause, the missed field goal return is exciting, but overall I'm fine with it. I never watch an NFL game and think "this is not exciting because field goals can't be returned."
The real world impact is minor.
NFL fans are pretty vocal about how much the return game has been taken out of their game in recent years.
It is a very clear and definitive way the CFL is more exciting.
Quote from: Jesse on June 13, 2026, 11:20:22 PMNFL fans are pretty vocal about how much the return game has been taken out of their game in recent years.
It is a very clear and definitive way the CFL is more exciting.
Not called the no fun league for nothing
Quote from: theaardvark on June 13, 2026, 08:19:12 PMI will be surprised if the number of punt/FG returns started in the EZ (basically "missed FG retuns") does not INCREASE when the posts move back.
Am I wrong?
Except we've seen a whack ton of returners taking the knee on short/medium punts this season. Including some strange ones where I was guessing they'd take it out. If this season, even without the GP move, has more players taking knees for the rouge, then that might be the way things are going. It's kind of like the fair catch boring garbage in the NFL, except here you get a point for it.
Moving the GP won't affect that. In fact it might force even more knee/rouges because the number of short/medium punts will increase drastically because less teams will try FGs, and I doubt all of a sudden our HC's will become drunken 3rd & medium gamblers.
And that "come out to the 40Y" is such a juicy result receiving teams will salivate at the ball rolling through in the best case, to giving up 1 in the worst.