2022 Rule Changes

[Blue In BC]

Back to the actual rules changed. Most seem to make sense as an effort to improve the field position for the offence. We'll see how that changes how strategy is changed during games.

Kickers that can accurately place the ball on punts becomes even more important.  I like the general idea the returners may get better chances to open it up so to speak. The 15 yard penalty for no yards is going to create some space to ensure players don't get called.

There were never many times that happened in the first place but it also could improve safety for returners.

[TecnoGenius]

I think the intent on a punt single would be the same as a missed FG. Ball will come out to the 40 yard line.

That's a good point... if it's 40 as well, then singles will be very unattractive.  Going for the coffin now seems very, very risky.  Guess that's what they wanted, so makes sense.  Will anyone go for coffin anymore?

This guy ruined it for everyone:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Bb0n4pNwBw

Jeez!!  Makes more sense now.  But, man, how are you going to judge that in realtime?  Dude only really dragged his leg a bit.  What if a QB gets called for this when they were just a bit sloppy with their running?

NAT QB loopholes: Keep in mind that if you roster a NAT QB now that he counts toward the 7 starters, if he get injured, you have to replace him with a NAT, or yank an IMP WR and put in a NAT there.  I guess that's why BC is going for 2 NAT QBs.  Really no different than us rostering NAT RBs behind AH.

[NewBlue]

This guy ruined it for everyone:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Bb0n4pNwBw
Banned in the NCAA too.

Pickett stays in Pittsburgh as he just got picked by the Steelers.

[Lincoln Locomotive]

Not a fan of starting at the 40 YL....personally I agree with Trestman.   Leave the rules alone and focus on marketing strategies....

[ModAdmin]

First and Goal | Rule Changes

Just a guess here, but right about now offensive and defensive coordinators across the Canadian Football League are doing the mad-scientist thing to their playbooks. And special teams coordinators, too.

Earlier this week the league announced its 2022 rule changes as part of an effort to increase scoring and capitalize on the things that make the three-down game unique. The key changes will see the hashmarks moved closer together, kickoffs pushed back and all no-yards penalties - whether the ball bounces to the returner or is caught in the air - now covering 15 yards.

"I like the dynamics of all of it," said Blue Bombers defensive end Willie Jefferson this week. "It makes the league more fun. It is a scoring league, a passing league. Fans like touchdowns. We like touchdowns - when it?s from our guys only. We want our boys to score. And we'll still try to keep you out of our end zone as best we can and give our guys ample opportunities to get in the end zone.

"What I think is going to see happen is you're going to see a lot more three-receiver sets to the boundary side," he said. "The throws to the field side are closer now, so there will be more concepts in attacking the two men to the field (halfback and corner), whereas in the past the only time you were throwing to the two-man field side was when you are throwing in-breaking routes because it was too far to throw out there. There's going to be more opportunities for the field half and field corner to see a lot more action and a lot more noise out there."

The Blue Bombers pride themselves on discovering defenders with versatility to play multiple positions, especially in the secondary. Brandon Alexander is an example of that, as he has taken snaps at almost all five positions in the defensive backfield. That approach will come in handy with the impact the hashmarks move will have on defence.

"It definitely puts a lot more pressure on the defence with the hashmarks being moved inside," said Alexander. ?There won't be as much movement between the hashes and it could be that 'strong side and weak side' become obsolete and both sides will just have to know both sides.

"It levels the playing the field on both sides - offence and defence - on how far the throws are. It puts a lot of onus on the defence, for sure, and we're going to have to make a lot of adjustments. You can't really tell any more - as far as splits - where receivers are going to line up. At the end of the day, there's nothing we can really do about rule changes. We'll just keep playing football and find some way to manage that situation."

"The fans want touchdowns, our guys will give them touchdowns. But we want them to come from our team only."

Blue Bombers slotback Nic Demski offered an offensive take on the narrowing of the hashmarks, indicating the move could lead to a more balanced attack by offences on both sides of the field - just as the move was designed to do.

More on the players views on the rule changes...

https://www.bluebombers.com/2022/04/30/first-and-goal-rule-changes/

[TecnoGenius]

More on the players views on the rule changes...
https://www.bluebombers.com/2022/04/30/first-and-goal-rule-changes/

This link has an embedded video in point 1. 

"Just prior to the unveiling the fans in attendance were treated to 'Road to the Grey Cup: Back-to-Back' - the wonderful video put together by Riley Marra, the club's Senior Manager, Digital Media."

This vid is awesome.  If you haven't seen it, check it out.  Tons of great shots that were never aired on TSN.  Lots of Knuckles.  Lots of Bomber reactions/emotions.  The emotions right after winning are moving.

Just super.

[Pete]

Just looking at the rule changes after 2 weeks:
1. Moving hash marks has opened up the field (and exposed our weakness more at safety/
2. Having teams start at the 40 after  kicks to the endzone hasn't been good...several of new rules were aimed to make returns more exciting, but this rule  eager to give up single. Even if you get a good return like Grant had , he didn't make the 40.
3. 2 QBs on field so far a non factor

Rules they should have done:
1 Make delay of games a 10 yd penalty..it's painful to watch coaches like Dickenson do the fake gamble thing and slows down the game
2 Have command center more leeway to overturn bad and missed calls such as the obvious hit to the head on Schoen in game 1.

[Blue In BC]

Just looking at the rule changes after 2 weeks:
1. Moving hash marks has opened up the field (and exposed our weakness more at safety/
2. Having teams start at the 40 after  kicks to the endstone hasn't been good...several of new rules were aimed to make returns more exciting, but this rule  eager to give up single. Even if you get a good return like Grant had , he didn't make the 40.
3. 2 QBs on field so far a non factor

Rules they should have done:
1 Make delay of games a 10 yd penalty..it's painful to watch coaches like Dickenson do the fake gamble thing and slows down the game
2 Have command center more leeway to overturn bad and missed calls such as the obvious hit to the head on Schoen in game 1.

Most teams have returned to the 3 QB's on the game day roster.

I agree starting at the 40 yard line after FG's has not been good for the return game.

[TecnoGenius]

Just looking at the rule changes after 2 weeks:
1. Moving hash marks has opened up the field (and exposed our weakness more at safety/

And has it helped the kickers?  I think there are as many/more misses so far this season as (awful) 2021?  What has happened to the kick game in the CFL?!?!

2. Having teams start at the 40 after  kicks to the endzone hasn't been good...several of new rules were aimed to make returns more exciting, but this rule  eager to give up single. Even if you get a good return like Grant had , he didn't make the 40.

Noticed how more teams are going for it on 3rd down when they reach midfield?  CGY doing that a ton.  I'm screaming at them like "what are you thinking?".  Who does that?  I guess the new coffin rules entice them to just go for it?  It's like we're the NFL all of a sudden.  I just don't get it.

I'm glad MOS doesn't do that.

However... I think we seriously need to consider always going for 2 PAT.  If Leggs is going to miss half the PAT, the odds say we'll come out way ahead.  Yes, we'd have to tool and practice for 2 PAT as we basically never bother (and it showed last game).

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

And has it helped the kickers?  I think there are as many/more misses so far this season as (awful) 2021?  What has happened to the kick game in the CFL?!?!

Noticed how more teams are going for it on 3rd down when they reach midfield?  CGY doing that a ton.  I'm screaming at them like "what are you thinking?".  Who does that?  I guess the new coffin rules entice them to just go for it?  It's like we're the NFL all of a sudden.  I just don't get it.

I'm glad MOS doesn't do that.

However... I think we seriously need to consider always going for 2 PAT.  If Leggs is going to miss half the PAT, the odds say we'll come out way ahead.  Yes, we'd have to tool and practice for 2 PAT as we basically never bother (and it showed last game).

I think it makes the game more interesting, much more so than when converts were automatic.  Pushing it back to 32 yds. allows for wind and weather to influence the kick, as it probably did in Ottawa and almost always does in windy stadiums like Hamilton.

[TecnoGenius]

I think it makes the game more interesting, much more so than when converts were automatic.  Pushing it back to 32 yds. allows for wind and weather to influence the kick, as it probably did in Ottawa and almost always does in windy stadiums like Hamilton.

Since the 32y rule change like 5 years ago, the success rate in all but '21 and '22 was very, very high, and not just for our Money Medlock.  Stats Junkie can get them for us, I'm sure 

It was a rare day 1PAT were missed in '17 and '18.  Maybe one every couple/few weeks?  Now we're getting a missed 1PAT several times a week!!  And missed FGs from the 20 regularly.  It may spice up the games, but it's actually pretty pathetic.

[Stats Junkie]

The CFL goal in moving the convert scrimmage to the 25 yard line was 85%

2015 - 85.4
2016 - 90.7
2017 - 89.9
2018 - 93.0
2019 - 93.4
2021 - 91.8
2022 - 88.9

Field goal rates over the same years
2015 - 81.9
2016 - 82.7
2017 - 84.0
2018 - 88.3
2019 - 84.3
2021 - 79.8
2022 - 85.7

[Pete]

i think our field goal kickers lowered the 21 rate all by themselves

[TecnoGenius]

The CFL goal in moving the convert scrimmage to the 25 yard line was 85%

2018 - 93.0
2019 - 93.4
2021 - 91.8
2022 - 88.9

That's Junkie!  You are da man!!  It's like I have a magic stats fairy: I just mention a stats thing and poof, next day Junkie posts the stats.  I have no idea how you come up with this stuff so fast, you must have some major data storage and distillation going on on your computer.

So my hunch PAT (and kicking in general) has been going down hill lately is true.  I guess plenty of time for the league K's to improve their PATs this season, but I wouldn't be money they do!

Pete: haha, ya, Ali and that Japanese GLOB in BC for a while may have been repsonsible for almost all of that 2021 sub-80% FG rate.  BC fired that GLOB super fast, what was our excuse?  2022 looks to be a similar adventure for WPG kicking... sigh.