Last offseason, NFL officials tabled a proposal that would allow teams to line up on their own 25-yard line and convert a “fourth-and-15” play to retain possession of the ball in lieu of attempting an onside kick.
If the offense fails to move the ball fifteen yards, the defense takes over on their opponent’s 25-yard line or where the fourth-and-15 play ended.. While a majority of team owners scoffed at the suggestion, Commissioner Roger Goodell expects more discussion regarding the rule change in the coming offseason.
The Increased Rate of Fourth Down Attempts
In a Nov. 4 league memo obtained by CNBC, the National Football League revealed that more teams are pressing their luck on fourth down and converting more often.
Through the first 8 weeks of the 2020 season, teams have gone for it on fourth-and-one nearly 60% of the time, compared with an average of 42% from 2010 to 2019. The conversion rate of fourth downs during this season is up 7% over the same period from 2010 to 2019.. The NFL also noted that there have been 200 fewer punts through Week 8 when compared to the 2019 season. The return rates of kickoffs (34.6%) and punts (40.5%) are also down.. With more teams taking a chance on fourth down, special teams are returning the ball at significantly lower rates. As a result, the league believes teams would be more inclined to keep their offense on the field for all four downs.. “We think this is a rule that we should bring back to the committee in the offseason and consider in the spring [meetings] for the 2021 season,” Goodell said during a recent two-hour league meeting.. “It is something that we have thought, and many clubs have thought, would be an exciting addition to the game, and it’s something that I think merits further discussion.”
Why the New Rule Will be Good for Football
The increase in fourth-down attempts and conversions reveal this simple fact: teams want to score quickly and often. In an offense-driven league, clubs need to capitalize on every chance they get to put the ball in the endzone and this includes extending drives on fourth down.
Prior to the 2018 season, the NFL introduced a new rule it claimed would make kickoffs much safer. Players were no longer allowed to get a running start before the kick. They also had to be distributed evenly on either side of the kicker.. While the intent to achieve player safety is understandable, the new provision made onside kicks virtually impossible. The kicking team had no chance at recovering the ball after it had traveled 10 yards.. The proposed Fourth-and-15 rule would completely alter a team’s ability to retain possession after they scored.. The more teams punch the ball into the endzone, the more opportunities they’ll have to perform the alternative onside kick. Not only will this make the game more exciting, but teams will also be able to create an entirely new Fourth-and-15 package to bolster their offense.. Throw and run the ball more. Kick it less. That’s the key to retaining the thrill of the National Football League.