Wanted: Good Kickers

[Duffman]

Sunday, November 20, 2016, is a day that will live in infamy for NFL place kickers.

On 12 different occasions Sunday, a kicker lined up for an extra-point attempt following a touchdown and walked away empty-handed. Two kickers -- Mike Nugent and Robbie Gould -- missed a pair of PATs in the early games on Sunday. The 12 misses represent the most we've ever seen in one week, breaking the record of 10 that had stood for 46 years. There have been seven Sundays when 10 kicks were missed -- most recently in Week 2 of the 1985 season -- but never before now had we seen more than that.

The new record comes with a significant caveat: Until last year, PATs came from a distance of 17 yards out. In 2015, the NFL started spotting the ball at the 15-yard line -- making it a 32- or 33-yard attempt. So missing these quicks isn't quite as embarrassing ... but it's still pretty damn bad.

And if you're not entirely on-board with this, "Hey, let's give kickers a bigger role in determining the outcome of games!" hook, well, yeah ... just know you're not alone.

______________

If those keeps up things will get ugly come negotiation time.

 

[PatsFan2003]

An example of a great rule change... Now you hold your breath for every kick.

 

[kap1959]

Yeah, I like that its not automatic anymore. Well, it is for Bailey and Tucker, but not for most.

 

[fordman84]

I think had the Steelers not pretty much lost the Dallas game by going for 2 so often, or so the blame falls, then after this weekend we would see a lot more going for 2.

I like the change. Adds strategy to the game.

 

[SoCalWizFan]

In some cases - as you witnessed last nt - you are going to see more of this now that weather will be a factor. The conditions last nt made it very difficult to kick when you were going in a certain direction.

 

[flyerhawk]

Great rule change. Makes the game more interesting.

 

[jarntt]

Great rule change. Makes the game more interesting.

A little too interesting. IMO...maybe they over did it a little...

 

[cdumler7]

I love the rule change. We are seeing special teams mean so much more in today's game. Same with teams now trying to pin teams back on kick offs with kicking it high and short. It has just added a new level to the game that teams have to prepare for.

 

[flyerhawk]

A little too interesting. IMO...maybe they over did it a little...

I dunno. I always thought the PAT was pointless. Now it matters.

 

[jarntt]

I dunno. I always thought the PAT was pointless. Now it matters.

The odds seemed correct in the past. Basically 100% for 1 point or 50% for two points. Now...I don't know what it is. I'm guessing the statistics would say go for 2 every time if you don't have an elite kicker

 

[flyerhawk]

The odds seemed correct in the past. Basically 100% for 1 point or 50% for two points. Now...I don't know what it is. I'm guessing the statistics would say go for 2 every time if you don't have an elite kicker

But I like that. Teams almost never went for 2 except in clear cases where it was necessary.

Now you have teams going for 2 all the time.

 

[OregonDucks]

I really am shocked how much it has affected the game. It's not like they made it a 45 year FG. Kickers are hiting 40+ yard field goals more accurately then these PATs.

I mean you have ONE JOB. You get paid 6 figures, maybe more to do it and you cant make the PAT?

 

[NWPATSFAN]

I like the change to both the KO & PAT. Like others said it's made the game more interesting. Bad weather has just started and as bad as the kickers have been this year, I see the missed PAT record get broken again.

 

[NWPATSFAN]

Teams need to hire shrinks. Kickers have made 44 out of 45 FGs from the same distance. Yet missed 48 PATs (I think that was the number)?

 

[Used 2 B Hu]

This was a much-needed rule change.

There was a time when I thought they should just eliminate the PAT and make the TD 7 points automatically. This has actually injected some intrigue into the games.

There's something about lining up at the 2 with your Jumbo package on the field, and going, "here it comes, stop it if you can..."

 

[PatsFan2003]

But I like that. Teams almost never went for 2 except in clear cases where it was necessary.

Now you have teams going for 2 all the time.

Well except that works real bad when you don't make any of the 2 pt attempts. I think Tomlin went overboard with the concept.

 

[boogiewithstu2007]

I love the rule change. We are seeing special teams mean so much more in today's game. Same with teams now trying to pin teams back on kick offs with kicking it high and short. It has just added a new level to the game that teams have to prepare for.

I like that rule change also.. I don't like a lot of the rule changes, but that one is pretty good...