Defenderdawg posted the article this morning in his listing that was interesting.
With the preseason experiment to have extra points be 33 yard attempts, Coughlin had a much different view.
| "I didn’t think much of it when it was suggested," he said. "There are some ways to change that part of it if the intent is to make it more exciting. I think that certainly would be one of them. I think you have to be aware of the fact that it’s a 33-yard field goal in November when the wind’s blowing and it’s snowing here and it’s… in Miami it’s 75 degrees. It’s a little different in different parts of the country. You do have to be aware of that. I would say probably the ball will stay at the two, extra points. But if you really want to make it interesting put it at the one." |
I never thought of this. Coughlin brings up something that I hope would be considered.
If the ball were at the 1 yard line, what would a team do? One would have to examine the last 5 to 10 seasons of success/failure rates to see the numbers.
More teams you would think would opt to go for the 2. Some conservative types would opt for 1 and face the criticism that his team didn't go for it when they just needed 36 inches.
Should the NFL use Tom's idea?
Link - (
New Window )
Moving it depending on if you are going for 1 or 2 is just stupid because it eliminates the chance of a fake.
Another change that I would not balk on is allowing the defense 1 point for returning a extra point fumble, block or int to the end zone. I wouldn't ask for that change, but I wouldn't be against it either.
Because no other play in the game currently has a 99% rate of success.
Given the above, the simple solution is to simply eliminate the 1 point extra point kick. Leave the ball where it has been on the 2 yard line and force teams to add an "exciting scoring play opportunity", with some potential reward.
The record books wouldn't need to change (i.e. TDs are still 6 points and the "value" of a 2 point conversion is as it was).
For the 2013 season (according to the link below), there were 69 2 point conversion attempted with 33 being successful for a success percentage of 47.8%. Of 1267 extra points attempted (according to the same site) in 2013, only 4 were blocked and 1 was missed for a success rate of 99.6%. That is why, when I'm watching a game delayed via DVR, I skip watching the extra point (a 4 in 1000 chance it will be missed).
Eliminate the "automatic" extra point kick and replace it with the 2 point conversion with only about a 1 in 2 chance of success. We would have seen 1300+ 2 point conversions in 2013 if the extra point had been eliminated.
Do it Roger!
Team Two Point Conversion Statistics: 2013 NFL Season - ( New Window )
At the 2 yard line, I'd guess there would be a lot more passing plays, which again is more exciting / interesting.
Moving the extra point to the 1 yard line is better than the current system, but I still think simply eliminating the kick is the better solution.
I added the link for the extra point kick statistics.
Team Extra Point Statistics: 2013 NFL Season - ( New Window )
But even then I say moving the kick forward simply makes kick play even more meaningless, so we should just give 7 for a TD or 6 and the 2pt try...it'd be great from the 1 to really add intrigue to it, but moving the kick ahead when the fact it's so easy is the issue makes little sense IMO.
Of course I am ignoring revenue / advertising concerns...a whole 'nother ball of wax as a fan I don't care about.
Stats on 1yd vs 2yd % from ESPN - ( New Window )