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Main Forums => The Roundtable => Topic started by: just Warren on September 07, 2018, 12:17:43 AM

Title: Any football fans here?
Post by: just Warren on September 07, 2018, 12:17:43 AM
Would getting rid of punting improve the game or make it worse?

I'm thinking it could only make it better.

I find the punt game to be the worst part of the football. Make the teams run plays from scrimmage on 4th down. Sure on failed attempts that would leave the opposing team in a good position but that works both ways.

Scoring would likely be higher and the fans would like that.

Also maybe make it that teams can't try field goals if the ball is spotted on the 10 or closer. Run a damn play! Go for the TD!
Title: Re: Any football fans here?
Post by: 230RN on September 07, 2018, 12:29:54 AM
That's the game where they raquet a ball back and forth over a net until someone gets it into the par eighteenth hole?
Title: Re: Any football fans here?
Post by: RoadKingLarry on September 07, 2018, 01:50:00 AM
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1890/44476243682_a9aef8352e_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2aLdnHC)
Title: Re: Any football fans here?
Post by: bedlamite on September 07, 2018, 01:55:21 AM
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DmSTpC5U8AAvLTj.jpg)
Title: Re: Any football fans here?
Post by: Hawkmoon on September 07, 2018, 02:53:59 AM
I don't understand why people keep wanting to change the rules. How long has punting been part of the game? Over 100 years?

Leave it be. Or change it. Who cares? We should all be boycotting football anyway, at least until the idiots decide to show respect for the flag and the national anthem.
Title: Re: Any football fans here?
Post by: Scout26 on September 07, 2018, 03:11:32 AM
Haven''t watched since 2010, haven't cared since 2015 when a spoiled multi=millionaire athlete, who was adopted by white family, decided to spit upon veterans, police, firefighters, and the military (not to mention regular patriotic Americans) and kneel during the National Anthem to protest Racism or Police or America, or *Spins Wheel*...Trump.

The fact that the player pictured above was the QB for my hometown team is fitting.  I care as much as he did.
Title: Re: Any football fans here?
Post by: RoadKingLarry on September 07, 2018, 04:28:47 AM
I honestly don't think I have ever sat and watched an entire pro or even college football game, ever.
Title: Re: Any football fans here?
Post by: K Frame on September 07, 2018, 07:01:36 AM
College football only.

And only Penn State.

*expletive deleted*ck the NFL, it's highly paid whiners, and it's ahole commissioner.
Title: Re: Any football fans here?
Post by: charby on September 07, 2018, 08:51:45 AM
I watch college ball, hardly any NFL. The only rule I would add would be any kneeling of the football in the last 2 minutes of play would result in the automatic loss of 7 points for the offensive team. Play it out to the last seconds.
Title: Re: Any football fans here?
Post by: MechAg94 on September 07, 2018, 09:04:49 AM
College football only also.  I can do without the NFL.  I heard ratings were down in the preseason even over last season.  Maybe they will eventually figure it out.

Keep punting.  Keep special teams in general and leave it alone.  IMO, if you get rid of punting, you will be putting a premium on defense as the teams that can hold the opponent without a first down more often will get the advantage.  Offenses will take fewer risks since they can't punt it away.  Scoring might increase but would be more lopsided.  Also, I think you take away a source of unpredictability from the game that makes it more interesting.  

It occurs to me that it would be like eliminating serving in Tennis.  Just have a machine shoot the ball over the net and the players start volleying back and forth.  Maybe switch to using a batting tee in baseball (for safety of course).  
Title: Re: Any football fans here?
Post by: Kingcreek on September 07, 2018, 09:09:49 AM
I haven't watched any American football except for local high school in 20 years. Actually haven't followed any "professional" sports. Totally turned off by the pro athletes.
Title: Re: Any football fans here?
Post by: dogmush on September 07, 2018, 09:25:56 AM
meh, I think any rule changes by the NFL to try and "Make the game better" are too little too late at this point.

As a side note, I'm amused by the number of folks (not just here) that are done with the NFL over player antics and/or kneeling, but will still support college football.
Title: Re: Any football fans here?
Post by: TommyGunn on September 07, 2018, 10:31:17 AM
I might ---might --- find football interesting .... if they'd make the players stop wearing all that protective gear. >:D
Title: Re: Any football fans here?
Post by: MechAg94 on September 07, 2018, 11:48:59 AM
meh, I think any rule changes by the NFL to try and "Make the game better" are too little too late at this point.

As a side note, I'm amused by the number of folks (not just here) that are done with the NFL over player antics and/or kneeling, but will still support college football.
Why?  Seen any college players kneeling during the National Anthem?  The NFL has been dipping their feet in the pond of activism for a while but it was mostly minor stuff.  The kneeling issue and the NFL's refusal to do anything about it sort of ticks people off.  The further it goes, the more people will find other things to do with their time and money. 
Title: Re: Any football fans here?
Post by: K Frame on September 07, 2018, 12:07:20 PM
I might ---might --- find football interesting .... if they'd make the players stop wearing all that protective gear. >:D


That's called Aussie Rules Football.

Hard to find a channel that carries games, but when you do, it's awesome!
Title: Re: Any football fans here?
Post by: Jamisjockey on September 07, 2018, 12:39:27 PM
So one question about football rules and 13 posts virtue signaling about not watching football?
 :facepalm:
Title: Re: Any football fans here?
Post by: Scout26 on September 07, 2018, 01:36:05 PM
The question asked in the thread title was "Any football fans here?"
Title: Re: Any football fans here?
Post by: Jamisjockey on September 07, 2018, 01:53:44 PM
The question asked in the thread title was "Any football fans here?"

🙄 then open the *expletive deleted*ing thread back up.  Op presented a scenario and got nothing but bullshit answers.  *expletive deleted*ed if I care if don’t agree then open it.
Jesus *expletive deleted*ing Christ on a flaming pogo stick.
Title: Re: Any football fans here?
Post by: 230RN on September 08, 2018, 01:41:07 AM
I guess some people here have too much steam spirit.

By the tone and tenor of the responses, I guess the answer to the actual OP question is:  "Not that many any more."

Andy Griffith thereon:

https://youtu.be/oNxLxTZHKM8 (5:40)

I'm not signing this one so nobody can get steamed at me

Title: Re: Any football fans here?
Post by: freakazoid on September 08, 2018, 02:14:29 AM
I thought thread drift was par for the course? Not to mention that some actually did address the question about punting...

Also, I am not a football fan. Rugby seems more interesting, but I don't watch that either.

 =D
Title: Re: Any football fans here?
Post by: HankB on September 08, 2018, 07:44:47 AM
What little (and I DO mean little) interest I had in watching football faded several decades ago when it became obvious that the officials weren't just influencing the outcome, but were obviously picking the winners.

But maybe if the players - at least the linemen - began wearing pickelhaube, I might take a look.

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/05/Bundesarchiv_Bild_183-R11105%2C_Kaiser_Wilhelm_II.%2C_August_v._Mackensen_crop.jpg)
Title: Re: Any football fans here?
Post by: Ron on September 08, 2018, 07:53:41 AM
The commercialization and monetizing of “games” pretty much drove me away. That and the influence sports lunkheads have outside their specialty, playing a game.

I then became anti team sports and took up a lot of physical activities that were more individualistic.

In hindsight I threw out the baby with the bath water.

I now believe  team sports are something all boys and young men should participate in for all the life lessons you can learn.

The glorification of sports stars is still something I find to be wrong. It’s a game, not reality.
Title: Re: Any football fans here?
Post by: Jamisjockey on September 08, 2018, 08:15:04 AM
I don't mind punting.  For me it's the penalties.  The pace of the game is getting slower.
Title: Re: Any football fans here?
Post by: T.O.M. on September 08, 2018, 09:37:57 AM
Back to the OP, I do enjoy college football and often attend high school games.  The pregame tailgates, the marching bands, the rivalries.  A sunny fall day on a college campus, charcoal scent in the air, love it.  Yeah, forget pro ball.

As to punting, I say leave it.  There's a strategic decision to be made, the risk of a blocked punt, the thrill of a run back.  Leave it

Oh, and while we talk football...Go Army!  Beat Navy!.
Title: Re: Any football fans here?
Post by: charby on September 08, 2018, 09:55:43 AM
Back to the OP, I do enjoy college football and often attend high school games.  The pregame tailgates, the marching bands, the rivalries.  A sunny fall day on a college campus, charcoal scent in the air, love it.  Yeah, forget pro ball.

As to punting, I say leave it.  There's a strategic decision to be made, the risk of a blocked punt, the thrill of a run back.  Leave it

Oh, and while we talk football...Go Army!  Beat Navy!.

Why I try to go to at least 2 college games a year, definitely a lot of fun just being there. I don't watch NFL because of time, I already wasted 4-5 hours on Saturday watching college ball, need to catch up on Sunday.
Title: Re: Any football fans here?
Post by: Ron on September 08, 2018, 09:56:29 AM
I don't mind punting.  For me it's the penalties.  The pace of the game is getting slower.

Was there a time with no punting?

I cannot imagine football without punting.

Title: Re: Any football fans here?
Post by: just Warren on September 08, 2018, 01:57:30 PM
I do agree with there being too many penalties. False start should only be called if the player moves the position of one of his feet or his hand if in a three point stance. Otherwise let him wiggle around as much as he likes.

Pass interference should only be called for major contact, I think that's what it's supposed to be but I've seen a lot of calls where the defender was just touching the receiver, not dragging his arm down or knocking him to the ground.

Going back to punting I really don't think it adds much to the game. But then I don't like any of the parts of the kicking game. KOs, XPs, FGs, pooch kicks and free kicks could all be eliminated as far as I'm concerned.

Ironically this would take the foot out of football.

To replace KOs I would do a version of this
Quote
Schiano proposes that after a touchdown or field goal, the scoring team retains possession, getting the football on its own 30, facing fourth-and-15. The team either can go for it or punt it away. In effect, punts would replace kickoffs.

Only there would be no punt option and you would have the ball at the 50.

There would be no field goals anymore and for extra points you can choose to spot the ball right at the goal line and convert you get one point, put it at the two and get two points, move back to the ten and get three points for a conversion.

To replace free kicks after a safety the team that caused the safety gets the ball at their own 30.
Title: Re: Any football fans here?
Post by: Fly320s on September 08, 2018, 02:11:09 PM
🙄 then open the *expletive deleted*ing thread back up.  Op presented a scenario and got nothing but bullshit answers.  *expletive deleted*ed if I care if don’t agree then open it.
Jesus *expletive deleted*ing Christ on a flaming pogo stick.

Have you tried any natural supplements to help with your anger issues?  I can put you in touch with a lady who sells that stuff.
Title: Re: Any football fans here?
Post by: RoadKingLarry on September 08, 2018, 02:33:47 PM
🙄 then open the *expletive deleted*ing thread back up.  Op presented a scenario and got nothing but bullshit answers.  *expletive deleted*ed if I care if don’t agree then open it.
Jesus *expletive deleted*ing Christ on a flaming pogo stick.

(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1900/29618010927_f7e20aa86c_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/M8f3LP)
Title: Re: Any football fans here?
Post by: K Frame on September 10, 2018, 08:05:06 AM
 :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
Title: Re: Any football fans here?
Post by: K Frame on September 10, 2018, 08:23:55 AM
OK, all of the virtue signaling and screechy moderating going on, I'll answer your question...

I think eliminating the punt would:

1. Speed the game up.

2. Make it higher scoring.

3. Make it a lot worse, overall.

Believe it or not, punting is a significant part of the overall game strategy, and I think a really underappreciated one.

A really good punter can control placement of the ball, drop it where he wants it, make it hang, or turn it into almost a forward pass with a line drive spiral.

Other than increasing scoring, I really don't how eliminating the punt would make the game better.
Title: Re: Any football fans here?
Post by: Hawkmoon on September 10, 2018, 09:35:06 AM
To replace KOs I would do a version of this

Quote
Schiano proposes that after a touchdown or field goal, the scoring team retains possession, getting the football on its own 30, facing fourth-and-15. The team either can go for it or punt it away. In effect, punts would replace kickoffs.

Only there would be no punt option and you would have the ball at the 50.


While we're at it, let's change basketball so that when a team scores a basket or free throw, they get the ball again at mid-court, instead of turning it over to the other team.

That's really what you're proposing.
Title: Re: Any football fans here?
Post by: Hawkmoon on September 10, 2018, 09:39:15 AM
OK, all of the virtue signaling and screechy moderating going on, I'll answer your question...

I think eliminating the punt would:

1. Speed the game up.

2. Make it higher scoring.

3. Make it a lot worse, overall.

Believe it or not, punting is a significant part of the overall game strategy, and I think a really underappreciated one.

A really good punter can control placement of the ball, drop it where he wants it, make it hang, or turn it into almost a forward pass with a line drive spiral.

Other than increasing scoring, I really don't how eliminating the punt would make the game better.

I don't see how eliminating the punt would speed up the game. A punt play doesn't take significantly more time than a long-ish run or a long-ish pass play. What's the fascination with speeding up the game? Football games are regulated by a clock. It's not like baseball, which has no clock and a game can theoretically last for several days.
Title: Re: Any football fans here?
Post by: K Frame on September 10, 2018, 10:33:47 AM
You think football is regulated only by the clock?

If that were true, a 1 hour game wouldn't last 3.5 to 4 hours, or even longer in some cases.

And it would speed up the game. Every time there's a punt there's a significant amount of shifting of the teams on the field, both in getting special teams players in on both sides and in getting both teams positioned.

Then you need to get the special teams players out again, reset the line of scrimmage and all of the associated officials.

If you maintained the teams at the line of scrimmage with a turnover at point of possession after 4 downs, you'd eliminate anywhere from 30 seconds to a minute on each play, and that's not counting the inevitable TV timeouts that are taken on either side of the punt/change of possession.



Title: Re: Any football fans here?
Post by: Fly320s on September 10, 2018, 07:41:40 PM
If that were true, a 1 hour game wouldn't last 3.5 to 4 hours, or even longer in some cases.

If you really want to speed up the game, run the clock like they do in European soccer games.  The clock runs for 90 minutes and hardly ever stops.  No commercial breaks.  Only a few timeouts.  Substitutions happen on the clock.  Incomplete pass?  Clock keeps running.  Player runs out of bounds?  Clock keeps running.
Title: Re: Any football fans here?
Post by: charby on September 10, 2018, 08:26:48 PM
If you really want to speed up the game, run the clock like they do in European soccer games.  The clock runs for 90 minutes and hardly ever stops.  No commercial breaks.  Only a few timeouts.  Substitutions happen on the clock.  Incomplete pass?  Clock keeps running.  Player runs out of bounds?  Clock keeps running.

Football is not played like Football, wouldn't work.
Title: Re: Any football fans here?
Post by: just Warren on September 10, 2018, 08:46:36 PM
I read an article about a guy who wrote up a version of football that used innings instead of a game clock. I had the article saved but that drive crashed so I don't have the details.

I do remember that each change of possession would advance the game a half-inning.

So if you scored and then kicked on-side and recovered that is still one possession but if the other team recovers then it is their half of the inning.

However if the offense (team A) turns the ball over and in the ensuing return the defense (team B) fumbles the ball back to team A then that counts as three possessions used: Team A's ended then Team B's started and ended and lastly Team A starts a new possession.

Of course theoretically this means that a game could end in about a minute if there's enough turnovers and someone has scored.
Title: Re: Any football fans here?
Post by: Fly320s on September 10, 2018, 08:49:26 PM
Football is not played like Football, wouldn't work.

Like football, football is governed by rules.  If you want to make football more like football, just change the football rules.
Title: Re: Any football fans here?
Post by: zxcvbob on September 10, 2018, 08:56:49 PM
I've never been much of a football fan.  I don't know all the subtleties of the game.  I'll occasionally watch the Superbowl, or watch the Aggies if they are on TV. 
Title: Re: Any football fans here?
Post by: French G. on September 10, 2018, 10:28:39 PM
Not sure why I don't like football. I used to have college season tickets and like the gameday atmosphere, but for watching, I prefer baseball. The strategy there is a lot more subtle and a lot more involved. I started trying to follow cricket, mainly because I find the rules confusing as hell. And the betting, cheating, and match fixing makes it all the more entertaining.
Title: Re: Any football fans here?
Post by: Andiron on September 10, 2018, 10:32:23 PM
WRT the OP,  no,  I don't think kickoffs should go away.

That said,  saw a guy wearing a shirt at the Renn Faire this weekend that said "make football violent again".  Mostly agreed.  thousands of yards of penalties for the new helmet rule during preseason seems harsh.  And all that said to say I don't really get into the NFL.  I'll read the scores on monday, but that's about it.  My local team sucks, and even if they were awesome, I'm just no that into it (CLE Browns)
Title: Re: Any football fans here?
Post by: just Warren on September 10, 2018, 10:35:06 PM
Hey, the Browns broke their losing streak on Sunday!
Title: Re: Any football fans here?
Post by: Jamisjockey on September 11, 2018, 08:10:52 AM
Hey, the Browns broke their losing streak on Sunday!

 :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Title: Re: Any football fans here?
Post by: MechAg94 on September 11, 2018, 03:28:12 PM
WRT the OP,  no,  I don't think kickoffs should go away.

That said,  saw a guy wearing a shirt at the Renn Faire this weekend that said "make football violent again".  Mostly agreed.  thousands of yards of penalties for the new helmet rule during preseason seems harsh.  And all that said to say I don't really get into the NFL.  I'll read the scores on monday, but that's about it.  My local team sucks, and even if they were awesome, I'm just no that into it (CLE Browns)
The way I have seen the new targeting rule used this year seems more about eliminating spearing with the crown of the helmet and encouraging traditional tackling techniques.  My only issue with it in the past was it seemed to be applied inconsistently.  I hope that improves.  Not all of the problem is with the referees.  Some of it is just bad coaching. 

Field Goals, punts, and kickoffs are an integral part of football along with special teams in general.  Eliminating it would completely change things and take away a great deal of the unpredictability of the game which is part of what makes it fun to watch. 

What I don't understand is:
1.  Why do people want to radically change a game such that it is a completely different game?  I guess these discussions are a good reason to bring it up. 
2.  Why do people who don't follow/watch football at all think anyone cares about their suggestions?   =D 
Title: Re: Any football fans here?
Post by: MechAg94 on September 11, 2018, 03:29:51 PM
One way to shorten football games is to tell the TV people they can't have their own time outs for commercials.  But no one wants to kill the golden goose.
Title: Re: Any football fans here?
Post by: Andiron on September 11, 2018, 06:06:36 PM
:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:




Laugh it up,  the Browns are currently undefeated!!
Title: Re: Any football fans here?
Post by: MechAg94 on September 12, 2018, 09:49:01 AM
https://www.forbes.com/sites/chrissmith/2018/09/11/college-footballs-most-valuable-teams/#442965606c64
College Football's Most Valuable Teams

I saw this headline today and thought it was appropriate.  Texas A&M Aggies are No. 1. 
Quote
Across the three years prior to last season, Texas A&M averaged annual revenues of $148 million, the most of any program in the nation.

When you hear about coaching salaries and all the money spent, remember that the top college football programs make a great deal of revenue. 

(https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/5b97a60aa7ea434b99d5ed10/960x0.jpg?fit=scale)
Title: Re: Any football fans here?
Post by: MechAg94 on September 12, 2018, 09:50:55 AM
Also, when you see a team like Alabama play a very small school and win by 50 points, the small school is typically getting paid good chunk of money to do that (often a big chunk of their annual revenue).  It is even sweeter when the small school wins and still gets paid.
Title: Re: Any football fans here?
Post by: just Warren on September 12, 2018, 12:36:14 PM
But maybe doesn't get invited back.
Title: Re: Any football fans here?
Post by: K Frame on September 12, 2018, 01:37:32 PM
NCAA Division 1 powerhouses taking on smaller, less capable opponents is sort of the big teams' "fall training warm up." It's supposed to be a pretty easy game, they can solidify the plays and give everyone some playing time as a warm up.

Occasionally, though, things won't go as planned...

Penn State's first game of the season was against Appalachian State. AS has a decent team, but they're not a contender. They did upset Michigan in the first game of the season in 2007, a game which has been called one of the greatest upsets in NCAA history... Michigan was ranked number 5 before the game... and became the first team ever to fall completely out of the top 25 because of a single game loss.

It looked as if PSU was going to roll over AS, but AS' offense went white hot in the second half, and they had the lead with less than a minute to go. It took a touchdown by Penn State on the last drive, and a TD and interception in overtime, for PSU to eek out the win.

PSU dropped from 10 to 13 in the national standings because of that game.

The BEST thing about that game, though, was the reaction of the Penn State fans. As the Appalachian State team left the field, 100,000 fans gave them a standing ovation.
Title: Re: Any football fans here?
Post by: MechAg94 on September 12, 2018, 03:00:09 PM
NCAA Division 1 powerhouses taking on smaller, less capable opponents is sort of the big teams' "fall training warmup." It's supposed to be a pretty easy game, they can solidify the plays and give everyone some

Occasionally, though, things won't go as planned...

Penn State's first game of the season was against Appalachian State. AS has a decent team, but they're not a contender. They did upset Michigan in the first game of the season in 2007, a game which has been called one of the greatest upsets in NCAA history... Michigan was ranked number 5 before the game... and became the first time ever to fall completely out of the top 25 because of a single game loss.

It looked as if PSU was going to roll over AS, but AS' offense went white hot in the second half, and they had the lead with less than a minute to go. It took a touchdown by Penn State on the last drive, and a TD and interception in overtime, for PSU to eek out the win.

PSU dropped from 10 to 13 in the national standings because of that game.

The BEST thing about that game, though, was the reaction of the Penn State fans. As the Appalachian State team left the field, 100,000 fans gave them a standing ovation.
That is pretty cool.
Title: Re: Any football fans here?
Post by: just Warren on September 16, 2018, 01:12:52 PM
So in the NFL now, on kick-offs, the kicking team has to wait for the ball to be kicked before they start moving.

They used to be able to line up behind the line and get a running start. Now they stand at the line and wait for the kick.

That is really going to reduce the odds of recovering an onside kick. Which, despite my lack of love for the kicking game in general, I've always found to be an exciting play.
Title: Re: Any football fans here?
Post by: MechAg94 on September 16, 2018, 04:31:42 PM
Wouldn't it be simpler to just move them back further or increase the free ball distance from 10 yards to 15 yards?
Title: Re: Any football fans here?
Post by: just Warren on October 09, 2018, 12:29:26 PM
So instead of eliminating punting how about changing the rules so that the ball becomes live after it passes the line-of-scrimmage?

That would open up a while new area for punt team trickery. And that would increase the entertainment value of punting.
Title: Re: Any football fans here?
Post by: charby on October 09, 2018, 02:15:42 PM
So instead of eliminating punting how about changing the rules so that the ball becomes live after it passes the line-of-scrimmage?

That would open up a while new area for punt team trickery. And that would increase the entertainment value of punting.

I believe that is called Rugby