Rules Question

[SicEmBaylor]

I know this is extremely unlikely, but what would happen if a punter managed to punt the ball through the uprights? Would it count as a FG?

[soonergirlNeugene]

Well, I didn't know the answer...but there is this newfangled thing called google and I was able to type your question into it and get some answers...


Points can result ONLY from "kicks from placement", which means the ball MUST be kicked off the ground. That is: the ball HAS to contact the turf, without exception.
A punt, indeed, is NOT truly even a kick, the ball is impacted by the "dip" at the front of the ankle, above the foot. A drop kick is unleashed WHEN the ball impacts the ground. A couple of years ago, Belichek let Doug Flutie score an extra point on a drop kick, the first one in the NFL in around 50 years. It used to be a great way to kick field goals, without necessarily lining up in placement formation, but it went out of vogue after specialist kickers became common. However, like the old single wing formation, it may stage a return very soon.

[Aries]

Kickers used to kick field goals without holders by "drop kicking" the ball, but it had to touch the ground simultaneously as the kicker's toe hit it in order to be eligible for points. The ball was a little more rounded at the points then, making it far easier to do that than it would be now. The above post is correct, if it does not contact the ground it would not be a "field goal", otherwise you would see teams "punt" from outside the 20 yard line so that if they kicked it through the uprights they would get three points, if they missed it would be placed at the 20 rather than at the point the field goal was attempted as it is now. There really wouldn't EVER be a reason to line up for a traditional field goal, you would always punt so that you got whichever was the greater benefit of the result.

[Turd_Ferguson]

Drop kick fail...

http://www.nfl.com/videos/new-orleans-saints/09000d5d8266eec5/Brees-attempts-dropkick

[NorthernIowaSooner]

Flutie did it in '06. I remember them saying it was a while since it happened but 1941 is pretty crazy (or not cause that has to be pretty darn hard to do).

If the NFL wants to liven up PATs they should go back to this.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2277308

[SoonerBorn]

Drop kick fail...

http://www.nfl.com/videos/new-orleans-saints/09000d5d8266eec5/Brees-attempts-dropkick

Heh... After a 15 second commercial it said the video was unavailable. 😁

[Turd_Ferguson]

Heh... After a 15 second commercial it said the video was unavailable. 

Sorry.

Mrx3-2OBqBc

[Aries]

This was the last one that worked


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JA7Yp6UrAWI

[SoonerMarkVA]

I used to be pretty darn good at drop kicks. I was better drop-kicking than kicking with a holder. Still, only had enough leg to put it in up to about 30 yrds.

[Williesan]

As already mentioned, it has to be done as a drop-kick, the ball must be dropped, and hit the turf prior to the ball being kicked. It also has to be done behind the line of scrimmage- you can't run downfield and do a surprise kick.

[GDC]

I know this is extremely unlikely, but what would happen if a punter managed to punt the ball through the uprights? Would it count as a FG?

Since when was Baylor concerned about a rule? Illegal hits, defensive holding, linemen all over the field on pass plays don't seem to be a concern.

OU doesn't have to worry too much about some of those things since their defenders don't get close to opposing players anyway.