The new “fourth-and-15” onside kick alternative has been tweaked ahead of the vote by NFL owners on Thursday. Instead of kicking an onside kick, a team can now have one play where they must gain 15 yards or the other team takes over with the ball. Onside kicks have always been a timed down, but the new rule has been tweaked so it’s untimed, according to Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk.
One big concern with the rule was teams using the onside kick to run out the clock. If a team scored to take a lead with five or ten seconds left, they could take the snap and run around before chucking up a pass deep to run out the clock. With it being an untimed down that will eliminate that.
There was also the concern if there were only a few seconds left, it wouldn’t give an NFL team that behind a fair chance at a comeback. With it being untimed they will get their shot at the fourth and 15, along with another play or two to try and make the comeback depending on how much time is left on the clock:
Other tweaks to the rules proposal include a clarification that the fourth-and-15 play can be used in regulation only, not in overtime. And a team that initially declares its intention to use the onside kick alternative can change its mind and kick off, but only if it calls timeout first.
It’s unclear if the rule is expected to pass, but it appears all objections to the rules have already been made.
Follow Us
Subscribe