Proposed Rule Changes

[Rich_C]

I came across this article and thought some of the new rule proposals looked rather interesting.

http://www.denverbroncos.com/news-and-blogs/article-1/Proposed-Rules-Changes-Announced/b93defe7-d4d0-4640-8c85-8711df0bf0b1

Rule Change 1: Move kickoffs to the 40-yard-line.
My Thoughts: IMO- this would make a great option but not a full replacement for the PAT. Why not make this option a 2-point option and then move the PAT back a bit ~20 yard line for the 1 point. That is if it is changed at all.

Rule Change 2: Expand replay to include personal fouls
My Thoughts: Absolutely. Retaining some sort of cap on challenges will be key though.

Rule Change 3: Extend the goal posts an additional 5 feet above the cross bar.
My Thoughts: Approved....next.

Rule Change 4: Move the line of scrimmage for PATs to the 25.
My Thoughts: 20 yard test will likely determine the fate of this option

Rule Change 5: Put cameras on all boundary lines to assure coverage for replay reviews.
My Thoughts: Approved...Next

Rule Change 6: Coach can challenge any official decision, except auto-review plays
My Thoughts: Same sort of response as #2

Rule Change 7: Allow ref to consult w/ NFL officiating dept. in NYC in reviews.
My Thoughts: So long as it ensures consistency in play calls then I say approved.

Rule Change 8: Don't stop the clock on a sack.
My Thoughts: I love this idea. Should make the game and play calls more interesting

Rule Change 9: Pass interference can be called within 1 yard of line of scrimmage.
My Thoughts: Why have a limit at all?

Rule Change 10: Active roster for Thu./Fri./Sat. games increased from 46 to 49.
My Thoughts: If the NFL is truly serious about injuries and wanting to prevent them then all 53 should be on the field and suited up. This would and could also make for a much more interesting game in general.

Rule Change 11: Increase practice squad size from 8 to 10
My Thoughts: This is one option for now but unless I am personally missing something the NFL is one of the few sports who doesn't have a farm league. I would love to hear the appetite pros. vs Cons. for that option. (I share the opinion of Mason on this one)

Rule Change 12: Only one cut-down date in preseason, from 90 to 53
My Thoughts: Unlike Mason I think this would potentially force the Pre-season games to be more interesting. Obviously it would depend on where/ when the cut down takes place. For example: if the cut down were to take place between pre-season games 3 & 4 then we'd potentially see a more interesting and more competitive final game of pre-season. Most teams wouldn't have enough depth to not play some of the better players at certain positions.

Rule Change 13: Any player on I.R. can return after 6 weeks
My Thoughts: Approved...Next.

Rule Change 14: Permit a team w/ retractable roof to open/close it at half.
My Thoughts: Denied.


Now I wanted to propose some rule changes of my own: (feedback welcomed)


Rule #1: Increase active roster to 55 or 60 players

My Thoughts: This concept fits well into the comment I made above. If the NFL is truly serious about injury prevention then increasing the active roster leave no excuse for a team to play a player who is fighting an injury. Depending on the number of players you allow to suit up on game day as well it could make some of these games more interesting as the right substitutions would allow for a faster paced game all the way through.

Rule #2: Alter the coaches challenge flag rule. If a coach challenges a ruling on the field then they retain the flag they used and number of challenges remaining. For example if they started with two, challenged a play and it was ruled in their favour after the flag then they keep the total number remaining challenges at 2.

My thoughts: This will allow for more poor calls to be over-turned so that the games will and can be called more fairly. I also like the idea of having better metrics to gauge the refs and their ability to officiate a game. If a coach throws 7 flags and wins all 7 then that is a pretty poor metric of success for that official. If this is seen as a distraction from the game or we are finding tha tthe refs are making too many errors then this should act as a springboard to add additional officials to make play calling faster, easier and more accurate.


Looking forward to the comments on this one.

[MHSalute]

I came across this article and thought some of the new rule proposals looked rather interesting.

http://www.denverbroncos.com/news-and-blogs/article-1/Proposed-Rules-Changes-Announced/b93defe7-d4d0-4640-8c85-8711df0bf0b1

Rule Change 1: Move kickoffs to the 40-yard-line.

Rule Change 4: Move the line of scrimmage for PATs to the 25.

Rule Change 9: Pass interference can be called within 1 yard of line of scrimmage.



Rule Change 12: Only one cut-down date in preseason, from 90 to 53

These 4 I would say no to. Pass interference within one yard is horrible and an easy exploit. DBs have their five yards, I do not want to see press corners go the way of the FB.

1 cut day? Makes it a little hard for cut players to catch on elsewhere...give a kid a break!

Are we really just keeping KOs around for the occasional onside? Hate insides anyways, team gets its butt kicked all game and they get a chance to win on a chance bounce?!? Get rid of the KO and just start at the 25.

X points from the 25? Fake kicks should be worth 7 points then if a team scores.

[Thors Hammer]

Rule Change 7: Allow ref to consult w/ NFL officiating dept. in NYC in reviews.
My Thoughts: So long as it ensures consistency in play calls then I say approved.

Honestly I'd like the NFL to follow hockey's lead and have all reviews handled by someone other than the officials calling the game. I just feel someone separate from the action would have a more objective view of the call.

[Rich_C]

Honestly I'd like the NFL to follow hockey's lead and have all reviews handled by someone other than the officials calling the game. I just feel someone separate from the action would have a more objective view of the call.

I agree with this but I think the proposal on the table at the moment is a nice bridge gap to prove that the concept works.

[samparnell]

Widen the hashmarks. Spot the PAT at the +3 straight out from where the ball crossed the GL. Scores outside the hash have PAT spotted on the hash.

[fallforward3y+]

My 2 cents on each rule

1-Special teams causes a lot of injuries, it's easy to see why. It's why I hope I can avoid playing kickoff team this year on my Semi Pro team. That being said, if we want to get rid of kick offs entirely, stop dancing around it and just get rid of them. STs can still be involved in punt teams, and we really don't need onside kicks. Onside kicks do strongly favor the receiving team so if the kicking team gets it then it's a major screw up, but even so it seems kind of cheap for a team to win by getting 2 possessions in a row.

2-I'm good on this one, personal fouls can have a major impact on the game, make sure you get it right. When a ref gives a team a free 30 yards on a ridiculous PI call, it would be nice to make them look at it again and think 'are we really gonna call that' as well.

3-No. Why do we need to make it harder on kickers? I like the idea of making it easy for a team to get 3 if they drive far enough down field, having a kicker who can make it from further gives your team an advantage. If it gets to the point where your average kicker can drill a 65 yarder then maybe make it harder, but not now.

4-No need, why do we need to make an extra point harder? I like the extra 1 being easy.

5/6/7-Why not, anything to help get the calls right.

8-I'm for this one, I like it as a way defenses can force an offense to take more time off the clock in a comeback attempt.

9-Wow, another rule to benefit the offenses, no shock there. Why even limit it at all if your making it illegal past the 1 first of all. Don't offenses have it easy enough already? At least give DBs their 5 yards, it's not like there aren't ways to counter an aggressive corner. Bad rule.

10/11-I like the idea of an expanded roster, more depth and room for coaches to have specialist players that they can rotate in and out. Let 53 go to all games, and why not expand the practice squad a bit more, though it doesn't need to be much more as 53 is already going to have a bunch of guys dressing who see little if any playing time.

12-NO. Preseason is supposed to be a time for players to develop, keep it that way. Let the guys get a chance to get picked up by someone else before the season, and players develop during that time as well. Let it last all season so we see what guys get better as the month goes on. STOP trying to make preseason games more interesting, they won't be. They are interesting if you like watching the less known players to see what they've got, they are not relevant games where fans will have major interest in who wins. The NFL needs to stop trying ridiculous pursuits to make more money that simply aren't going to work.

13-Sure, why not. I suppose if you can return after 6 weeks, go for it. As long as team still have to give honest injury reports, I'm fine with it.

14-I like it. It's homefield advantage for a reason. If you feel opening the dome or closing it may give you an advantage for whatever reason, go for it.