Should field goal posts be made more narrow?

Should the goal posts be moved in about 2-3 feet on each side?

  • Yes. Goal posts should be moved in.

    Votes: 2 13.3%

  • No. Leave the goal posts where they are.

    Votes: 12 80.0%

  • No. But move the ball back 10 yards first.

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Whatever you are drinking I'd like some!

    Votes: 1 6.7%
  • Total voters
    15
O

oldpolecat

Active member
It's become too easy to make field goals. Some being made from 60 plus yards. Should the goal posts be moved in about 2-3 feet on each side?
 
 
No, leave the posts where they are. What I'd like to see is the same ball that's used by the offense be used for kicking. Have you ever noticed there are "kicking" balls, that look like they are brand new out of the box, and the balls used in the normal pay of the game that are dark brown and have been manipulated every which way. Does anyone know do colleges have kicking balls or just the teams footballs.
 
The goal posts remain the same. I wasnt a fan of moving the XP back. Its not modern days kickers fault that they are tremendously better than kickers even 15- 20 years ago. Juat go back in time and see what the better kickers were doing. Some of those guys wouldnt have a job today. Today kickoffs are at the 30 and its commonplace for the ball to go thru the end zone. 80 plus yards! Before some guys would struggle to get it the the goal line from the 35
If the NFL wants to shake it up, make a 60 plus yarder worth 4 points
 
No. IMO aside from increased specialized training, a lot of it has to do with changes that have been made to the game in recent years.

Moving PATs back; the PAT has gone from being automatic to being a tuning kick where the kicker gets more useful FG reps in. Most if not all teams have eliminated backup QBs from holding, creating more consistency and repetition with the special teams battery by using the punter as the holder. More coaches willing to risk long FGs. And now, the “landing zone” rule and other changes to kickoffs that may be beginning to result in fewer kickoffs being blasted out of the end zone (saving energy) while still yielding desired field position results.
 
nupanther said:
The goal posts remain the same. I wasnt a fan of moving the XP back. Its not modern days kickers fault that they are tremendously better than kickers even 15- 20 years ago. Juat go back in time and see what the better kickers were doing. Some of those guys wouldnt have a job today. Today kickoffs are at the 30 and its commonplace for the ball to go thru the end zone. 80 plus yards! Before some guys would struggle to get it the the goal line from the 35
If the NFL wants to shake it up, make a 60 plus yarder worth 4 points
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I'd also propose the awarding of a point if the kickoff goes through the uprights.

I remember years ago when my buddy said he almost had a heart attck when Phil Dawson made a kickoff that reached the end zone because of how rarely it happened.
 
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nupanther said:
Today kickoffs are at the 30 and its commonplace for the ball to go thru the end zone. 80 plus yards! Before some guys would struggle to get it the the goal line from the 35
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Kickoffs are from the 35. They have been since 2011. Before that, they were from the 30 starting in the mid 90s.
 
14Red said:
What I'd like to see is the same ball that's used by the offense be used for kicking. Have you ever noticed there are "kicking" balls, that look like they are brand new out of the box, and the balls used in the normal pay of the game that are dark brown and have been manipulated every which way. Does anyone know do colleges have kicking balls or just the teams footballs.
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I think this is the problem. Punters and kickers are definitely stronger than they were in the past but I think that the ball they use in juiced now because they think that is what the public wants. Personally, I am growing tired of the FG marathons that have happened this season too many times.
 
Yappi said:
I think this is the problem. Punters and kickers are definitely stronger than they were in the past but I think that the ball they use in juiced now because they think that is what the public wants. Personally, I am growing tired of the FG marathons that have happened this season too many times.
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Bingo! There was so much made years ago about Tom Brady and deflate gate. How about some aspiring reporter take a look at the footballs these guys kick now. I'm not discrediting them but they are literally kicking a "perfect" ball every time.
 
I think the goal posts should be moved in on both sides but not 2-3 feet. Maybe 6 inches on both sides. No more LONG field goals.
 
nupanther said:
The goal posts remain the same. I wasnt a fan of moving the XP back. Its not modern days kickers fault that they are tremendously better than kickers even 15- 20 years ago. Juat go back in time and see what the better kickers were doing. Some of those guys wouldnt have a job today. Today kickoffs are at the 30 and its commonplace for the ball to go thru the end zone. 80 plus yards! Before some guys would struggle to get it the the goal line from the 35
If the NFL wants to shake it up, make a 60 plus yarder worth 4 points
Click to expand...
I could go for that. Or add one or two horizontal bars and award points as below. Long low kicks would count for 4 points and short kicks only 2.

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This from the internet:

  • 2024: 1.76 field goals made per game
  • 2017: 1.69 field goals made per game
  • 2013: 1.69 field goals made per game
  • 2022: 1.67 field goals made per game
  • 2023: 1.67 field goals made per game
Not a big difference from 10 years ago. Kickers get paid good money, better athletes become kickers today and work on it all season plus more dome stadiums.
This season you had 3 QB's throw for more than 40 TDs in a season. 10 years ago, one QB, of course one less reg. season game. More FG's does not equate to less scoring or less TDs per game. Teams go for it on 4th and 1 today much more than they did ten years ago despite the accuracy of kickers.
Making a mountain out of a mole hill IMO.
 
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oldpolecat said:
I could go for that. Or add one or two horizontal bars and award points as below. Long low kicks would count for 4 points and short kicks only 2.

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nahhh... do it vertically. with a right down the middle kick worth more.
 
14Red said:
No, leave the posts where they are. What I'd like to see is the same ball that's used by the offense be used for kicking. Have you ever noticed there are "kicking" balls, that look like they are brand new out of the box, and the balls used in the normal pay of the game that are dark brown and have been manipulated every which way. Does anyone know do colleges have kicking balls or just the teams footballs.
Click to expand...
From what I've read, the 'K Balls' were introduced because kickers were manipulating the balls, like a pitcher scuffing a ball before the game. The K Balls are untouched on purpose - kickers would rather have a ball that's more worn than one that is right out the package.
 
soccerdad72 said:
From what I've read, the 'K Balls' were introduced because kickers were manipulating the balls, like a pitcher scuffing a ball before the game. The K Balls are untouched on purpose - kickers would rather have a ball that's more worn than one that is right out the package.
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The data doesn't show that. Kickers kick the balls further now and more accurate than ever. Yes, some is technique and bigger, stronger players, but not the explosion of 50 yard FG's now.
 
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