Finally, a new roughing the punter rule

[Prestonyte]

long over due!
Once the punter takes off (5 yard movement) - he becomes a runner and is fair game to be tackled without penalty.
SEC announces new roughing-the-kicker rule for 2023 season (saturdaydownsouth.com)

 

[18IsTheMan]

Weren’t we an early adopter of the rugby style punt under Holtz? I seem to recall it coming into greater prominence then.

 

[Prestonyte]

Now that I think about it, only creates a different problem - that judgement call on a 5 yard lateral movement will become the new controversial call by officials (creating more reviews)

 

[18IsTheMan]

Now that I think about it, only creates a different problem - that judgement call on a 5 yard lateral movement will become the new controversial call by officials (creating more reviews)

Yeah, that was the first thing that came to my mind. North/South is easy enough. But punters usually run east/west with the rugby style kicks before kicking it away.

 

[Deleted11512]

Now that I think about it, only creates a different problem - that judgement call on a 5 yard lateral movement will become the new controversial call by officials (creating more reviews)

Yep. Should have just been if they take more than 3 steps or something like that.

 

[Harvard Gamecock]

I'm wondering why this rule was instated.
I just don't see where a conspicuous problem existed.

 

[18IsTheMan]

I'm wondering why this rule was instated.
I just don't see where a conspicuous problem existed.

Reactionary rule. Similar to the rule instituted after Kenny Pickett faked a slide and then kept running.

If the refs had not blown the very obvious call in the UK game this would not be a rule.

 

[Deleted11512]

I'm wondering why this rule was instated.
I just don't see where a conspicuous problem existed.

The article linked in the OP shows the UK/Mizzu game from last year. UK snapped the ball over the punters head and it went back 20 yards or so. The punter got to it and was able to kick it away from the endzone. But in the process Mizzu ran into him as they tried to make a play on the ball. It was late in the game, extended the drive, and UK was able to run out the clock and win it.

 

[Big JC]

Yep. Should have just been if they take more than 3 steps or something like that.

I agree and the call should be reviewable to determine if the punter took three steps. Personally, I'm looking forward to seeing some punters get lit up.

 

[Prestonyte]

The article linked in the OP shows the UK/Mizzu game from last year. UK snapped the ball over the punters head and it went back 20 yards or so. The punter got to it and was able to kick it away from the endzone. But in the process Mizzu ran into him as they tried to make a play on the ball. It was late in the game, extended the drive, and UK was able to run out the clock and win it.

If the center can't snap it to the punter, and it goes 20yds over his head, it's a free ball and anything goes.
Trying to punt at that point, he should be treated the same as if the snap goes over the QB's head - no special protection just to allow him to punt the ball. A new rule was needed but it just creates another judgement call on the 5yd movement which the officials will get wrong most of the time.

 

[18IsTheMan]

If the center can't snap it to the punter, and it goes 20yds over his head, it's a free ball and anything goes.
Trying to punt at that point, he should be treated the same as if the snap goes over the QB's head - no special protection just to allow him to punt the ball.

I would almost lean towards a rule that if the snap is not handled cleanly and at any point touches the ground, then the punter is fair game.

 

[Big JC]

I would almost lean towards a rule that if the snap is not handled cleanly and at any point touches the ground, then the punter is fair game.

I like the idea of a three step rule. If a punter starts running towards the sideline, after three steps he is a runner and can be tackled or hit without penalty even if he pulls up and punts the ball.

 

[Prestonyte]

I would almost lean towards a rule that if the snap is not handled cleanly and at any point touches the ground, then the punter is fair game.

That makes sense - considered a fumble at that point!

 

[18IsTheMan]

I like the idea of a three step rule. If a punter starts running towards the sideline, after three steps he is a runner and can be tackled or hit without penalty even if he pulls up and punts the ball.

It'd be tough for the opposing players to be able to tell for sure in every case if the punter had taken 3 steps though. In the case of the UK/Mizzou game, though, I don't think he should have been given 3 steps after possessing the ball after it had gone 20+ yards behind him.

 

[Deleted11512]

It'd be tough for the opposing players to be able to tell for sure in every case if the punter had taken 3 steps though. In the case of the UK/Mizzou game, though, I don't think he should have been given 3 steps after possessing the ball after it had gone 20+ yards behind him.

yeah, once the ball hits the ground it should be a fumble and all protections are off.

 

[18IsTheMan]

yeah, once the ball hits the ground it should be a fumble and all protections are off.

Yep. If the punter can recover and kick the ball away, congrats to him. But it should not be a penalty if he is hit.

 

[ToddFlanders]

Interesting rule change. Not sure if I like it. The point of the rule is to protect a defenseless player with one leg up in the air - that doesn't change if the punter has moved for whatever reason. If it was just to address that one play with the snap over the head, then that really doesn't make sense. But this definitely opens the door for rugby-style kickers to get blasted during their kicks - I expect if that happens a couple of times they'll change the rule back. They might even need to mark off five yards with that foam that they use for soccer penalty kicks. Five yards vertically is pretty easy to figure out - laterally however, who would have any clue when that kicker crossed that line?

Speaking of rugby-style kickers - I saw some crazy stat that there are over 50 Australians punting in Division I last year. It's an insane amount, and a clear indication that rugby-style punting is all the rage.

 

[Harvard Gamecock]

I can't wait to see a OCC game with SEC refs (Since this is not a NCAA rule) and they do not call a roughing call on the punter.

Something tells me that this new rule change is not long for this world.

 

[18IsTheMan]

If you need to be protected, don't play football.

 

[Harvard Gamecock]

The article linked in the OP shows the UK/Mizzu game from last year. UK snapped the ball over the punters head and it went back 20 yards or so. The punter got to it and was able to kick it away from the endzone. But in the process Mizzu ran into him as they tried to make a play on the ball. It was late in the game, extended the drive, and UK was able to run out the clock and win it.

I get that, but that was a one time incident on a isolated unscripted play. I know, I know, someone is going to point on the fake slide by the Pitt QB. And, this kind of play is the type that can be defined by a conscious decision.
The play you reference was totally reactionary. My point is that this rule change looks to be addressing an issue that doesn't necessarily exit.
Just my take.

 

[Prestonyte]

I like the thought that if the ball hits the ground when snapped it's a fumble, free ball, anything goes. Offense is responsible to make a clean exchange from snapper to punter without special considerations. QB fumbles a shotgun snap, what happens? Why should there be a difference?
The punter has a decision to make as to whether he wants to put himself at risk by trying to punt the ball after a fumbled snap - his choice entirely. The defense should not be penalized for tackling the punter or trying to recover the fumble. After all, the punter is a football player, not a ballerina.

 

[Big JC]

I'm assuming that after the ball is punted, the punter is like a qb who has thrown a pass. If not, punters are going to be killed if the snap touches the ground or they run any. If a RB takes a handoff and runs a sweep and then pulls up and throws the ball, the RB can't be leveled after the pass, he has the same protection as a qb on a pass play. I would think the punter would be the same way.