A safety is such a rare play that I think it should be worth more than 2 points. Make it worth 4 points - more than a FG. It is something that happens so infrequently that it should be rewarded, and at least slightly reduce the incidence of people intentionally taking them.

I feel like it should be 6 plus an extra point opportunity. It is pretty much the offense moving the ball into the endzone for a touchdown version for the defense. They should rewarded for getting the ball in the endzone just like they would if they had possession of the ball from an interception of fumble.

I hadn't thought about the intentional safety, but given how many teams are up by three when they take them, it would add the dynamic of having to run a play in the shadow of their own goal posts - and possibly having to play defense one last time - at the end of the game. The potentially bad part is it would also make offensive holding that much more deadly of a penalty as well.

Since a safety is the only score where the scoring team generally gets possession afterwards, there's no real reason to get too crazy with the point value.

(07-22-2015 05:21 PM)Carolina_Low_Country Wrote:  I feel like it should be 6 plus an extra point opportunity. It is pretty much the offense moving the ball into the endzone for a touchdown version for the defense. They should rewarded for getting the ball in the endzone just like they would if they had possession of the ball from an interception of fumble.

Tackling a ball carrier in the end zone shouldn't be worth quite as much as taking the ball from him in the end zone. Making it worth half as much, i.e. 3 or 4 points, seems reasonable.

But adding another point or two to safeties wouldn't have a regular impact on the game, because safeties are so rare. There were only 21 safeties in the 2014 NFL regular season, in a total of 256 games played. That's one safety for every 12 games played.

Other seemingly minor changes would have a much greater impact, e.g., moving kickoffs back five more yards or narrowing the space between the goal posts as the NFL did for last season's Pro Bowl.

Leave the safety where it's at: 2 points. The scoring team is lucky to get 2 points; they never had possession of the ball.

I like the new rule about extra points being longer (32 yards)? Make them earn that
point.

(07-22-2015 06:47 PM)UConn-SMU Wrote:  Leave the safety where it's at: 2 points. The scoring team is lucky to get 2 points; they never had possession of the ball.

I like the new rule about extra points being longer (32 yards)? Make them earn that
point.

This

Keep in mind that you get MORE than 2 points with a safety... you also get the ball kicked to you from the opponent's 25 yard line. That SHOULD translate into excellent field position and a field goal at a minimum.

I'm fine with the points for the safety. But I do wish they would narrow the field goals and increase the points due to distance.

There are several ways to get a safety. I think 2 points is a good average value.

fine with 2 points for a safety but I would like to make some small changes to the touch-back rule.

so if the defense or kick return team gains possession while in the end zone, as soon as the returner starts to run forwards or even sideways, or maybe after he takes more than 2 steps, then he needs to run it out or else its a safety if he gets tackled in the end zone.

(07-22-2015 08:10 PM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  Keep in mind that you get MORE than 2 points with a safety... you also get the ball kicked to you from the opponent's 25 yard line. That SHOULD translate into excellent field position and a field goal at a minimum.

20 yard line which just makes your point stronger.

(07-22-2015 09:37 PM)goofus Wrote:  fine with 2 points for a safety but I would like to make some small changes to the touch-back rule.

so if the defense or kick return team gains possession while in the end zone, as soon as the returner starts to run forwards or even sideways, or maybe after he takes more than 2 steps, then he needs to run it out or else its a safety if he gets tackled in the end zone.

Back in the late 70's the NCAA Football Rules Committee frustrated with touchbacks and super long field goal attempts considered a variant of the CFL single. Any kicked ball (kickoff, missed FG, or punt) that went out of the end zone without touching the ground or being touched by a player on the receiving team would be placed on the 25 while any kicked ball touched or touching the ground before leaving the end zone had to advanced at own risk and if not advanced out of the end zone would result in the kicking team being awarded one point and the receiving team would take over at the 20.

Early 80's the NFL rules committee was one vote short of having a kickoff to start every quarter. They wanted the drama of the two minute drill in every quarter.

One idea tossed out during the big focus on brain injury was to eliminate the kickoff and giving the "kicking team" the ball at the 35 and punt from scrimmage or could retain possession by gaining 15 yards (to replace the onside kick). Have to admit I'm a big fan of the idea.

(07-22-2015 05:26 PM)chargeradio Wrote:  I hadn't thought about the intentional safety, but given how many teams are up by three when they take them, it would add the dynamic of having to run a play in the shadow of their own goal posts - and possibly having to play defense one last time - at the end of the game. The potentially bad part is it would also make offensive holding that much more deadly of a penalty as well.

Since a safety is the only score where the scoring team generally gets possession afterwards, there's no real reason to get too crazy with the point value.

You rarely, if ever see teams take an intentional safety when up by only three. That makes it possible to lose the game on an ensuing field goal. The only time you see it in that instance might be literally on the last play of the game, or very close to it. The intentional safety is most commonly taken when up by six with little time left, where a FG won't help the other team and a TD beats you ether way, and a safety can give you better field position than a punt. That's it.

(07-22-2015 06:47 PM)UConn-SMU Wrote:  Leave the safety where it's at: 2 points. The scoring team is lucky to get 2 points; they never had possession of the ball.

I like the new rule about extra points being longer (32 yards)? Make them earn that
point.

That reduces the sneak for the 2 point conversion with that level of distance.

(07-22-2015 09:00 PM)hawghiggs Wrote:  I'm fine with the points for the safety. But I do wish they would narrow the field goals and increase the points due to distance.

That would be interesting. Make a 45 Yard FG worth 4 points.

When a team is down 3 points they can go for the win from the 45 Yard Field Goal.

You would see less of those annoying prevent defense formations when the opponent has the ball mid field when a defense has a lot less yards it can give up before effective field goal range.

(07-23-2015 01:14 AM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(07-22-2015 06:47 PM)UConn-SMU Wrote:  Leave the safety where it's at: 2 points. The scoring team is lucky to get 2 points; they never had possession of the ball.

I like the new rule about extra points being longer (32 yards)? Make them earn that
point.

That reduces the sneak for the 2 point conversion with that level of distance.

I think the new NFL rule for extra points allows a choice:

1) ball on the 15 yard line (32 yard extra point)
2) ball on the 2 or 3 for a 2 point conversion

Doing quote me on that.

(07-22-2015 05:12 PM)HawkeyeCoug Wrote:  A safety is such a rare play that I think it should be worth more than 2 points. Make it worth 4 points - more than a FG. It is something that happens so infrequently that it should be rewarded, and at least slightly reduce the incidence of people intentionally taking them.

Bring back the tie.

(07-23-2015 07:12 AM)XLance Wrote:  

(07-22-2015 05:12 PM)HawkeyeCoug Wrote:  A safety is such a rare play that I think it should be worth more than 2 points. Make it worth 4 points - more than a FG. It is something that happens so infrequently that it should be rewarded, and at least slightly reduce the incidence of people intentionally taking them.

Bring back the tie.

I'm for it.

Overtime is a declaration of, "Ladies and gentlemen, you just watched two teams prove that on the field today they are equal but you are too simple to get it so we will now play a gimmicked, bastardized version of football for a little while so you dummies can understand the outcome."

Quote:I feel like it should be 6 plus an extra point opportunity. It is pretty much the offense moving the ball into the endzone for a touchdown version for the defense. They should rewarded for getting the ball in the endzone just like they would if they had possession of the ball from an interception of fumble.

If you did that though, you'd have to give the team the ball back again -- as you're treating it like the other team scored a TD.

Safety's only 2 points for the defensive team but you're giving the defensive team possession & short field position at the same time. I could see making it 4pts. If the other team comes down on a short field and kicks a FG, that 4+3 pts = 1 TD. About fair.

FGs: I agree that XPs should be longer. In Canadian football they extended it, and yeah, I hear NFL is doing the same.

College? I like the idea of choice distances for choice points.

27 yarder = 1pt
44 yarder = 2pt
54 yarder = 3pt

Let's add a rouge.