Half the distance penalty

Over the weekend I was watching a college game where it was first and goal (maybe 2nd and goal) from the 2 year line. The defense committed an unsportsman conduct penalty and the ball was moved to the 1 year line (half the distance to the goal). On the very next play, the offense committed a holding penalty and was penalized 10 yards back to the 11 yard line.

Not an unusual circumstance. Most of us have seen this kind of thing many times. But something just doesn't see right about it.

Why should the penalty yardage be less because of where the ball is on the field? A 5 yard penalty should be 5 yards. A 15 yard penalty should be 15 yards.

Got me thinking of this rule change. If the defense commits a foul, the normal yardage should be marked off. If there is less yards than the foul it should result in a safety. In other words if the ball is at the 4 yard line and defense jumps offside. Safety. 2 points. If the ball is at the 11 and defense commits a 15 yard penalty....safety.

Any thoughts?

I like the current rule as it only leads to points when the offense actually does something positive; the offense should only be given points if they affirmatively earn it, e.g. touchdown, field goal, or safety.

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Originally Posted by MisterV

I like the current rule as it only leads to points when the offense actually does something positive; the offense should only be given points if they affirmatively earn it, e.g. touchdown, field goal, or safety.

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That is a decent argument MisterV, but currently when on offense, if a team is backed to deep in their own territory and an offensive lineman has a holding penalty, the defensive team is awarded a safety. My proposal would be along those lines.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MisterV

I like the current rule as it only leads to points when the offense actually does something positive; the offense should only be given points if they affirmatively earn it, e.g. touchdown, field goal, or safety.

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The offense is not given points for a safety, except under extremely rare conversion circumstances.

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Originally Posted by kewlJ

Over the weekend I was watching a college game where it was first and goal (maybe 2nd and goal) from the 2 year line. The defense committed an unsportsman conduct penalty and the ball was moved to the 1 year line (half the distance to the goal). On the very next play, the offense committed a holding penalty and was penalized 10 yards back to the 11 yard line.

Not an unusual circumstance. Most of us have seen this kind of thing many times. But something just doesn't see right about it.

Why should the penalty yardage be less because of where the ball is on the field? A 5 yard penalty should be 5 yards. A 15 yard penalty should be 15 yards.

Got me thinking of this rule change. If the defense commits a foul, the normal yardage should be marked off. If there is less yards than the foul it should result in a safety. In other words if the ball is at the 4 yard line and defense jumps offside. Safety. 2 points. If the ball is at the 11 and defense commits a 15 yard penalty....safety.

Any thoughts?

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The offense could lose field position if a safety is awarded, depending on the result of the ensuing free kick.

That would be critical if late in the game and behind in the score.

If a safety is a choice, the choices should also include distance, plus either replay the down or new series awarded if a live ball foul.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kewlJ

Over the weekend I was watching a college game where it was first and goal (maybe 2nd and goal) from the 2 year line. The defense committed an unsportsman conduct penalty and the ball was moved to the 1 year line (half the distance to the goal). On the very next play, the offense committed a holding penalty and was penalized 10 yards back to the 11 yard line.

Not an unusual circumstance. Most of us have seen this kind of thing many times. But something just doesn't see right about it.

Why should the penalty yardage be less because of where the ball is on the field? A 5 yard penalty should be 5 yards. A 15 yard penalty should be 15 yards.

Got me thinking of this rule change. If the defense commits a foul, the normal yardage should be marked off. If there is less yards than the foul it should result in a safety. In other words if the ball is at the 4 yard line and defense jumps offside. Safety. 2 points. If the ball is at the 11 and defense commits a 15 yard penalty....safety.

Any thoughts?

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I think a more equitable solution would be for all defensive penalties in an (and goal) situation to result in half the distance AND an automatic first down, if they would not otherwise be automatic first down type penalties.

That's unless the full distance can be applied, of course, then you just do that. 3rd and Goal from the 9 with a defensive neutral zone infraction would just result in 3rd and Goal from the 4, for example. If it happened on 3rd and Goal from the 4, then it would be 1st and Goal from the 2.

Yeah, upon further reflection, what I proposed is a bad idea. If a team had a first and goal from the 1 yard line and a high probability of scoring a touchdown, the defensive team could just take a penalty resulting in the safely and saving themselves 5 points. I guess it could still work as long as the offensive team had the option to decline the penalty and safety and continue on with their first and goal.

It just seemed like something is wrong when each team committed a penalty on back to back plays and one was penalized 1 yard while the other on the very next play was penalized 15 years. :rolleyes: