where were ya mike
 

Mike
where were you at for this play??

Yep, this happens and few know the rules. I appreciate the coach coming to us 'experts' for our opinions! Everyone in the stadium, from the water boys, to the chain crew, to the fans and the p.a. guy will think the ball goes anywhere else besides the end of the kick if the ball rolls dead in the field of play. They look at us like we five guys in stripes are from Mars when we're marking that ball at the nine yard line. How can five guys be wrong when the collective opinion of the other 300-3000 people tells them something different?

Thank You
 

Thank you all for your help.

Everything is now quite clear.

It seems to me like a good idea to do this on fourth and long if you are in an area where your kicker has even a remote shot to make the FG. Chances are that on a miss it goes in the end zone, so you either get three points or a touchback. Pinning someone inside the 10 with a perfect punt is rare unless you have a stellar high school punter.

What I don't understand is the advantage of doing it every time. Lining up on your own 20 and doing this seems to be a poor idea unless the other team doesn't know that they can catch the ball and run with it.

First off, you have to have a good snap, a good catch, a good hold, good blocking and a good kick under pressure. Seems like a smaller margin for error than a punt.

Second, with everyone in tight, you can commit nine or even ten players to keeping that tight formation of blockers held in and you should have far more room to run on your return than you would with WRs gunning down on the punt team.

Perhaps they don't have anyone who can consistently snap it 14 yards.

I'll let you know how it turns out.

Thanks again.

I think the important think here is that if K attempts a field goal, and it is 'downed' at the 1, R takes over 1/10 at the 1.

I think this adds some incentive for trying a long FG (of course if R is smart, they will have someone back there to return it).