Smart Field Goal Protection Rules
It certainly was a rough week for special teams coaches in the NFL this yesterday. It’s not the first time that this phase has left one sideline happily surprised and the other sideline in disbelief. What jumped out at me yesterday was that at least three games were decided with field goal blocks.
Keep in mind that NFL special teams coaches are the best in the business and actually get a decent amount of practice time to work on extra point & field goal protection. Also remember that they have time to work on field goal block schemes designed to take advantage of weaknesses they identify during the week of practice.
Today, however, I want to focus on the Eagles/Rams game and how field goal protection cost the Los Angeles Rams in a big way. Before I do though I think it’s time to point out that the play was properly officiated, no matter how many gamblers had the Rams and 3 1/2 points. Of course a Rams field goal or just a good old fashioned miss would have made them happy. Don’t bet on football. Just don’t.
3 Key Rules To Understand As You Watch This Field Goal Attempt:
- Defensive Player Alignment: When Team A (RAMS) is in a field goal or Try Kick formation, a Team B (EAGLES) player (#98) within one yard of the line of scrimmage must have their entire body outside the snapper’s shoulder pads at the snap. TRUE.
- Protecting A Defenseless Player: The snapper is considered a defenseless player on field goals and PATs, receiving helmet-to-helmet protection. The NFL made protecting long snappers a point of emphasis for officials in 2018, instructing them to flag any contact to the head or neck area of the snapper on a kicking play. Contact is made by #98 after he is past the Snapper. TRUE.
- No Leaping Over Linemen: A defensive player cannot run forward and leap over the offensive line to block a kick, as this is considered unsportsmanlike conduct and results in a 15-yard penalty. THIS DID NOT HAPPEN.
The Rams Should Have Called Down The Guard & Tackle The Loaded Side
Having considered all of this, we do believe the field goal protection could have been executed better. It’s a little bit like playing defense. You have to adjust to the look they give you. Everyone with eyes on that play knew where the rush was coming from. The snapper and the guard should have made a call to adjust to the A & B gaps.
This is an NFL snapper. He can snap and lean to the obvious vulnerable area. He can also tell his right guard to step down into the other A gap. For those of you out there who think you have to shorten the edge when you do this, I would say not by much. I’m playing the odds in this situation especially against a team who prides themselves on physical plays like the “tush push”.
6 Special Teams Clinics In FirstDown PlayBook Too!
In case you think FirstDown PlayBook is just playing Monday morning quarterback consider this. This very adjustment to an overload is in the FirstDown PlayBook PAT/FG section. What the Eagles did to the Rams is not a new rush and to add insult to injury they had already blocked a previous kick.
I will finish on the way out. There has always been a valid argument at the NFL level for signing a snapper with some size. Sure, they have protected the snapper with some of the rules but if your snapper has more girth and can still cover down the field then that may be just enough to win you a football game on a last second kick. Something at least three NFL teams could not pull off yesterday.
