Because the kicking team would already have the option to "go for it" with the 4th & 15 option. Nobody would run a fake punt on 4th & 15 from their own 30.
Why not? They do onsides kicks from their own 35. I think the odds of making it would be about the same.
Regular punts aren't penalized for going out of bounds. These punts shouldn't be either.
This isn't exactly a regular punt is it? I want the play to be more exciting than the kickoff is now. Anything that takes away from that excitement should be eliminated, like being able to kick it out of bounds. You can of course, but it should have a severe negative component just like kickoffs do.
From the 30, you're already giving up field position with a punt.
I'm not so sure about that, but you can always move it up to the 35 if the 30 doesn't turn out to be a good spot of the ball. However you do it, the whole purpose for me is to make it a more exciting play than the kickoff is.
So why shouldn't the kicking team have the option to kick out of bounds?
Because I want to give the kick returner as much chance as possible to return it.
Especially if the two teams are lined up normally. The would be facing a potential block or snap mishap. Again, that's if the are lined up normally, with the receiving team on the line of scrimmage. If its a free kick, then fuck it.
I'm not looking to make it fair, I'm looking to make it exciting. Kickoffs are boring. Punts from about your own 30 are usually pretty fun to watch. If you are going to change the rules, then do it right. Go ALL out. Don't just make it as close to a kickoff as you can without being a kickoff, that's stupid. Make it a whole new play. A whole new set of rules to go with it. It's not a punt and it's not a kickoff, it's a new way to start the game, start the half and start a new possession after a score. Think outside the box. That's what I'm talking about.
Author