Double Punt = Awesome

[Moranis]

https://ftw.usatoday.com/lists/seahawks-rams-double-punt-nfl-rule-michael-dickson

I know you are all probably watching the baseball game, but that was the coolest 60+ yard punt I've ever seen. 

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

That was crazy.

CRAZY AWESOME!!!!!!

What awareness by the punter (if, in fact, he knew that was a legal play; if not, oh well, it worked out amazingly for him!).

Funniest thing was how NO ONE thought at first that it was a legal play. Even the announcer was saying, "That's coming back."

[ozgod]

I guess because he has an Australian rugby or Australian Rules Football background, from when I lived there and watched those games (confusing as all hell initially but I figured it out eventually) that's pretty much what they do all day in those games, pick it up off the ground one handed, kick from the hand multiple times if it gets blocked. I'm sure @gouki88 and @Kiorrik would be chuckling if they saw Dickson's highlight. His instincts just took over 

[knuckleballer]

That was a cool play, but it still looked illegal.  Not because there was a second kick, but it looks like he’s a half yard past the line of scrimmage. 

[Celtics2021]

That was a cool play, but it still looked illegal.  Not because there was a second kick, but it looks like he’s a half yard past the line of scrimmage.

Doesn’t look like he is to me.  At the beginning of the highlight, the blue line for the line of scrimmage (which I know is unofficial but is generally pretty good) is just beyond the 21, and he his front foot looks to be at or behind the 21 when he kicks.

Also, when you watch the replay he’s running and then stops very quickly as he approaches the line of scrimmage to kick the ball.  He clearly knew the rule and had the awareness of where he was on the field.

[knuckleballer]

That was a cool play, but it still looked illegal.  Not because there was a second kick, but it looks like he’s a half yard past the line of scrimmage.

Doesn’t look like he is to me.  At the beginning of the highlight, the blue line for the line of scrimmage (which I know is unofficial but is generally pretty good) is just beyond the 21, and he his front foot looks to be at or behind the 21 when he kicks.

Also, when you watch the replay he’s running and then stops very quickly as he approaches the line of scrimmage to kick the ball.  He clearly knew the rule and had the awareness of where he was on the field.

It’s close, but it looks a bit past the line of scrimmage to me.

Florio from NBC PFT is saying the same thing.  https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2021/10/07/officials-permit-punt-beyond-line-of-scrimmage-rams-fail-to-challenge/

I’ll be curious to see if the NFL offers any further clarification today.  It was strange that Mike Pereira didn’t know the rule.

[JohnBoy65]

Don't forget, as long as any part of the body is behind the line of scrimmage, even a toenail, the player is considered behind line of scrimmage.

[Celtics2021]

That was a cool play, but it still looked illegal.  Not because there was a second kick, but it looks like he’s a half yard past the line of scrimmage.

Doesn’t look like he is to me.  At the beginning of the highlight, the blue line for the line of scrimmage (which I know is unofficial but is generally pretty good) is just beyond the 21, and he his front foot looks to be at or behind the 21 when he kicks.

Also, when you watch the replay he’s running and then stops very quickly as he approaches the line of scrimmage to kick the ball.  He clearly knew the rule and had the awareness of where he was on the field.

It’s close, but it looks a bit past the line of scrimmage to me.

Florio from NBC PFT is saying the same thing.  https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2021/10/07/officials-permit-punt-beyond-line-of-scrimmage-rams-fail-to-challenge/

I’ll be curious to see if the NFL offers any further clarification today.  It was strange that Mike Pereira didn’t know the rule.

I don’t think it’d have been overruled on challenge.  The LOS wasn’t on an exact yard line, and unless there are other replays that haven’t been shown, that angle is inconclusive at best.  He was somewhere between the 21 and 21.5 yard line when he kicked it, and the LOS was also between the 21 and 21.5.

[Roy H.]

That was a cool play, but it still looked illegal.  Not because there was a second kick, but it looks like he’s a half yard past the line of scrimmage.

Doesn’t look like he is to me.  At the beginning of the highlight, the blue line for the line of scrimmage (which I know is unofficial but is generally pretty good) is just beyond the 21, and he his front foot looks to be at or behind the 21 when he kicks.

Also, when you watch the replay he’s running and then stops very quickly as he approaches the line of scrimmage to kick the ball.  He clearly knew the rule and had the awareness of where he was on the field.

It’s close, but it looks a bit past the line of scrimmage to me.

Florio from NBC PFT is saying the same thing.  https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2021/10/07/officials-permit-punt-beyond-line-of-scrimmage-rams-fail-to-challenge/

I’ll be curious to see if the NFL offers any further clarification today.  It was strange that Mike Pereira didn’t know the rule.

I don’t think it’d have been overruled on challenge.  The LOS wasn’t on an exact yard line, and unless there are other replays that haven’t been shown, that angle is inconclusive at best.  He was somewhere between the 21 and 21.5 yard line when he kicked it, and the LOS was also between the 21 and 21.5.

Also, does this rule follow the same definition as a QB throwing beyond the line of scrimmage? In that case, the player’s entire body has to be beyond the line for it to be a penalty.

[knuckleballer]

That was a cool play, but it still looked illegal.  Not because there was a second kick, but it looks like he’s a half yard past the line of scrimmage.

Doesn’t look like he is to me.  At the beginning of the highlight, the blue line for the line of scrimmage (which I know is unofficial but is generally pretty good) is just beyond the 21, and he his front foot looks to be at or behind the 21 when he kicks.

Also, when you watch the replay he’s running and then stops very quickly as he approaches the line of scrimmage to kick the ball.  He clearly knew the rule and had the awareness of where he was on the field.

It’s close, but it looks a bit past the line of scrimmage to me.

Florio from NBC PFT is saying the same thing.  https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2021/10/07/officials-permit-punt-beyond-line-of-scrimmage-rams-fail-to-challenge/

I’ll be curious to see if the NFL offers any further clarification today.  It was strange that Mike Pereira didn’t know the rule.

I don’t think it’d have been overruled on challenge.  The LOS wasn’t on an exact yard line, and unless there are other replays that haven’t been shown, that angle is inconclusive at best.  He was somewhere between the 21 and 21.5 yard line when he kicked it, and the LOS was also between the 21 and 21.5.

I was looking at the placement of the ball when it was kicked, but as I’ve read further, I think JohnBoy65 is correct. 

[gouki88]

Australian rules footballers make the best punters!

In seriousness, that was a pretty stock-standard effort for Aussie rules. The one-handed scoop plus dropping the ball on that angle are things you see every game!

[ozgod]

Australian rules footballers make the best punters!

In seriousness, that was a pretty stock-standard effort for Aussie rules. The one-handed scoop plus dropping the ball on that angle are things you see every game!

They definitely do. It's amazing how much control those guys have over the distance and direction they kick the ball. They almost seem to be able to control which way it bounces too 

They occasionally show Australian Rules Football and rugby on Verizon late at night, I enjoy watching it now that I understand how it is played, Australian Rules Football in particular is really frenetic. Like soccer except that you kick it in the air and punch it to someone else and jump on people's backs to catch it while people are tugging on your shirt. I can only imagine how many miles those guys run a game.

In fact, I read somewhere that Ben Simmons used to play Australian Rules Football as well as basketball.

[gouki88]

Australian rules footballers make the best punters!

In seriousness, that was a pretty stock-standard effort for Aussie rules. The one-handed scoop plus dropping the ball on that angle are things you see every game!

They definitely do. It's amazing how much control those guys have over the distance and direction they kick the ball. They almost seem to be able to control which way it bounces too 

They occasionally show Australian Rules Football and rugby on Verizon late at night, I enjoy watching it now that I understand how it is played, Australian Rules Football in particular is really frenetic. Like soccer except that you kick it in the air and punch it to someone else and jump on people's backs to catch it while people are tugging on your shirt. I can only imagine how many miles those guys run a game.

In fact, I read somewhere that Ben Simmons used to play Australian Rules Football as well as basketball.

It’s a shame kicking skills have declined, because some of the old blokes had freakishly masterful control over the footy. Peter Daicos’ ability to kick goals from wherever is unrivalled!

The average distance for an AFL player in a game is 13kms or so - the wingmen crack 20kms occasionally though! Lots of mileage. Speaking from experience, it really beats up the body!

Patty Mills was actually pursuing being a pro footballer first. But then he chose basketball - Scott Pendlebury, a legendary footballer, basically did the inverse and they essentially swapped careers

[Chef Parish]

Don't forget, as long as any part of the body is behind the line of scrimmage, even a toenail, the player is considered behind line of scrimmage.

I was always under the impression it was all about if the ball goes over the line of scrimmage and nothing to do with feet, body, etc