A bit O.T. - Is there a place for the quick kick in today's football?

[MusicCityAngler]

Back in the 1950’s and 60’s. the quick kick was a commonly used option in a 3rd and long situation, especially deep in your own territory. It is almost never used today. The last time I saw it was when Tom Brady used it against the Broncos several years ago.

I realize the game has changed dramatically since then, but would it be a viable option in today’s game? I started thinking about this last year when Kentucky was 3rd and 25 on their own 20 yard line. (I don’t remember which game.) I thought that this was a perfect situation for a quick kick. But, it is never done in today’s game.

I certainly am not an expert on football . I am posting this because I would like to hear some comments from those of you more knowledgeable than me.

For those not familiar with the quick kick, it is a “surprise” punt, executed usually on the third down. Besides catching the defense off guard, they don’t have their normal receiving team on the field. The kicking team knows the play, and has the right personnel on the field. Rather than a high kick with long hang time, it is a low, long kick , intended to go over the heads of the receiving team and hopefully get a long bounce down the field.

The receivers have to chase the ball towards their own goal line. If a member of the receiving team touches the ball, it can be recovered by the kicking team. Or it can be grounded by the kicking team. ( Or it could be returned for a TD - but we don;t want to talk about that.)

One difficulty is having a kicker on the field, since substituting on third down would signal the play and allow the defense to substitute. So you need someone who would normally be in the backfield, and can kick. Paul Hornung comes to mind.

I think one reason it isn’t used is the reluctance to waste the third down. If it succeeds, the coach is a genius, but if it fails, the idiot wasted a down. But if it succeeds, every opponent has to wonder if you will do it again, and adjust the defense accordingly whenever you have 3rd and long.

Remember, the situation when you might use a quick kick are ones in which you don’t have many good options. In that situation, the odds are against getting a first down. Most likely the defense will allow a short run or pass, and you will kick on 4th down in a somewhat better position. It is unlikely that you can pick up 20 -25 yards on a run. If you pass, it may succeed, it may be incomplete, or it may be intercepted - possibly a pick-6.

No question, it is a high risk - possible high reward option. But given a situation, down by 3 points, 3 minutes in the game, 3rd and 25 on your own 20 - would you do it?

 

[Bigblueforever]

Not in College or NFL, but in High School maybe some times.

 

[SaguaroCat]

It was only ever a thing because of how conservative and scared everyone was a hundred years ago. A safety is called a safety because it was actually sound strategy to step out of the back of the end zone. It's a miracle the game ever became popular. If you had a time machine and introduced screen passes on third down, the super bowl trophy would be named after you.

 

[jauk11]

Randall Cunningham was probably the best triple threat QB in history, was first team All American punter his junior year at UNLV (Second team as a senior) and we know he could run and pass. He had about a 90 yard punt at UNLV (I saw that one) and just watched a clip of him playing for the Eagles kicking from just inside the end line (scrimmage line about the three) and the receiver chasing it down at about his own five yard line, credit for a 91 yard punt.

So yeah, maybe some day, but not very often.

 

[BlueRaider22]

I can't see many situations where this is viable in today's game.

-in the situation you mentioned above. Own 20 yd line and 3rd-25. Instead of trying for better field position before you put the punt in the hands of someone that punts for a living, you're foregoing a chance to gain a few yards and then putting the punt in the hands of someone that throws for a living? Not very logical. It would be more risky to do so. What if your QB shanks it? Or only kicks a 10 TD rabbit? The best logical option is to play 3rd down. Most defenses are going to give up some yardage to prevent you from converting. So, go ahead and grab the extra 5-10 yds, then punt with the guy who's sole purpose on your team is to kick.

-mid-field - same scenario above

-three-quarter field - long 3rd down situation that you aren't likely to convert.....maybe you're backed up to far for a FG (or maybe you're FG kicker isn't very good from distance).....and maybe your punter isn't too good at placing inside the 20. But we're dealing with a very specific situation here. And if it were me, I'd still take what defense gave me.....maybe there's a chance for a FG now. If not I'd have my punter try to place it inside the 20......most of the time if he fails it will be a touchback.

 

[bigblueinsanity]

Randall Cunningham was probably the best triple threat QB in history, was first team All American punter his junior year at UNLV (Second team as a senior) and we know he could run and pass. He had about a 90 yard punt at UNLV (I saw that one) and just watched a clip of him playing for the Eagles kicking from just inside the end line (scrimmage line about the three) and the receiver chasing it down at about his own five yard line, credit for a 91 yard punt.

So yeah, maybe some day, but not very often.

Good example of why it isnt used enough, imo. Not that it should be used with regularity, but it should definitely be used more than it is. I feel the same way about the "jump ball" on 3rd and forever.

If its 3rd and forever, in already bad field position it is absolutely a viable option. It avoids the potential for a disastrous play (sack/fumble, Int, etc). The lack of actual kick yardage is offset by no return. Plus if done a few times a year, its something the opposing team has to prepare for; which opens up other offensive opportunities.

On the jump ball, you get the same field position change if you had punted. Plus your player has the chance to make a play. The negative is your QB stats will be effected, which may not sit well with particular players.

 

[Grumpyolddawg]

Back in the 1950’s and 60’s. the quick kick was a commonly used option in a 3rd and long situation, especially deep in your own territory. It is almost never used today. The last time I saw it was when Tom Brady used it against the Broncos several years ago.

I realize the game has changed dramatically since then, but would it be a viable option in today’s game? I started thinking about this last year when Kentucky was 3rd and 25 on their own 20 yard line. (I don’t remember which game.) I thought that this was a perfect situation for a quick kick. But, it is never done in today’s game.

I certainly am not an expert on football . I am posting this because I would like to hear some comments from those of you more knowledgeable than me.

For those not familiar with the quick kick, it is a “surprise” punt, executed usually on the third down. Besides catching the defense off guard, they don’t have their normal receiving team on the field. The kicking team knows the play, and has the right personnel on the field. Rather than a high kick with long hang time, it is a low, long kick , intended to go over the heads of the receiving team and hopefully get a long bounce down the field.

The receivers have to chase the ball towards their own goal line. If a member of the receiving team touches the ball, it can be recovered by the kicking team. Or it can be grounded by the kicking team. ( Or it could be returned for a TD - but we don;t want to talk about that.)

One difficulty is having a kicker on the field, since substituting on third down would signal the play and allow the defense to substitute. So you need someone who would normally be in the backfield, and can kick. Paul Hornung comes to mind.

I think one reason it isn’t used is the reluctance to waste the third down. If it succeeds, the coach is a genius, but if it fails, the idiot wasted a down. But if it succeeds, every opponent has to wonder if you will do it again, and adjust the defense accordingly whenever you have 3rd and long.

Remember, the situation when you might use a quick kick are ones in which you don’t have many good options. In that situation, the odds are against getting a first down. Most likely the defense will allow a short run or pass, and you will kick on 4th down in a somewhat better position. It is unlikely that you can pick up 20 -25 yards on a run. If you pass, it may succeed, it may be incomplete, or it may be intercepted - possibly a pick-6.

No question, it is a high risk - possible high reward option. But given a situation, down by 3 points, 3 minutes in the game, 3rd and 25 on your own 20 - would you do it?

I don't care for it, too many explosive plays in football today. Back when it was fairly common you would barely recononize the game, the formations, lack of passing attacks, it was a power game and 3rd and 25 might as well have been 50. Many games have 4-5 or more explosive plays per game now, almost like giving up to me.

 

[JasonS.]

Jared Lorenzen was pretty darn good at it. Was that under Pease?

 

[Johnfarrel]

I was at a kentucky game against Tennessee back in the eighties when kentucky was backed up near it's own twenty. Kentucky quick kicked and backed Tennessee inside it's twenty. Kentucky lost a close game but accepted a bowl bid after the game.

 

[jrburt]

A quick kick does not have to be on 3rd down in my opinion. It just has to be a surprise punt. You have a quarterback that can pooch a punt pretty good, you are up by 7 with 4 minutes left and it is 4th and 3 on the opponents 36 yard line. You have a couple of options. Going for it to try to ice the game (the risk is to give it up to the opponent with good field position), Field goal to ice it (depending on your kicker you risk a block or giving the ball to your opponent at the 43 yard line) or you could line up to go for it in a shot gun, and have your QB pooch a kick and run it down inside the opponents 10. That would be in my mind a quick kick situation.

Dave

 

[FickusDuckus]

I remember the hefty left either quick kicking or pooch punting against someone. Or am I remembering things that didnt happen?

 

[WildCard]

Not that it was ever a "major" part of the game, its' usefulness in today's game have been marginalized. Most coaches now would simply prefer to take a shot on 3rd and long rather than attempt a quick kick. Considering the length of today's FG kicking and the offensive propensity to go for it on 4th and short when past mid field you are just not going to see that goldie oldie much anymore.

But IF you have a QB that can kick it from the gun and IF down/distance/field position are "just right" and IF your defense is playing well it could still be be an effective field flipper especially if the kicker can get a good end over end roll on the ball. JMO.

Peace

 

[wildcatsboston1984]

It would take an apocalypse or very significant rules changes for a coach to ever give away a third down like that these days with the rules being so in favor of offense. The chances of earning a first down with a play or getting one from a penalty are so much higher than a team recovering a quick kick that it just doesn't make any sense to do it.

 

[ram1955]

I was at a kentucky game against Tennessee back in the eighties when kentucky was backed up near it's own twenty. Kentucky quick kicked and backed Tennessee inside it's twenty. Kentucky lost a close game but accepted a bowl bid after the game.

If I'm not mistaken, it was '84 when we played tu in Lex. I was sitting in the endzone we kicked from. We were 3rd and long, backed up deep. In fact, we kicked from 7-8 yards deep in the zone. The advantage we had was that Randy Jenkins was both the qb and punter if I'm not mistaken. That's the key. You lose any advantage you have if you have to change personnel. It was effective in changing field position and didn't allow tu an opportunity for a return.
Yes, there is a place for it, but I think it's better suited for a defensive struggle i.e. 10-7 in the fourth than it is for one of today's more typical higher scoring games.