NFL teams pick the brain of high school coach who never punts

[theguru]

Kelley, the coach at Pulaski Academy in Arkansas, has won two state championships while employing the highly unusual strategy of never punting. Kelley goes for it on fourth down, even fourth and long on his own side of the field, because he believes strongly that a football team should never purposely give up possession of the football.

 

NFL teams pick the brain of high school coach who never punts | ProFootballTalk

[theguru]

Do any teams/coaches in KY do this?

 

And two state championships, so this isn't any fly by night coach...

[GRC Hoops]

It is much easier to gain 1st downs when you only have to average 2.5 yards per play versus 3.33 yards per play.

 

The statistics behind it would be two-fold.

 

First, a team would have to determine how many times their team would not gain at least 10 yards between every 1st and 4th down. Second, if their team failed to convert on 4th down, what percentage does their defense not allow the other team to score - especially when their team fails to convert on 4th down in their own end of the field?

 

As far as the rugby-style laterals, I am not a fan of this because players tend to trail plays more in football than in rugby and would create a turnover.

[gchs_uk9]

Even after picking his brain, I'd bet 95% of the NFL coaches will still punt on 4th-and-1 from their opponent's 40 yard line.

[Jumper_Dad]

Do any teams/coaches in KY do this?

 

And two state championships, so this isn't any fly by night coach...

 

I never punt on Madden, I feel the same way he does!

[Jumper_Dad]

It is much easier to gain 1st downs when you only have to average 2.5 yards per play versus 3.33 yards per play.

 

The statistics behind it would be two-fold.

 

First, a team would have to determine how many times their team would not gain at least 10 yards between every 1st and 4th down. Second, if their team failed to convert on 4th down, what percentage does their defense not allow the other team to score - especially when their team fails to convert on 4th down in their own end of the field?

 

As far as the rugby-style laterals, I am not a fan of this because players tend to trail plays more in football than in rugby and would create a turnover.

I saw a story on this last year where they break down the kick/no kick stats!

 

Biggest difference between what he is doing and doing it in the NFL is that punts in HS aren't going to flip the field the way they do in the NFL. In HS average field position change on a punt is around 20 yards or less...might as well go for it if the difference is giving them the ball on your 40 or their 40 if you don't make it.

[Randy Parker]

Never punting sounds extreme. But I would punt much less than most.

[thehotsnakes]

It makes sense if someone thinks about it objectively. Too many people think in really conservative terms and think this guy is a loon.

 

As stated earlier, he has to average almost a full yard less per play by going for it. That's a huge difference.

 

The added burden it puts on the defense is huge, as well.

[T-CATS]

Guy has guts or a great D. Ashland when Hart was the coach would always go for 2 after a TD. Had it figured would get it more then not and add a few points over the course of a game.

[Eagle2013]

I think the closes we had in NKY was former Newport Coach Matthew Schmitz. The games I went to last year he rarely ever punted. Had pretty good success with that strategy as well.

[sweet16]

I wouldn't punt either unless I was deep in my own territory and it was 4th and long.

[uk#1fan]

It takes a lot of pressure off on 3rd down.

[rjs4470]

It takes a lot of pressure off on 3rd down.

 

And moves that pressure to 4th down. Especially when you are on your own 15 yard line.