I have a rule situation question that I still can't wrap my brain around. You have a team punting the football. It's 4th down and 15. The denfense blocks the punt and the ball goes forward maybe 10 yards and the offense team attempts to pick up the ball and return it is but never gains possession meaning the ball ends up rolling on the ground and say the punting team jumps on the ball. Obvious the ball did not even cross the first down point in the first place as 15 yards would have been needed and then the ball rolls 1-2 yards before being recovered. Would this not be treated as a downed punt? How would it even be possible for the punting team to have ball in this situation as the defense already touched ball because it was blocked.

 

 

Maybe just me but can you rephrase this using kicking team and receiving team instead of offense and defense.

Ok no problem. 4th down and 15 kicking team is punting the ball. Receiving team blocks the punt but the ball still manages to make forward progress of maybe 10 yards. Once the ball hits the ground the receiving team goes for the ball and attempts the scoop and score but are unable to pick it up so the ball ends up rolling up the field maybe 1 yard or so before the kicking team jumps on the ball. Since the receiving team block the punt and then never officially recovered the ball as it was never really possessed how is it possible the kicking team can receive the ball back?

Happens in all sports. Hard for the average Joe to keep up with rule differences.

 

Hey now. I keep up with the rules pretty well.....

Maybe just me but can you rephrase this using kicking team and receiving team instead of offense and defense.

 

I rephrased the question. Sorry for confusion.

I rephrased the question. Sorry for confusion.

 

If the punt goes past the line of scrimmage, even if partially blocked, it is the same as any other punt. If it is touched by the receiving team first, but not possessed, then it is a muff and can be recovered, but not advanced, by the kicking team.

If the punt goes past the line of scrimmage, even if partially blocked, it is the same as any other punt. If it is touched by the receiving team first, but not possessed, then it is a muff and can be recovered, but not advanced, by the kicking team.

 

Ok so by being partially blocked by the receiving team then does that classify as being touch by them first since they partially blocked it?

Ok so by being partially blocked by the receiving team then does that classify as being touch by them first since they partially blocked it?

 

No, because it was at or behind the line of scrimmage. If the receiving team doesn't touch it after it crosses the line of scrimmage the kick would be down where either the kicking team touches it, it goes out of bounds or it rolls dead.

If the punt goes past the line of scrimmage, even if partially blocked, it is the same as any other punt. If it is touched by the receiving team first, but not possessed, then it is a muff and can be recovered, but not advanced, by the kicking team.

 

 

I understand now makes good sense just seeing it happen live and knowing that the punt was partially blocked and then have all that null and ball given back to the kicking team didn't seem right but once explained that way I get it lol.

That's a dumb rule IMO. Might as well line up for a field goal every time. If a returner goes back, switch to a punting formation. If not, kick it like a kick off and go down it.

 

Another rule I dislike is that it's a dead ball if a kickoff goes in the end zone at all. I would like to see players have a choice to take a knee or return it.

 

Your argument makes no sense. It would only make sense if the rule forbade the defense from putting a man back to return it. If the defense puts a guy back and the offense keeps everyone inside to block (picture a FG/XP formation) the defense is actually at an advantage because there will be no gunner going downfield. The return man will have a free running lane for quite a while.