Even though he dislikes the microphones and hates interviews, Bill Belichick has never been one to shy away from giving his opinion on the game of football. This training camp the league has given Belichick plenty to talk about when it comes to the kicking game.
The big story is the kickoffs. Many feel this rule change has gone too far when it comes to player safety. It has taken the talents of Josh Cribbs and Devin Hester and put them on the sidelines. Even though Belichick is in agreeance with that change, it pales in comparison to what he wants eliminated.
Extra Points. Belichick feels that the extra point has become so commonplace the league should just abolish it. Actually, he has a point.
This is the second time in one week this debate has come up. The extra point is successful almost 97% of the time. No other facet of the game is that boring and yet so lucrative. Plus it is an untimed play and deemed needless except for the final score. But Belichick told WEEI Radio earlier this week he expects more from an extra point.
“Philosophically, plays that are non-plays shouldn’t be in the game, I don’t think it is good for the game. Extra points, when the odds are in the 99 percent range, it is not a play. Let’s move the ball back to the 15-20 yard line and not make it a tap-in. Let them kick it. Same thing with the kickoff return. If you’re just going to put the ball on the 20, put the ball on the 20.”
This would cause an upheaval with football traditionalists. Admittedly moving the extra point back ten yards would make things more interesting. The defense doesn’t even take the extra point seriously. They put on a moderate push and let the kicker do his thing. Belichick’s idea would put more pressure on the kicking team.
But what if you abolish the extra point altogether? After all, without the extra point do you make touchdowns and automatic 7 points? Or put into play the two-point conversion on a permanent basis. That is what College Football does after the first two overtime periods. Mandatory two-point conversions do change the outlook of the game and make things more exciting.
The second part of Belichick’s commentary is one held by many. With Kickoffs now being done from the 35 instead of the 30, it eliminates one of the most exciting facets of the game. Cribbs and Hester are now deemed irrelevant as returners. Soon the touchback will be replaced by kickers pushing the ball high into the air and letting the return team run down and cover the ball. Much like how the punting game has evolved into.
Belichick is one of the brightest, evolving coaches in the NFL today. When he speaks, which is rare, people listen. His ideas will be given some thought and probably be deemed too “over the top.”
That is now. As far as the future, who knows?
