End of Half Free Kick...

[Black Jesus]

What was that about? What are the rules regarding that? BTW, he missed it pretty bad.

 

[Renz]

From Urban's blog:

In case anyone is wondering, a team can try a field goal after a fair catch without a pass rush. That's why the Cards did what they did. You immediately give up possession, so it's a worthless rule unless it's at the end of a half. Neil Rackers tried to get a big leg under it and it squibbed. It would have been 68 yards, and it's a tough way to have a streak of 15 straight made field goals end.

 

[TJ]

What was that about? What are the rules regarding that? BTW, he missed it pretty bad.

Its called a "fair-catch kick." Basically, if you call for a fair catch on the previous play, you can attempt it.

 

[Evil Ash]

If a player signals for and gets a free catch, the team if they so chooses can attempt a free kick (its like a kick off because the opposing team can't attempt to block it but if it goes through the uprights its a FG). Its a subsection of one of the rules and often gets forgotten.

He probably should attempted it off the tee instead of trying to have Johnson try and hold it

 

[Spielman]

What was that about? What are the rules regarding that? BTW, he missed it pretty bad.

After a fair catch, a team has the right to try a free kick from the spot if they so choose. Pretty much the only time they would want to try it would be the end of a half... otherwise they'd want posession.

It almost came up in 2006 at the end of the Cards Rams game that Bulger and Warner both tried to fumble away, but didn't happen because the Cards were penalized on the play.

 

[az1965]

It is usually used in such cases where you don't have time to advance the ball and just can hope it goes thru at the end of haf or game. It is kind of like a hail merry.

 

[LVG]

What was that about? What are the rules regarding that? BTW, he missed it pretty bad.

In the event of a fair catch after a kick, the receiving team can elect to have a free kick for a field goal. The opposing team may be 10 yards away from the point of the kick (line of scrimmage).

Rules for:

Fair Kick

 

[dreamcastrocks]

He probably should attempted it off the tee instead of trying to have Johnson try and hold it

You can't attempt a FG from a tee.

 

[Evil Ash]

You can't attempt a FG from a tee.

I believe they are allowed to only on a free kick. Could be wrong though (the commentators made it seem that way).

 

[TJ]

With that field position, I would have rather seen a hail mary, a la 49ers last season. We would have had a better chance of punching it in the end zone that way than hitting a 68 yard fair-catch kick

 

[RON_IN_OC]

You can't attempt a FG from a tee.

I think you can in this case. At least they talked about it on the telecast...Johnston even said he was surprised Rackers wasn't using a tee.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

I think you can in this case. At least they talked about it on the telecast...Johnston even said he was surprised Rackers wasn't using a tee.

NFL RULES: Fair Catch Kick

FAIR CATCH KICK

1. After a fair catch, the receiving team has the option to put the ball in play by a snap or a fair catch kick (field goal attempt), with fair catch kick lines established ten yards apart. All general rules apply as for a field goal attempt from scrimmage. The clock starts when the ball is kicked. (No tee permitted.)

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

The announcers were wrong. No tee allowed. Rackers didn't just kick off the ground by choice.

 

[cardpa]

No tee is allowed but I wonder if the holder can hold it on his toe like we used to do when we were kids and we didn't have a tee. One guy would hold the bottom of the ball on his toe and the top with his finger.

Now that would have made it even more interesting.

 

[LVG]

No tee is allowed but I wonder if the holder can hold it on his toe like we used to do when we were kids and we didn't have a tee. One guy would hold the bottom of the ball on his toe and the top with his finger.

Now that would have made it even more interesting.

I don't think so - the point of the kick for points is that the ball has to touch the ground - hence the kick from last year (I believe that it was Flutie) where the kicker let it bouce on the ground before kicking it through for an old school PAT / FG.

The tee prevents the ball from touching the ground, which is why it doesn't count for point, IIRC.

 

[SoCal Cardfan]

One thing we can all agree on, is that Donovan McNabb had no idea you could attempt this.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

I don't think so - the point of the kick for points is that the ball has to touch the ground - hence the kick from last year (I believe that it was Flutie) where the kicker let it bouce on the ground before kicking it through for an old school PAT / FG.

The tee prevents the ball from touching the ground, which is why it doesn't count for point, IIRC.

Imagine if we have Seattle's punter (one that has distance). The defense has to be 10 yards away. They do a drop kick and then a traditional punt. If the ball sails through the uprights, its a FG too. We all know Dirk couldn't make it 64 yards, but maybe a good punter can.

 

[DemsMyBoys]

I thought it was an interesting move. At that point in the game it would have given us a shot at 3 points... Get the ball back and go for seven (eight) more. If you're going to do it, that was the time.

 

[TheCardFan]

One thing we can all agree on, is that Donovan McNabb had no idea you could attempt this.

Funny...

I didn't either.

Kudos to Whis for knowing the rule and trying it...I expect to see more of those in the near future from other teams.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Funny...

I didn't either.

Kudos to Whis for knowing the rule and trying it...I expect to see more of those in the near future from other teams.

I remembered the rule. They were talking about it the week before as well. Donald brought it up before they called it as well. to him.

 

[nashman]

How embarrassing after all the build up he didn't even get the ball airborne. You don't have to look hard to see why Whiz doesn't have alot of faith in Rackers he screws up often. Whether its us punting instead of trying some longer FG's or Rackers not kicking it deep on the kickoffs Whiz does not have faith in this guy! Neither do I really I always hope our games don't come down to a FG, I feel he would choke.

 

[Capital Card]

One thing we can all agree on, is that Donovan McNabb had no idea you could attempt this.

Outstanding. Very well played, sir.

Go Cards!!!

 

[CardFan67]

The announcers were wrong. No tee allowed.

Thank god Kornheiser was not annoucing this one... I don't even want to think of what the comments would have been...

 

[fball13]

Here's a picture of the kick... I think its more clear now why Rackers missed it... another bad hold.

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[football karma]

How embarrassing after all the build up he didn't even get the ball airborne. You don't have to look hard to see why Whiz doesn't have alot of faith in Rackers he screws up often. Whether its us punting instead of trying some longer FG's or Rackers not kicking it deep on the kickoffs Whiz does not have faith in this guy! Neither do I really I always hope our games don't come down to a FG, I feel he would choke.

I dunno -- 67 yards is a long way and I doubt he has practiced it

Its kinda like standing on the tee box and saying -- I have to hit this 300 yards and then snap hooking it for 125

I can relate