I spent the whole competition trying to come up with unique rules to increase player safety that would not reduce returns as a matter of principle and strategy, but clearly the most effective rules to reduce concussions would be simple, heavy-handed rules that limit returns in some way. Now that the competition is over, I'm curious if anyone came up with ideas that would result in drastic reductions to concussions (over 50%), while not going as far as \"get rid of punts.\"
\n\nFor example, something as simple as 10 bonus yards on fair catches and mandating that during the preseason you can only make fair catches could prevent ~2/3 of punt play concussions (fans don't care about the preseason and preseason games don't count toward the playoffs, so why are we allowing ~1/3 of concussions to happen during games that don't really matter?). You could implement whatever safety-oriented rules (limit jammers, new blocking/tackling rules, etc.) you wanted to on top of that.
", "messages": [ { "id": "461260", "postDate": "01/25/2019 16:38:56", "content": "I spent the whole competition trying to come up with unique rules to increase player safety that would not reduce returns as a matter of principle and strategy, but clearly the most effective rules to reduce concussions would be simple, heavy-handed rules that limit returns in some way. Now that the competition is over, I'm curious if anyone came up with ideas that would result in drastic reductions to concussions (over 50%), while not going as far as \"get rid of punts.\"
\n\nFor example, something as simple as 10 bonus yards on fair catches and mandating that during the preseason you can only make fair catches could prevent ~2/3 of punt play concussions (fans don't care about the preseason and preseason games don't count toward the playoffs, so why are we allowing ~1/3 of concussions to happen during games that don't really matter?). You could implement whatever safety-oriented rules (limit jammers, new blocking/tackling rules, etc.) you wanted to on top of that.
", "rawMarkdown": "I spent the whole competition trying to come up with unique rules to increase player safety that would not reduce returns as a matter of principle and strategy, but clearly the most effective rules to reduce concussions would be simple, heavy-handed rules that limit returns in some way. Now that the competition is over, I'm curious if anyone came up with ideas that would result in drastic reductions to concussions (over 50%), while not going as far as \"get rid of punts.\"\n\nFor example, something as simple as 10 bonus yards on fair catches and mandating that during the preseason you can only make fair catches could prevent ~2/3 of punt play concussions (fans don't care about the preseason and preseason games don't count toward the playoffs, so why are we allowing ~1/3 of concussions to happen during games that don't really matter?). You could implement whatever safety-oriented rules (limit jammers, new blocking/tackling rules, etc.) you wanted to on top of that.", "votes": null }, { "id": "461290", "postDate": "01/25/2019 17:56:20", "content": "On a turnover on downs, the ball is first advanced 20 yards and then possession changes.
\n\nExample: Team is on opponent's 45 yard line (45 yards to score a TD) and face a 4th and 5. They run a play and gain 4 yards. The ball is given to the other team at their 21 yard line.
", "rawMarkdown": "On a turnover on downs, the ball is first advanced 20 yards and then possession changes. \n\nExample: Team is on opponent's 45 yard line (45 yards to score a TD) and face a 4th and 5. They run a play and gain 4 yards. The ball is given to the other team at their 21 yard line.", "votes": null }, { "id": "461341", "postDate": "01/25/2019 19:44:00", "content": "Hey, I proposed a very similar rule. As a football fan, I must say that the NFL was stupid not to invite us.
", "rawMarkdown": "Hey, I proposed a very similar rule. As a football fan, I must say that the NFL was stupid not to invite us.", "votes": null }, { "id": "461435", "postDate": "01/26/2019 02:59:01", "content": "Without having 2018 data, it was difficult to assess how effective latest rule changes already are in this area, e.g. 12-2-8 lowering the head to initiate contact with the helmet a foul and 15 yard penalty or automatic first down, player may be disqualified. There were certainly examples in the 2016-17 data where the play already had a penalty or arguably might have under 2018 rules, so the case for more rules may not help but will see what happens. Maintaining the integrity of the game, changes to game dynamics were interesting considerations when paying more attention to different teams/coaches current punting strategies.
", "rawMarkdown": "Without having 2018 data, it was difficult to assess how effective latest rule changes already are in this area, e.g. 12-2-8 lowering the head to initiate contact with the helmet a foul and 15 yard penalty or automatic first down, player may be disqualified. There were certainly examples in the 2016-17 data where the play already had a penalty or arguably might have under 2018 rules, so the case for more rules may not help but will see what happens. Maintaining the integrity of the game, changes to game dynamics were interesting considerations when paying more attention to different teams/coaches current punting strategies.", "votes": null }, { "id": "461708", "postDate": "01/26/2019 19:42:18", "content": "Good idea, and if you combined that with a substantial fair catch bonus it would create even more incentive to go for it on 4th downs.
", "rawMarkdown": "Good idea, and if you combined that with a substantial fair catch bonus it would create even more incentive to go for it on 4th downs.", "votes": null } ], "comments": [ { "id": 461290, "author_name": "ericfreeman", "author_url": "", "post_date": "01/25/2019 17:56:20", "content": "On a turnover on downs, the ball is first advanced 20 yards and then possession changes.
\n\nExample: Team is on opponent's 45 yard line (45 yards to score a TD) and face a 4th and 5. They run a play and gain 4 yards. The ball is given to the other team at their 21 yard line.
", "votes": null, "replies": [ { "id": 461341, "author_name": "sp007c", "author_url": "", "post_date": "01/25/2019 19:44:00", "content": "Hey, I proposed a very similar rule. As a football fan, I must say that the NFL was stupid not to invite us.
", "votes": null, "replies": [] }, { "id": 461708, "author_name": "hamelg", "author_url": "", "post_date": "01/26/2019 19:42:18", "content": "Good idea, and if you combined that with a substantial fair catch bonus it would create even more incentive to go for it on 4th downs.
", "votes": null, "replies": [] } ] }, { "id": 461435, "author_name": "something4kag", "author_url": "", "post_date": "01/26/2019 02:59:01", "content": "Without having 2018 data, it was difficult to assess how effective latest rule changes already are in this area, e.g. 12-2-8 lowering the head to initiate contact with the helmet a foul and 15 yard penalty or automatic first down, player may be disqualified. There were certainly examples in the 2016-17 data where the play already had a penalty or arguably might have under 2018 rules, so the case for more rules may not help but will see what happens. Maintaining the integrity of the game, changes to game dynamics were interesting considerations when paying more attention to different teams/coaches current punting strategies.
", "votes": null, "replies": [] } ], "raw_markdown_by_id": { "461260": "I spent the whole competition trying to come up with unique rules to increase player safety that would not reduce returns as a matter of principle and strategy, but clearly the most effective rules to reduce concussions would be simple, heavy-handed rules that limit returns in some way. Now that the competition is over, I'm curious if anyone came up with ideas that would result in drastic reductions to concussions (over 50%), while not going as far as \"get rid of punts.\"\n\nFor example, something as simple as 10 bonus yards on fair catches and mandating that during the preseason you can only make fair catches could prevent ~2/3 of punt play concussions (fans don't care about the preseason and preseason games don't count toward the playoffs, so why are we allowing ~1/3 of concussions to happen during games that don't really matter?). You could implement whatever safety-oriented rules (limit jammers, new blocking/tackling rules, etc.) you wanted to on top of that.", "461290": "On a turnover on downs, the ball is first advanced 20 yards and then possession changes. \n\nExample: Team is on opponent's 45 yard line (45 yards to score a TD) and face a 4th and 5. They run a play and gain 4 yards. The ball is given to the other team at their 21 yard line.", "461341": "Hey, I proposed a very similar rule. As a football fan, I must say that the NFL was stupid not to invite us.", "461435": "Without having 2018 data, it was difficult to assess how effective latest rule changes already are in this area, e.g. 12-2-8 lowering the head to initiate contact with the helmet a foul and 15 yard penalty or automatic first down, player may be disqualified. There were certainly examples in the 2016-17 data where the play already had a penalty or arguably might have under 2018 rules, so the case for more rules may not help but will see what happens. Maintaining the integrity of the game, changes to game dynamics were interesting considerations when paying more attention to different teams/coaches current punting strategies.", "461708": "Good idea, and if you combined that with a substantial fair catch bonus it would create even more incentive to go for it on 4th downs." }, "source": "meta" }