CFL makes life more challenging for kickers

The CFL believes it has breathed some new life into the boring extrapoint play.

Up until now, the kick from the 12-yard line has been, well, almost pointless because it’s such a gimme following a touchdown.

But by moving the kick to the 32yard mark for the coming season, kickers will now face a challenge.

Statistically, converts were successful 99.4 per cent of the time in 2014. Kicks from the 32-yard range, however, were only about 81 per cent successful, and this was the target area the rules committee wanted.

The CFL has also introduced an element of intrigue with a rule that allows teams to go for a two-point convert from the three-yard line in- stead of the five. This is to promote more risk-taking and strategy.

Stats analyzed over a number of years show that teams are successful in scoring 37 per cent of the time when scrimmaging from the three. They have been successful only 30 per cent of the time from the five.

The package of rule changes approved this week represent the most significant steps the CFL has taken since the late 1980s, when the league allowed motion in the offensive backfield. Since then, up to four receivers can “waggle” and hit the line of scrimmage running.

Glen Johnson, vice-president of officiating in the CFL, told the Star on Thursday the new rule changes have been well thought out.

“It wasn’t a quick knee-jerk decision to fix a whole bunch of broken things,” Johnson said. “It’s been on a slow simmer for a number of years.”

At first, there was some resistance to the extra-point change and there was discussion about removing it completely, but the committee didn’t want to alienate traditionalists.

The CFL has felt the need to shake things up in the wake of stiff competition for entertainment dollars because TV ratings and attendance were both down last season. Scoring was also down and penalties were up, which slowed the game.

Argonauts head coach Scott Milanovich thinks the change will see more teams going for two points.

“The weather is also going to play a factor, particularly if you’re kicking into the wind,” Milanovich said.

To increase offence, the league has adopted a five-yard rule on contact

“It wasn’t a quick knee-jerk decision to fix a whole bunch of broken things. It’s been on a slow simmer for a number of years.” GLEN JOHNSON CFL VICE-PRESIDENT OF OFFICIATING

with a receiver. Neither the defender nor pass receiver will be allowed to create or initiate contact that impedes or redirects an opponent beyond five yards.

“It’s going to be interesting to see what defensive backs are going to be able to get away with,” Milanovich said.

This rule should favour Argo receivers like Chad Owens and Andre Durie, who are quick and can hit the line of scrimmage with momentum. Here are the other rule changes: On a punt play, when a five-yard penalty is called, the penalty will automatically be added to the end of the return or from the point the ball was first touched by the return team, whichever is better.

On punts, the five interior linemen on the kicking team will be prohibited from leaving the line of scrimmage until the ball is kicked.

The offence can signal to the referee at any time that it doesn’t want to substitute and it wants to use a quick-tempo offence. The officials would then blow the play in immediately upon the ball and yardsticks being set for play.

Coaches can no longer request a first-down measurement.