CFL committee finally sees the light
Rule change for converts has been a long time coming, writes Rob Vanstone.
REGINA At long last, some rightthinking converts have embraced a once-lonely crusade that advocates an enlivening of the Canadian Football League’s converts.
A decade ago, when this cherished space was first used to decry the utter tedium created by a 12-yard kick for an extra point, the embattled scribe was treated as though he had suddenly grown an antler.
But gradually it became apparent to a wider audience — including people who wield considerable influence within the league — that the 12-yard punctuation mark was a waste of time and energy.
Consider the welcome events of Thursday, when the CFL’s rules committee recommended a series of alterations for the 2015 season.
One of the proposed amendments calls for one-point converts to be attempted from 32 yards away — a makable kick, to be certain, but also somewhat of a challenge.
Moreover, the rules committee has suggested an alternative whereby a team can scrimmage the football and attempt a twopoint conversion from the threeyard line, as opposed to the five.
Assent is required from the CFL board of governors, which is to convene in late April or early May.
The governors will also have the option of approving testing in the pre-season of a three-point convert attempt, which would come from the 10-yard line.
So there. The convert issue is finally front and centre.
It would be an audacious display of vanity to exult “vindication!” following such a landmark, progressive announcement, so ... April 14, 2005: “Suggestion for the reputedly wide-open CFL: Scrap the yawn-inducing kick for an extra point.’’ (Excerpted from “Robservations.’’) March 13, 2007: “If the league is truly committed to maximizing the entertainment value, it will dispense with the eye-glazing kick for the one-point convert. Instead of the automatic 12-yard placement, teams should be required to scrimmage the ball for an extra point or two. For one point, teams would scrimmage from the two-yard line. For a two-pointer, the ball would be placed on the five. How about it?’’ (And there was silence.) Dec. 5, 2008: “Can the convert. The kicked extra point is, well, pointless.” May 20, 2009: “How about altering the one-point convert? In an entertainment-oriented league, the kicked convert is a bore. Teams should be forced to scrimmage the ball for an extra point.’’ Feb. 11, 2010: “The one-point convert is automatic, so its elimination is worth considering.’’ March 18, 2010: “Why not gas the one-point convert, period?’’ July 10, 2013: “The CFL should ashcan the kicked, one-point convert.’’ March 25, 2014: “The rules committee should scrap the onepoint convert — a rudimentary 12-yarder — or at least make it more difficult.’’
The latter point proved to be the most prophetic.
Please, hold your applause — although you might want to give a hand to the rules committee. The proposed amendments were, for the most part, enlightened.
The committee is hoping to create more room for the offence by prohibiting a defensive player from contacting an approaching receiver beyond five yards from the line of scrimmage. As per this rule, defenders would be forbidden from initiating contact with or impeding the path of a receiver as he heads downfield.
In recent years, there have been far too many instances of receivers being grabbed or impeded by defensive backs, none of whom are gate attractions. This proposal has been criticized by some observers who fear that the CFL will evolve into a glorified version of flag football. Well, so what? The expansive playing surfaces have historically been a playground for game-breaking receivers such as Milt Stegall, Hal Patterson, Mervyn Fernandez, Joey Walters, Brian Kelly, Allen Pitts, Terry Greer and Geroy Simon — all of whom amassed eyepopping statistics while making life uncomfortable for defensive backs.
But over time, the game degenerated to the point where defences were too dominant. Some tweaking was required to create more advantageous, appetizing matchups for the offence — with the hope being that quarterbacks and receivers will once again be able to play pitch-and-catch.