No doubt that the point-after-touchdown kick had become too easy for today’s players.
This year, the NFL tried to inject a little bit of decision-making and excitement into the play by moving the ball to the 15-yard line for a one-point kick, but leaving it at the 2-yard line for a two-point play from scrimmage.
So far, though, only the Pittsburgh Steelers have gotten into the partying mood. Coach Mike Tomlin’s crew have successfully converted three two-point conversions, and not just as an end-of-game strategy dictated by the score.
In fact, the Steelers “went for two” following their first two touchdowns last week, making both against the San Francisco 49ers.
After two weeks, kickers have missed nine PATs from the longer distance, and are converting the point at a 94.1 per cent rate, down from the 99.3 per cent success rate of the shorter kick, in 2014. But that hasn’t swayed many coaches, who still like their kickers’ chances from the new range – equivalent to about a 32-yard field goal.
That’s why we all should be Steelers fans right now – at least when they try for two points. The more they succeed, the more others may follow.
Tomlin said he has no master plan, and will simply decide touchdown by touchdown, based on how the other team is “matching our personnel”.
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger confirmed it is more than a whim.
“We practice it every single day,” he told NFL.com. “It’s something we feel comfortable with.”
Hopefully, soon, more than one will embrace the “two.”
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