Half the Distance Penalties and 1st Downs

[dldove77]

First of all, the first down marker was at the 2 yard line.  

A correct spot at the four - could be a few inches off the four, but close - makes half the distance two yards and gets us to the 2 yard line. 

The rules are fine. But the spot was bad.  

 

[LA_Panther]

33 minutes ago, bab270 said:

I think the rule is appropriate because it isn't an automatic first down penalty. I don't think people are saying that the offense isn't penalized enough (or saying it should be a safety) when they have a false start at their own 2 yard line.

Also, what would be your thoughts about an encroachment that occurred at the opponents 1 yard line with it being 4th and goal? First down? Touchdown? Half the distance?

 

I agree with @tondi that the rules are pretty clear and was fully the expecting the 4th and 1/2 after the penalty. I personally wouldn't want a rule change.

They give you an inch, a millimeter etc... lol

[chknwing]

we won.

[RumHam]

The rule used to be five yards or inside the one. Pretty sure this staff was just this incompetent, or again, skewed against us to keep the bucs within the 10 point spread.

[SmokinwithWilly]

I think it should be 1/2 the distance plus 1st down if the entire penalty would have resulted in one. As it stands, it gives the D an advantage because they can basically commit any foul that doesn't result in an automatic first down without very little repercussion. The offense doesn't get the same break. At least giving the offensive team the first down if the actual penalty yardage would have done so would come very close to evening penalties inside the 10. 

[UpstatePanther]

3 hours ago, dldove77 said:

I think the larger issue here is the terrible spot we were given after the Olsen catch. 

yeah that and the Stewart run for the 1st. they gave us a horrible spot on that too. Stew nearly got in the endzone on his run, but some how the nose of the ball barely passed the 1st down marker on the 2 yard line? im not buying it.

[UpstatePanther]

i agree a discussion needs to be had about changing the rule. im not sold one way or another, but its definitely a conversation worth having.

however, the far more egregious call in that game was the would-be safety. can anyone explain to me why that was offsetting? Star didnt commit the unsportsmanlike until after the play. shouldnt that have been a safety to us, with the free kick moved forward with the 15 yard penalty?

[Daddy_Uncle]

should absolutely be an automatic first down in goal line situations. such a stupid rule

[JawnyBlaze]

11 hours ago, Cracka McNasty said:

It's not stupid though. If you are within 5 yards and it's a 5 yard penalty, move the ball half the distance to the goal. Sucks it wasn't a first down but it's a completely fair rule to begin with. 

If we were on the 20 and it was 4th and 7 it would have only made it a 4th and 2. It'd be one thing if every single offsides/encroachment were an automatic first down, but half the time it isn't, so it shouldn't automatically be just because you are in a goal to go situation. 

Defenses need all the help they can get these days.

He’s not saying it should be automatic, he’s saying if the benefitted team has 5 or fewer yards to go for the first down, and a 5 yard or more penalty is awarded but fewer than the yards to go s awarded because it’s inside the 10, then it should still be half the distance but the first down should be awarded. So 4th and 7 doesn’t apply because 7 is more yards than the penalty awards. It’s a rare scenario but I’d agree it’d be more fair for the first down to be awarded. 

[JawnyBlaze]

8 hours ago, UpstatePanther said:

i agree a discussion needs to be had about changing the rule. im not sold one way or another, but its definitely a conversation worth having.

however, the far more egregious call in that game was the would-be safety. can anyone explain to me why that was offsetting? Star didnt commit the unsportsmanlike until after the play. shouldnt that have been a safety to us, with the free kick moved forward with the 15 yard penalty?

Just another mistake by Boger. We got fuged on that one. Boger is so awful. 

[LinvilleGorge]

I'm not a big fan of half the distance penalties, period. Put them on the one yard line. Give them all of the penalty distance you can.

[Goondal]

I hate half the distance penalties.  Personally I think they should be treated like a PI in the endzone.  Mark off all the yardage and if it gets you to the endzone the ball goes on the one, first and goal.

[twylyght]

15 hours ago, SmokinwithWilly said:

I think it should be 1/2 the distance plus 1st down if the entire penalty would have resulted in one. As it stands, it gives the D an advantage because they can basically commit any foul that doesn't result in an automatic first down without very little repercussion. The offense doesn't get the same break. At least giving the offensive team the first down if the actual penalty yardage would have done so would come very close to evening penalties inside the 10. 

^^^^ This... all day

[KillerKat]

Yeah the rule needs to be changed. It's stupid that 5 yards anywhere else on the field in the same situation would've given us the first but just because its in the red zone, it doesn't.