I was watching an old football movie the other day on a movie channel and the quarterback “drop kicked” the ball (dropped on the ground and kicked the moment it bounces).
The announcer said “I haven’t seen that in 30 years!” Based on the apparent age of the movie, this was a looonnggg time ago.
Also, a player on the opposing team said “How many points is that worth?” And the quarterback said “Three.”
Is the drop kick just a bastard field goal meant to catch the defense off guard? I’ve seen it used in rugby, but never american football.
Is it still legal? Or, more to the point, was it ever legal?
Yes quick kicks are legal. Yes they count as a field goal if they pass through the uprights. They kicker has no protection. There is no roughing or running into the kicker of a drop kick. As for why they aren’t used. I would think it’s because they aren’t very accurate.
Back in the olden days, the football was more rounded and less pointy on the ends. So, a ball dropped on one end was more likely to bounce in a predictable way. Because of this, drop kicks were more common AND more accurate. When forward passing evolved, the shape of the ball changed to give it more stability in flight.
Quick kicks and drop kicks are not the same-unless it’s a quick drop kick.
Quick kicks-more accurately punts-were used in long yardage 3rd down plays to catch the defense off guard-a direct snap to the QB/TB/HB in a shotgun/single wing/wishbone formation-hoping for a 50+ yd.nonreturnable punt.A way to get your team out of the field position hole-most often used in your own territory.If the kicker (punter)kicked it too far and it went thru the uprights no points would be scored-the ball would be put in play on the 20 yd line for the other team,not the desired effect of the quick kick, usually
A drop kick OTOH,would be used in the opponents territory at a makeable distance-since,under the old rules the unsucessful kick on goal was placed at the 20yd line.
Under today’s rules,I assume an unsuccessful drop kick would go back to the line of scrimmage,making the play (dropkick-quick or otherwise) not a very wise one.The quick kick (punt) could be in a defensive struggle.
I recalla a sports talk recently where one of the guys was saying the last person to do dorp kicks was QB Jim McMahon. Of course, he wasn’t doing them during the game, but was merely horsing around before the game started. I wonder when the last drop kick was.
There’s another rule about this that I think I’m only half-remembering.
It has to do with drop kicks and fair catches. IIRC, you can punt the ball and have it count has a field goal if you do it the very first play after a fair catch. Of course, most fair catches take place far out of range so it doesn’t matter. But I swear I read this on one of those “You make the call” trivia challenges or something. Any substance to this?
Funny how the things we discuss end up happening. Ok it wasn’t a drop kick, but there was a quick kick today in the NFL. I forget which team it was, but they lined up for a field goal, direct snapped it to the kicker to make it look like a fake run/pass, then quick kicked it to the 4, pinning the opponent deep. It was a brilliant play call, and worked out great.
Ah yes, the drop kick. For some reason it holds perpetual fascination for football fans. Way back in the 1970’s the Sporting News had a football referee who wrote a column where he answered questions about the rules, and he said that he got more questions about the drop kick than anything else. Something about it evokes Kunte Rockne and high-button shoes.
But anyway, y’all are barking up the wrong tree if you’re hoping to see a drop kick in the NFL or in college football. Try watching Arena Football instead, where a drop-kick FG counts 4 points and a drop-kick PAT two. According to their web site, one Brian Mitchell holds the record with 6 of 11 drop-kick FG’s in 1994.
However, I note with despair that no drop kick FG’s–not one!–were attempted during the 2002 season, and only 2 PAT’s–both unsuccessful! It must be harder than it seems.
Ray “Scooter” McLean was the last player to successfully dropkick for a score in an NFL game. It was in 1941 NFL Championship Game for the Chicago Bears.
I have to get my hands on an American football and try this. I can’t believe that it is all that difficult. It’s no great problem with a rugby ball - granted they are not as pointed. Your foot really contacts the ball just as it hits the ground, the ball doesn’t actually bounce at all. I remember reading that Jim Thorpe after retirement used to stand in the middle of the field and kick 50 yard field goals each way at guest appearances.
I think the restriction of kicking behind the line of scrimmage is a good thing. It would be a bit scary kicking from in front of the line amongst the defence.
