It also takes a much shorter kick for any chance of recovery by the kicking team. If you don’t recover it you’ve given your opponent much better field position than they may otherwise of had.
3 Likes
Could be, but a speedster Onside, would make it worth a try, and even long kicks with a good bounce mite go for a TD.
I can’t even remember the last time a kicker was close to recovering his kick. They’re certainly not the speedsters your’re thinking of but they’re onside every kick. It’s always been a low percentage play even with a short kick, & the longer the kick the lower the odds.
1 Like
2019 WPG at OTT. Justin Medlock came tearing downfield after punting. He arrived at the ball just as OTT’s return man was trying to corral the bouncing ball. Medlock did a hook slide and his knee knocked the ball through the returner’s hands and out of bounds. Last touch gave the ball to WPG deep in OTT territory. There may be others more recent, but I don’t know of any.
2 Likes
Brett Lauther on the very first play of the Labour Day Classic this year. It was a master class in retrieving an onside kick.
1 Like
Yes! You’re totally right. The element of surprise was the key to success there. Not the usual circumstance for that play, & the execution was perfect. Masterful indeed, but I don’t think they can get away with that very often.
1 Like
I’m not talking about the kicker, I’m saying a 4.3 or 4.4 speed onside player.
1 Like
As noted previously by some already, the element of surprise is still significant beyond all the other issues and risks.
In the end, onside kick recoveries and open field kicks are not done often because they are quite risky and low percentage.
Maybe in our time though, somebody will crack a code and recover a few times so as to give us a thrill.
By analogy, in the NFL on Monday night there was an innovative field goal block by a player on the New England Patriots.
Even so and beyond this example in the kicking game, new approaches and tricks are bottled up before too long since the element of surprise is no longer at hand.
1 Like
It doesn’t happen in the CFL often but you never know a runner can all of a sudden decides to boot it forward and anybody behind the kick can be eligible.
Canadian Football is the hardest game to officiate but I as an official wouldn’t want it any other way.
2 Likes
What level do you official mahalcflers?
Junior Football with BCFC
2 Likes
That must be a real challenge and very satisfying.
1 Like
Not sure which game it was, but, it was at home and a TiCat player whom was onside recovered a punt this season
2 Likes
It is.
Been part of it since 2010.
Started in 2005 with community/high school (American rules)
Good for you.
So what is your opinion about the CFL’s officiating? Would you say they get it right most of the time?
1 Like
I would say yes.
No worries I won’t be going to the CFL (too old at 50).
But I am good with being where I’m at.
1 Like
That’s your opinion, I’m sticking with mine, and the NFL has nothing to do with my post or this thread.
Yes I know. It’s merely an ANALOGY for reference on the point of innovation. When there is a CFL example, I will cite that, but I did not have one on this front.
We agree to disagree then, but that’s my answer to YOUR question on another reason these plays don’t happen more or as much as you clearly desire.
Yes these plays are often done with a speedster, but speed alone is not going to make it happen any more than now because it’s the element of surprise that often makes the most difference in such plays in the kicking game.
I remember a game with the Ti-Cats a few years ago early in the season when they were successful to field a punt via an onside gunner because they took advantage of a returner who hesitated to field the ball and who was an American who was fresh to the Canadian rules.
It was simply a great call by the special teams coach to attempt that play, and once again, it was the element of surprise that was the key advantage beyond the speed of the player and the placement of the punt.
3 Likes