Crazy kickoff in Oregon State vs. UCLA
Slow day here...and I live in Beaver country, so this has been a topic at the watercooler.
Oregon State kicked off from the 50 after 15 yard penalty on their previous TD play. Instead of kicking it out of the endzone, they went with this play they have named "grenade".
Play starts around 2:35:
October 8th, 2019 at 2:22 PM ^
Believe that kick should have been ruled illegal. Have to dropkick as it touches the ground.
October 8th, 2019 at 2:32 PM ^
Correct. You can't let the ball bounce up like that before kicking it. You have to kick it right after it hits the ground, like in rugby.
Still, a great idea. Surprised this isn't more common.... maybe it will be now.
October 8th, 2019 at 2:38 PM ^
I don't think that's an actual rule in rugby. In fact, when kicking short and high on restarts, it's best to let the ball rise a little more after the bounce so you can use that momentum to keep it high (How I kicked restarts)
October 8th, 2019 at 2:42 PM ^
If the receiving team signaled for a fair catch, the kicking team wouldn't be allowed to touch him. Right?
October 8th, 2019 at 3:04 PM ^
Right, but upmen in a kickoff return are probably terrified to catch a ball coming down from orbit-- worth trying even if they have the smarts to FC the kick.
October 8th, 2019 at 3:00 PM ^
If it’s illegal, how will it be more common?
October 8th, 2019 at 3:26 PM ^
The play could be common without the illegal part of the letting the ball bounce. When kicking off after a 15 yard penalty, it seems like a low risk-high reward opportunity to drop kick (legally) a high pooch to the 25-30 yard line. Worst case they get the ball at the 25-30. Best case is a recovery by the kicking team.
October 8th, 2019 at 3:31 PM ^
It's also possible to kick a high short one off of a tee, adding to your point.
October 8th, 2019 at 3:39 PM ^
Doesn't even need to be drop kick. Someone could easily develop a tee that is conducive to popping it up for the grenade play. Lowest point just has to be an inch off the ground.
October 8th, 2019 at 2:22 PM ^
I love it!
October 8th, 2019 at 2:22 PM ^
edit: nevermind, looks like Darkstar has it covered.
October 8th, 2019 at 2:24 PM ^
I was in Corvallis watching this game at the Ocktober fest. It was interesting to me seeing the difference between Michigan fans being upset over beating a top 15 team but not playing well and the wild exuberance of Beavers fans because they still had a lead in the 3rd quarter.
My daughter is a senior and I am pretty sure she'll attend. Corvallis is a great college town!
I bet you get neg'd for posting this though.
October 8th, 2019 at 5:36 PM ^
It's fantastic here, I hope your daughter enjoys it. It is oddly refreshing having the Beavers as my "home" team after cheering for the winningest program with the biggest stadium my whole life. As you said, expectations are different and everyone just has a good time.
October 8th, 2019 at 2:25 PM ^
I wish we had Oregon State's QB. He found and hit an open receiver.
October 8th, 2019 at 2:36 PM ^
What's that like?
October 8th, 2019 at 3:51 PM ^
he also had no one from UCLA within 5 yards of him but yea ... it would be nice to have a QB who sees wide open guys
October 8th, 2019 at 2:25 PM ^
Doesn't really take away the fair catch... But that's an odd way to kickoff! Did he have to bounce it like that? Or could he have just punted it?
I'd love to see Michigan fool around with that. Even from a regular kickoff. Punt it up and race to the opponents 25 yard line. Either they fair catch it, and takeover around the 25 anyway, or we get a chance at a turnover.
October 8th, 2019 at 2:39 PM ^
No, you cannot punt a kickoff, but you can drop kick a kickoff. This is a very loose interpretation of a drop kick to say the least. Only time you can punt it would be a "free kick", like after a safety, and teams only do that because you cannot use a tee to free kick.
October 8th, 2019 at 2:49 PM ^
darkstar had it right above - this play is illegal, the NCAA refs just didn't know enough to stop the play with a penalty. Justin Tucker of the Ravens did the same thing, and the NFL refs missed it too (other team recovered anyways). NFL stated after the game it was illegal - you have to kick the ball as it hits the ground or at least almost simultaneously.
Similar to a kickoff, the other team could have called a fair catch. But they were caught off guard, and not sure the "up men" would have had the smarts to do a fair catch anyways.
Cool looking play, regardless.
October 8th, 2019 at 5:39 PM ^
I know someone on the training staff who said they practice this play and the kicker is instructed to only kick it if the bounce is good. I guess if he bounces it and doesnt attempt to kick, it's a do over (like the ball falling off the tee).
This guy got the perfect bounce and sent it into orbit.
October 8th, 2019 at 2:27 PM ^
Should be marked OT but who cares anymore. Cool post nonetheless. I like that it looks like some of the team is just supposed to hit people and create havoc while the rest are actually looking for the ball.
October 8th, 2019 at 2:38 PM ^
Was watching a game where they kicked off from the 50 and the kicker booted it into the 15th row. Wondering what was the point of that and teams should have a better play designed for such situation.
Side note - UCLA ….wtf? They might go 3-9 again or worse. Hard to figure out. There is a ton of talent in SoCal.
October 8th, 2019 at 2:45 PM ^
There might be a ton of talent in SoCal, but none of it is on UCLA's roster. Have you seen UCLA's recruiting rankings?
October 8th, 2019 at 2:48 PM ^
Negative. Not a recruiting geek.
But they should be getting more talent to that school on name alone. They were beat at home by SDSU. Wager that SDSU recruiting ranking is way lower.
October 8th, 2019 at 3:00 PM ^
The Ravens did a similar kick-off a few weeks ago against the Rams. Unfortunately, instead of the chaos in the OSU/UCLA game, the Chiefs wisely signaled for a fair catch.
October 8th, 2019 at 3:09 PM ^
It saved Baltimore from having it to go right into 2 minute warning which is an essentially a 2nd timeout for them. If KC had caught it and returned it, there's no 2 min warning.
October 8th, 2019 at 7:04 PM ^
If that was a primary intention, then they should have just booted the ball out of the end zone.
October 8th, 2019 at 3:02 PM ^
When teams get to kick off from the 50, they should normally onside kick it. It's well worth the risk. If you don't get it, the other team still has 60 yards to go.
October 8th, 2019 at 4:26 PM ^
Agreed. When opportunities present themselves via penalty, take advantage. Another one is when the defense is offsides on a PAT. Even if the PAT is good, take the penalty half the distance and go for two.
October 8th, 2019 at 3:09 PM ^
Smart Play. Can be utilized from many different starting points and preferred distance of kick. Don't know why more don't do it on regular kickoffs .
October 8th, 2019 at 5:46 PM ^
gimmick. won't work once it's been done a few times and people call fair catch. but fun to watch this once.
October 8th, 2019 at 6:28 PM ^
Good post thanks UMfan21