Whenever the NFL changes its rules, there’s a chance for unexpected results. These can happen if coaches find ways to exploit any new loopholes created by the rule change.
In the new kickoff setup, there’s a potential loophole that could cause some problems. If there’s a penalty during the extra point attempt, it only affects the spot of the kick, not the kickoff itself. This means penalties won’t matter, as long as the kick lands between the goal line and the 20-yard line.
So, if the team that scores decides to go for the one-point try, what’s to stop them from sending players to aggressively block the kicker? Penalties for hitting the kicker won’t have any impact on the kickoff that follows.
Hopefully, teams won’t try to hurt the kicker intentionally. However, without a significant downside for hitting the kicker, it might become common to target them during or after a kick. Once kickers realize this, they might feel more nervous before kicking, increasing the chances of a miss.
The offense has the option to redo the try if the kick misses or they can go for a two-point conversion instead. Also, kicking a low, bouncing ball from the 50-yard line might make it harder for the return team.
Despite this, some coaches might choose to take advantage of the new rule. With no real consequences for blocking the PAT, they may encourage their players to go all out, just to make the kicker uneasy for the next attempt.
