Everyone loves seeing scoring, but can we reward the defense for good play?
How many times have we seen the defense rise up deep in their own territory and cause a turnover on downs, int, strip-sack or fumble, only to have the offense start inside their own 10-yard line? This puts the offense in a compromising position and could quickly flip the field position to favoring the team that turned it over. A conservative, quick 3-and-out by the O and the D is right back out there defending in their own end.
I propose we reward, (at least not punish), the Defense / Team that creates the turnover. If that turnover / recovery occurs inside of the 25-yard line, the ball is placed on the 25-yard line to start the drive. Couple side notes;
- you can still choose to return a fumble or int, but if you do so and get tackled inside the 25, then you start where you were tackled.
- changes the thinking on 4th and goal from inside the 5. Now if you don’t make it, ball goes to 25 instead of pinning their offense deep.
- now when that defender makes that spectacular int and his downfield momentum carries him out of bounds inside the 5… the team is properly rewarded.