Why do most teams choose to punt on a post-safety free kick instead of placekicking?

Question

I know that in the NFL after a 2-point safety occurs, the team that has to free kick can choose to either punt, placekick without a tee, or dropkick the ball away from their own 20-yard line.

I seen enough NFL games over the years and most teams I see choose to punt. I seen VERY few teams placekick. I thought in theory and practice, the placekick (with or without a tee) should make the ball travel more distance down the field than a punt would. Maybe the hang-time might be longer too. Shouldn't more teams choose to placekick in this very situation?

And why does the NFL rule gives the victimized team of the safety the choice on how to kick the ball away?

Answer 1

A punt has more hang time,allowing better coverage and shorter returns, and a place kick would go farther, but it would outkick the coverage, and the return team would get a longer return. The history of returns and kicks show that teams are better off punting after a safety.

Answer 2

With placekicking, there is a kickoff tee. All kickers are already used to kicking off the tee and have their "sweet spot". If you kick the ball without the tee you might hit the wrong spot because the height of the ball is lower.



Punting is easier and also more efficient. Hangtime with punts are longer than kicking hangtime. Punts are around 4-5 seconds. Kickoffs are between 3-4 seconds.

Answer 3

The Official NFL Rules state that "on a safety kick, the team scored upon puts ball in play by a punt, dropkick, or placekick without tee."

Answer 4

When a team kicks from the 30 yard line, most returns will get back to the 25 or so. That is a net gain of 45 yards.



A net 45 yard gain is a very good punt, BUT when there are no defenders able to pressure you and you punt from the 20 out of your hand instead of punting 8 yards behind the snapper, you begin to see a good 45 yard punt is now a mediocre 37 yard punt with absolutely no pressure on the punter and no need to block the receiving team. So, a punt is more likely to get you a better net gain than a kickoff.

Answer 5

The hangtime is actually greater with a punt than a placekick, and usually the kicker can control the ball a bit better. That's my take on the issue.

Answer 6

My understanding was there was no choice. After a safety you punted the ball from the 20 yard line. i never heard of kicking off form a tee or no tee after a safety and i was a kicker....

Answer 7

i always thought they had to punt because ive never seen a team place kick, but yeah it probably has something to do with the hang time, less of a return

Answer 8

they choose to punt because the hang time is greater and it allows them to get down field before the other team gets the ball and they could possibly get the ball back.

Answer 9

most teams choose to punt because there is better hangtime with a punt and it lets the coverage get to the ball carrier faster.

Answer 10

yea, i agree they should place-kick instead of punt...not sure why they give them a choice.... ?

Answer 11

i thought they had to punt.

Answer 12

why did you just answer your question 8 times?