How Can Oakland Raiders Take Advantage of New PAT Rule Changes?

The Oakland Raiders' history has branded the franchise as a rebellious, mercurial bunch standing out as an outcast from the rest of the NFL.

That trend continued when the Raiders were one of two teams that voted against the point-after-attempt proposal in the offseason per USA Today's Lindsay Jones:

Rule Changes

What exactly did Oakland vote against and why?

NFL.com writer Kevin Patra sums up the crux of the new changes:

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The NFL announced the extra point will now be kicked from the 15-yard line with two-point conversions remaining at the 2-yard line. The new rule also gives the defense the ability to score two points on returns.

According to the rule change, if the defense returns a blocked extra point or failed two-point try for a touchdown (i.e. on an interception), they will be awarded two points. Under the previous rule the ball was dead on a failed try.

NFL Vice President of Officiating Dean Blandino said teams could change their attempt decision if a penalty occurs. For instance, if a team chooses to go for two points and is called for an offensive penalty, they could then decide to kick a 1-point try. 

 

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Reactions

Sounds pretty mundane right? Who cares about an extra point? Well, kickers around the league who play the game see these new rule changes as a bigger deal than most outsiders. 

Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker makes an observation on how it affects his job, per Ryan Mink of BaltimoreRavens.com: 

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I think the idea is to add excitement to every single play, but really what it does is make every kicker’s job a little bit harder. ...

The guys that do well with it, it increases their value. Guys that are good kickers will find a way to adjust and get the job done. And that’s what I plan on doing.

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Free-agent kicker Jay Feely takes a macro approach on how it affects the guys up front, per Arizona Republic reporter Bob McManaman.

"Don't like it," Feely told me via text message. "Sixty or so more plays that offensive linemen can be injured because they are in a precarious position and defenses will undoubtedly rush harder from the 15 with the ability to score."

Buffalo Bills kicker Dan Carpenter also chimed in, per SiriusXM NFL Radio:

Kickers would know best right? Apparently the Raiders would agree with some of these concerns along with the fact their kicker Sebastian Janikowski is 37 years old entering his 15th year in the league. It’s possible the Raiders were thinking about preserving the leg of one of their senior players.

Yes, Janikowski is known for kicking with an iron leg, but he’s going to be asked to increase the kicking frequency of 30-something-yarders exponentially from the previous two seasons. In case you didn't see Carpenter's tweet, a 33-yard kick isn't exactly a chip shot in bad weather, especially when the defense has an opportunity to score.

Here’s Janikowski's ratio of 30- to 39-yard kicks to extra points for the last three seasons:

Year	30-39-yard Field Goals	Extra Points
2012	10/10	25/25
2013	4/6	37/37
2014	5/5	28/28

In 2014, Janikowski kicked five times from 30-39 yards out. When you combine field-goal attempts and extra points he would have attempted 33 30-plus-yard kicks. Keep in mind, with a revamped offense, the Raiders will have a lot more scoring opportunities in the upcoming season. That aspect had to weigh on the minds of the Raiders’ front office.

Raiders’ Counter

Sure, the Raiders can opt to conform to the norm and keep the status quo, but when has it been in their DNA to avoid throwing in a curve ball? How can the Raiders flip this new rule in their favor? Special teams coach Brad Seely stumbled upon a practical approach that could put immense pressure on opponents, per the team’s official website:

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It comes back what kind of offensive football team you have. If you got a ground and pound team and you think you can run the ball, maybe you’re more apt to go for two than those teams that are going to fling it around the lot.

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Oakland has two players in particular equipped for the ground-and-pound approach at the 2-yard line, fullback Marcel Reece and running back Trent Richardson. Either or both RBs could serve as potential game-changers in the PAT.

As a defensive player, there’s nothing worse than getting the air driven out of your lungs after a sustained 60- to 80-yard drive down the field and then squaring off against a bruising RB who’s tough to corral in a goal-line situation.

This small but effective role could potentially elevate Reece as a viable RB capable of handling the rock. The three-time Pro Bowler is often overlooked for extensive duties out of the backfield, but he has provided a limited burst when asked to move the ball:

Year	Attempts	Yards	Average Yards Per Carry
2012	59	271	4.6
2013	46	218	4.7
2014	21	85	4.0

Richardson has been clowned for a subpar yards-per-run average.

Year	Attempts	Yards	Average Yards Per Carry
2012	267	950	3.6
2013	188	563	3.0
2014	159	519	3.3

Fortunately, this situation only requires him to be effective from two yards out. A backseat to Latavius Murray on the RB depth chart doesn’t make the former No. 3 overall pick a waste of a roster spot. Another year of overlooking Reece for a significant amount of carries doesn’t mean he cannot have an effective role as an RB.

Brian Bahr/Getty Images

Both RBs are also capable of catching passes out of the backfield, which allows the Raiders to put both Reece and Richardson on the field simultaneously with the option to muscle it past the goal line or bootleg outside for a quick pass and catch. The design would give opposing defenses headaches and place the onus on opposing teams to keep pace or play catch-up. 

Year	Receptions	Yards	Average Yards Per Reception
2012	52	496	9.5
2013	32	331	10.3
2014	37	265	7.2

Year	Receptions	Yards	Average Yards Per Reception
2012	51	367	7.2
2013	35	316	9.0
2014	27	229	8.5

In 2014, four of the Raiders games were decided by five points or less—a slight difference between 3-13 and 7-9. Oakland is primed to make some progress in the upcoming season. A new wrinkle added to an already improved offense can spur some upsets and flip the outcome of a few close games.

The Raiders haven't attempted a two-point conversion in two full seasons, but they should consider a new approach to a part of the game that may continue to change, per Peter King of the MMQB.

Advantages are created when football minds think outside the box. It’s the reason Chip Kelly has been successful in the college ranks and why a Bill Belichick-coached Patriots team is a viable contender year after year.

Furthermore, after voting no on the PAT proposal, it would be a proverbial thumb to the nose toward the league, which would have made the late Al Davis proud.

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Advanced statistics provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com and TeamRankings.com.