Gary Kubiak Points Out Unique Impact Of New PAT Rules

The NFL may have only changed the PAT rules a few days ago, but it didn’t take long for some of the league’s coaches to start brainstorming how the new adjustments will affect what has always been the most mundane play in football. New Denver Broncos head coach, Gary Kubiak, sees teams signing “two-point specialists”, as he called them, to give their team an edge in tight spots.

The new rules dictate that, starting this season, one-point kick attempts after a touchdown must be taken from the 15-yard line, extending the try from 19 to 32 yards. Two-point conversion attempts will still start at the two-yard line, potentially enticing more coaches to gamble on their offense instead of trusting their kicker from mid-range.

Kubiak went on to use a lot of words but not actually say very much, adding, “You probably practice those things during camp. It’s not very much and, all of a sudden, it becomes part of the game. That’s a big part of practice. It’s going to change the way you go about doing things. I know that.”

Many have been quick to point out Tim Tebow’s usefulness on the Eagles roster since the changes, citing his dual-threat ability that close to the goal line. Considering that it was the Eagles who lobbied for a move to the one-yard line for two-point conversions, one must assume Chip Kelly is already scheming up some trickery for 2015.

But to imply that these “specialists” would suit up only for two-point attempts seems somewhat impractical, and a gross misuse of a valuable roster spot. Rex Ryan’s tandem quarterback pairing of Tebow and Mark Sanchez was an utter failure in New York, the read-option popularized in Seattle and San Fransisco is very quickly being scouted out and the wildcat is all but extinct. Kubiak’s vision for the future is innovative, but not realistic. At least, not yet.