Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh. Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
With extra points moving back to the 15-yard line this season, Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh expects two-point conversions to become a “bigger part of the game.”
Harbaugh thinks weather will dictate more two-pointers.
The NFL announced Tuesday that 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.
“It is going to encourage more two-point conversion tries,” Harbaugh told the Baltimore Sun Thursday after his keynote speech at Stevenson University’s graduation. “There’s no question about it, especially in windy stadiums. Maybe later in the year when it means the most will probably see the most attempts.
“I know one thing, we’re going to spend more time defending two-point conversions and practicing two-point conversions because it’s going to be a bigger part of the game.”
Harbaugh, a former special teams coach, said he needs time to study the possibilities.
“I’m really interested in finding out more of the specifics — penalties, what if we jump offsides, what if they jump offsides,” Harbaugh said. “I can’t wait to see the details.”
The extra-point change is in effect for the 2015 season and could be reviewed in the future. It passed in a 30-2 vote, with the Oakland Raiders and the Washington Redskins the only teams voting against it.
Last year, NFL kickers connected on over 99 percent of their kicks with the football snapped from the 2-yard line.
The rule change meets Harbaugh’s approval.
“The effort to move the line of scrimmage back on the point after touchdown, to me, is a good thing,” he said. “I think it’s a positive thing. We’re for it. We were fine with it the other way. I know (Ravens kicker) Justin Tucker was kind of like saying stuff about it.
“But I think he realizes that it’s going to give the better kickers an opportunity to shine a little bit. So, move it back and make it a little bit tougher. Make it more of a challenge, make that point mean more.”
