In the NFL or college can a team choose to add yardage to a field goal attempt?

Question

Watching my Gamecocks lose yesterday by having 3 kicks blocked made me think, why can't the offense place the ball further from the line of scrimmage to prevent kicks from being tipped. Instead of going back 7 yards go back 12 so by the time the ball is over the line it is to high for anyway to tip.

Answer 1

If they need more yards, they usually just let the play clock run out that cause a delay of game penalty.. that moves them back!

Answer 2

The longer the kick is, the lower the angle that the kickers kick the ball at. Quote from Sports Illustrated's Dr. Z:

"I asked a few special teams coaches this very same question when I wrote my first Thinking Man's Guide, about the same time the Brothers Karamazov came out. One of them sat me down and produced some graph paper and showed me the study he had done, to determine the ideal distance. Yeah, he said, it would be longer for the kick-blocker to run, but if he had any shiftiness he could get practically a free run at the spot, going at top speed and avoiding the blockers more easily."

Makes sense. The other guy's right though, you can't request 5 yards back. Either snap the ball longer (BAD, MORE FUMBLED SNAPS) or take a delay of game penalty.

Answer 3

Yes, you can actually hike the ball back as far as you want. The only rule is that the ball must be placed behind the line of scrimmage.
It has just become customary to set up 7 yards back, as that is the distance it takes the to get the ball away, before the defense can get to the kicker.

Answer 4

That's a good queston. I've always wondered that. Instead of setting up 7 yards back and risking a block, why not put it back about 10 yards to give more room and time to kick. I wouldn't think that it would be illegal formation, but I sure would like to know.

Answer 5

Yes, Take a delay of game penalty. 5 yards back. But no it can not be requested.

Answer 6

that's just more distance to add to the kick