Today's Tidbit... Downfield Punts and Dropkicks

Remnants of football's rugby past remained part of the game for varying amounts of time. For example, Saturday's Tidbit covered the return kick, which involved players immediately punting the ball back to the opponent after taking possession of the ball on a punt, kickoff, field goal attempt, or turnover. The return kick left the college game in 1967 but remains legal in Canadian football.

Another aspect of rugby that remained part of football for longer than most realize involved the ability to execute scrimmage kicks beyond the neutral zone. Scrimmage kicks are those executed during a play from scrimmage and include punts and field goal attempts. Nowadays, those kicks must occur behind the defensive line of scrimmage, but it was not always so. (The neutral zone came into being in 1906 and is the area between the offensive and defensive lines of scrimmage, which are found at the front and back of the ball.)

(Foster, John B., 'Changes in Football Rules,' Salt Lake Tribune, September 16, 1906.)