Should you always onside kick after a 15 yard penalty enforced on the kickoff?

[ak]

Kicking from the 50, Average starting field position is from the 40 anyhow I just think you might as well especially in the NFL. what do you think? 22.21% is the current onside kick success rate

[KevinMcC]

A moon ball 15-20 yards wouldn't be a bad option.

[Mike]

Average starting field position is from the 40

Where'd you get that figure?

[KevinMcC]

Yeah that has to be wrong... last season it was like 33 or 35 or something I'm pretty sure

[themike537]

That might be on *any drive* (punt return, turnover, etc) as opposed to just drives beginning from a kickoff return.

[pokerprop]

Any kicker in the leauge should be able to kick it through the endzone guaranteeing it is a touchback and their opponent starts on the 20. So the 40 yard line stat isn't as relevant - If you onside kick from the 50 and fail - you're now either at a higher risk of 1) giving up points 2) getting set back in a field position battle.

If you're the New Orleans Saints go ahead imo. If you're the Packers, Titans, Redskins nope I think its a bad it move most of the time.

[ak]

Advanced NFL Stats: Onside Kicks