SAN FRANCISCO -- The NFL experimented during the first two weeks of the exhibition season a year ago with the 33-yard extra point that was officially adopted Tuesday at the owners meetings.
But 49ers kicker Phil Dawson never got a chance to experience an extra point pushed back 13 yards because his team’s offense never got into the end zone. The 49ers managed just three points in the first exhibition game at the Baltimore Ravens and were shut out against the Denver Broncos at Levi’s Stadium.
In two seasons with the 49ers, Dawson is 14 of 15 on field-goal attempts from 30 to 39 yards. His only miss was wide left from 37-yards out in the 2014 season opener at the Dallas Cowboys.
Dawson has made all 16 of his 33-yard field goal attempts, since 2001, his third NFL season with the Cleveland Browns, according to Elias.
Under the new rule, teams will have the option of lining up for an extra point with the line of scrimmage at the 15-yard line. NFL kickers spot the ball 8 yards behind the line of scrimmage for kicks for what amounts to a 33-yard extra point.
Part of the reasoning behind the rule change is to bring a little more intrigue to what has become virtually automatic. According to the NFL, 99.5 percent of extra points were successfully converted last season. During the two-week experimental period, 93.4 percent of extra points were converted. The league expects the success rate for the season to fall somewhere from 93 and 94 percent.
As in the past, teams will have the option of going for two points from the 2-yard line. The 49ers’ last two-point conversion attempt was in Super Bowl XLVII. The 49ers trailed the Ravens 31-29 in the fourth quarter. Colin Kaepernick’s overthrew Randy Moss in the end zone in the 49ers’ attempt to tie the score.
The 49ers were successful on their only two-point conversion in the 2011 regular season. They did not attempt a two-point conversion in the regular seasons of 2012, 2013 or last year.
Last season, the 49ers were successful on eight of 15 plays on third- or fourth-and-2 situations. They failed on all four rushing attempts, while converting on eight of their 11 pass attempts in those situations.
