Colts anticipating more 2-point attempts this season

There was a moment in last Saturday night’s Indianapolis Colts preseason game that you’ve probably long forgotten about. But it’s one that is significant because it might be foreshadowing things to come.

After quarterback Andrew Luck scrambled for a touchdown early in the second quarter, the Colts did something interesting: They attempted a two-point conversion.

Receiver Andre Johnson hauled in a quick throw from Luck and the Colts converted.

But there was more to it than you probably realized.

I asked coach Chuck Pagano this week whether this was something he did just for kicks, or might the changes made to extra-point rules this season influence him to make different decisions after touchdowns.

As it turns out, Pagano has been giving this issue a lot of thought. He and his staff are anticipating a sharp increase in two-point attempts this season after the NFL voted to move the line of scrimmage on point-after kicks to the 15-yard line from the 2-yard line.

I asked him why, given the amazing accuracy of NFL kickers — they made 95.1 percent of their field goals between the 14- and 16-yardlines last season, 99.3 percent of their extra points — would teams be more inclined to go for two rather than attempt what is a relative chip-shot kick from about 32 yards?

His answer made a lot of sense.

“Depending on the game situation and where you’re playing, indoors, outdoors, in January football, those things are all going to come into play,” Pagano said.

And he’s right. There are weather conditions in which a 32-yard field goal is not such a sure thing. But what does the Colts offense going for two have to do with defending other teams’ two-point attempts? Actually, it all goes hand in hand. If and when other teams begin attempting more two-point conversions, it could have a significant impact on the scoreboard, which, in turn, impacts the Colts’ point-after strategy.

That’s what Pagano and his staff are working through right now. And that’s why you saw them experimenting with what plays might be useful in a two-point conversion scenario.

“You have to look at your two-point (guidelines) now,” Pagano said. “The defense being able to return a blocked kick for two points now factors in, weather conditions — a lot of things. It’s the time to work on it.

“You have to expand your menu on both sides of the ball.”

The NFL hoped to make things more interesting with the changes it enacted regarding point-after attempts. If Pagano is right, seems those changes will succeed in doing so.