Yes. It seems like the penalty is WAY too severe for the infraction, kinda like getting the death penalty for jay walking. It seems like the penalty should be ten yards and punt again.
I thought the same thing initially...
But if you think about it.... It has to be this way. Otherwise every team would "game the system", trying to run on the outside with a "fake punt", then kick at the last second, if you aren't going to make it.
5 yard penalty and loss of down, makes sense. You just never see it, because no one runs past the line of scrimmage and punts, unless you are scared of Iowa's punt returner
