NFL changes kickoff rule

[NickMordo]

Teams will now kick off from the 35 instead of the 30, assuring more touchbacks, more safety but less action.

Good work, NFL owners. It's been a great month for you. And what is Devin Hester gonna do?

 

[CarltonBanks]

Josh Cribbs hopes the lockout lasts a long time.

 

[Armchair_QB]

Teams will now kick off from the 35 instead of the 30, assuring more touchbacksm more safety but less action.

Good work, NFL owners. It's been a great month for you. And what is Devin Hester gonna do?

It also increases the opportunity for more commercials without time running off the clock.

PAT-commercial-kickoff/touchback-commercial.

 

[Starman]

Law of unintended consequences: This will result in more teams instructing their kickers to go for high, booming, long-hang-time, punt-type kickoffs which drop down inside the 10 with the returner getting absolutely bulldozed by the coverage team, resulting in a) disastrous field position, b) higher chances of fumbles, and of course, c) higher chance of injury.

 

[NickMordo]

Law of unintended consequences: This will result in more teams instructing their kickers to go for high, booming, long-hang-time, punt-type kickoffs which drop down inside the 10 with the returner getting absolutely bulldozed by the coverage team, resulting in a) disastrous field position, b) higher chances of fumbles, and of course, c) higher chance of injury.

This made me laugh for some reason. I could see Bellichik plotting right now, "We are going to screw 'em all!!"

 

[doubledown68]

Law of unintended consequences: This will result in more teams instructing their kickers to go for high, booming, long-hang-time, punt-type kickoffs which drop down inside the 10 with the returner getting absolutely bulldozed by the coverage team, resulting in a) disastrous field position, b) higher chances of fumbles, and of course, c) higher chance of injury.

See, I don't buy this. And the reason I don't buy this is because every time you see a team kick off from, say, the 45 after a personal foul, the kicker tries to blast the ball through the uprights.

And every time I see it, it drives me a little nuts, because your argument is right. Teams should skyrocket the ball and make the opposition field it in play... because it's a live freaking ball. But they don't, and I'm guessing they won't.

 

[mustangj17]

Law of unintended consequences: This will result in more teams instructing their kickers to go for high, booming, long-hang-time, punt-type kickoffs which drop down inside the 10 with the returner getting absolutely bulldozed by the coverage team, resulting in a) disastrous field position, b) higher chances of fumbles, and of course, c) higher chance of injury.

See, I don't buy this. And the reason I don't buy this is because every time you see a team kick off from, say, the 45 after a personal foul, the kicker tries to blast the ball through the uprights.

And every time I see it, it drives me a little nuts, because your argument is right. Teams should skyrocket the ball and make the opposition field it in play... because it's a live freaking ball. But they don't, and I'm guessing they won't.

I completely agreed with Starman, but you are right. Less risky for the touchback.

 

[Brian]

Doesn't this make those kickoff specialists obsolete, as well? I know the Ravens had a guy who would do the kickoffs because Matt Stover, while accurate, couldn't get the ball inside the five yard line. Now almost every kicker in the league can get the ball to the goalline.

Hell, might as well go to peewee league rules and simply give the opposing team the ball at the 20 without going through the motions of a kickoff.

 

[Armchair_QB]

Return specialists cost more money than back-up linebackers or whoever replaces the return guy.

Big cost savings for the teams.

 

[Small Town Guy]

In other words, kickoffs are exactly like they were before 1994. This isn't some revolutionary rule change.

 

[Guy_Incognito]

Even from the 35 it's much further downfield than they ever have to get on a punt, no matter what they hang time. Every single coach will go for the touchback.

 

[shockey]

Return specialists cost more money than back-up linebackers or whoever replaces the return guy.

Big cost savings for the teams.

gimme a break. how many 'premier' return specialist are there who are paid big bucks? are there a half-dozen? there sure isn't anything close to one per team.

this wasn't a cost-saving move; it was a p.r. move and a show to the nflpa, as in, 'see how much we care about player safety? now, about that 18-game schedule...'

 

[Michael_ Gee]

Who doesn't want to see more touchback excitement? This rule will have a small but noticeable effect on scoring due to the loss of offensive field position. In response, the owners will vote in a rule requiring defensive backs to play blindfolded.

 

[Den1983]

Hell, might as well go to peewee league rules and simply give the opposing team the ball at the 20 without going through the motions of a kickoff.

I actually think this might be the case in 3-4 years ...

 

[Guy_Incognito]

Who doesn't want to see more touchback excitement? This rule will have a small but noticeable effect on scoring due to the loss of offensive field position. In response, the owners will vote in a rule requiring defensive backs to play blindfolded.

This was funny.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

I agree with the poster who said the rule change will somehow lead to more violent hits. That's what's happened with pass defense. Limiting the chucks and bumps means the only way to play effective pass defense is to separate the receiver from the ball as close to the moment of the catch as possible -- that is, by hard hits on vulnerable opponents.

 

[outofplace]

In other words, kickoffs are exactly like they were before 1994. This isn't some revolutionary rule change.

Exactly. Thank you for saving me the time of looking up when they changed the rule.

 

[NickMordo]

Hell, might as well go to peewee league rules and simply give the opposing team the ball at the 20 without going through the motions of a kickoff.

I actually think this might be the case in 3-4 years ...

Bears coach Lovie Smith actually said that today, saying how Hester is such a big part of his team's field position and can break one any time he touches the ball. He said the "fiber" of the game may be being sacrificed in favor of too much safety.

 

[Piotr Rasputin]

Hell, might as well go to peewee league rules and simply give the opposing team the ball at the 20 without going through the motions of a kickoff.

I actually think this might be the case in 3-4 years ...

Bears coach Lovie Smith actually said that today, saying how Hester is such a big part of his team's field position and can break one any time he touches the ball. He said the "fiber" of the game may be being sacrificed in favor of too much safety.

So spend the Hester money on an O-lineman or two.

Problem solved.

 

[YGBFKM]

This won't help Jacoby Ford, either.