New Kickoff Rule

[jarntt]

 

[jarntt]

 

[Sharkonabicycle]

lol, I have to imagine all the Packers players did not expect that guy to end up with the ball and had their eyes elsewhere... it's a shame that fuck wasn't able to pound it in the endzone, though.

 

[Sharkonabicycle]

If I was coaching an NFL team I'd tell my guys to always fair catch and always touchback...

#1 - you avoid injuries.
#2 - you can't turn the ball over that way (even if it's muffed, you have enough time to pick it up.
#3 - only 7 or so teams had a better starting field position than the 25 yard line (and it was mostly 1-4 yards more.
#4 - no need to draft or acquire someone that is good at special teams on kick returns - granted you still have punt returns but back to point #1 your returner will be more fresh for punts.

There's hardly any advantage to returning a kick. For the majority of NFL teams it's BETTER to fair catch or touchback.

Now that all said, might as well try something new - so let's see how this rule plays out... because outside of a small amount of teams, returning a kick in the current NFL/landscape is a bonehead move.

 

[wilwhite]

If I was coaching an NFL team I'd tell my guys to always fair catch and always touchback...

#1 - you avoid injuries.
#2 - you can't turn the ball over that way (even if it's muffed, you have enough time to pick it up.
#3 - only 7 or so teams had a better starting field position than the 25 yard line (and it was mostly 1-4 yards more.
#4 - no need to draft or acquire someone that is good at special teams on kick returns - granted you still have punt returns but back to point #1 your returner will be more fresh for punts.

There's hardly any advantage to returning a kick. For the majority of NFL teams it's BETTER to fair catch or touchback.

Now that all said, might as well try something new - so let's see how this rule plays out... because outside of a small amount of teams, returning a kick in the current NFL/landscape is a bonehead move.

No fair catches with this rule.

It's forcing a return. Adept ST coaches will earn their pay with this. Expect a LOT of crazy crap happening.

 

[Sharkonabicycle]

No fair catches with this rule.

It's forcing a return. Adept ST coaches will earn their pay with this. Expect a LOT of crazy crap happening.

Ah, now that I'm all for. Brings kick returns back into play at least. I'm assuming you can still kneel if kicked in the endzone? Also looks like the returner has to 'catch' before either team can start moving. That should be hilarious to watch the 'false starts' until players adapt.

"Well Joe, about 30 minutes into the game and there's been 13 false start penalties. Game clock is still at 15 minutes in the 1st quarter..."

 

[shopson67]

Ah, now that I'm all for. Brings kick returns back into play at least. I'm assuming you can still kneel if kicked in the endzone? Also looks like the returner has to 'catch' before either team can start moving. That should be hilarious to watch the 'false starts' until players adapt.

"Well Joe, about 30 minutes into the game and there's been 13 false start penalties. Game clock is still at 15 minutes in the 1st quarter..."

Yep, and in another few years they'll change it again. This rule seems it will actually increase the number of expected collisions from last year, nullifying the player safety reason that the kickoffs were changes in the first place. Just go back to the original rules IMO. If they want to keep the 25 (or 30) yard touchbacks, fine.

 

[wilwhite]

Yep, and in another few years they'll change it again. This rule seems it will actually increase the number of expected collisions from last year, nullifying the player safety reason that the kickoffs were changes in the first place. Just go back to the original rules IMO. If they want to keep the 25 (or 30) yard touchbacks, fine.

The issue isn't so much the collisions but the speed of the collisions - guys hitting each other after getting up to top speed. Defenders won't be able to get much momentum before impact now.

 

[belcherboy]

Yep, and in another few years they'll change it again. This rule seems it will actually increase the number of expected collisions from last year, nullifying the player safety reason that the kickoffs were changes in the first place. Just go back to the original rules IMO. If they want to keep the 25 (or 30) yard touchbacks, fine.

I agree with you that it seems weird they got rid of the fair catch rule and are now forcing these collisions again, although at a much shorter range limiting the tacklers ability to gain momentum.

 

[wilwhite]

Ah, now that I'm all for. Brings kick returns back into play at least. I'm assuming you can still kneel if kicked in the endzone? Also looks like the returner has to 'catch' before either team can start moving. That should be hilarious to watch the 'false starts' until players adapt.

"Well Joe, about 30 minutes into the game and there's been 13 false start penalties. Game clock is still at 15 minutes in the 1st quarter..."

I think if it goes into the end zone at all it's a touchback to the 30 - so you can't return it from there even if you want to.

 

[Sharkonabicycle]

I think if it goes into the end zone at all it's a touchback to the 30 - so you can't return it from there even if you want to.

The 30? Good lord. The Carolina Panthers were the only team last year with a starting field position over the 30 yard line after a kick return (probably because everyone on the opposing team mailed it in knowing Carolina's offense would do fuck all).

If that's really the case, then I imagine kicker value will increase dramatically to NOT kick it in the endzone. Anyone returning out of the endzone will probably just get immediately fired.

 

[fastforward]

No fair catches, but there's nothing to stop the receiver catching the ball and going to ground immediately. (Shrugs).

 

[WNY_FOOTBALL_DUDE]

Yep, and in another few years they'll change it again. This rule seems it will actually increase the number of expected collisions from last year, nullifying the player safety reason that the kickoffs were changes in the first place. Just go back to the original rules IMO. If they want to keep the 25 (or 30) yard touchbacks, fine.

The NFL continues to show they care very little about player safety. I am with you on this one. Couldn't agree more.

 

[Ickey Shuffle]

Now if the NFL copy XFL's production quality, they'll be all set.

 

[Robotech]

lol, I have to imagine all the Packers players did not expect that guy to end up with the ball and had their eyes elsewhere... it's a shame that fuck wasn't able to pound it in the endzone, though.

Damn, how did I never know about this? That is unbelievable.

 

[Dude]

I think I read something about the new kickoff rules not happening soon, at least for next season. Could be wrong. Don’t follow this stuff as closely as you buffs. IMO, they need to stop making up new unnecessary rules. Kickoffs are good as they are, if-it-ain’t-broke-don’t-fix-it type scenario?

 

[Sharkonabicycle]

Apparently if the ball is kicked into the endzone the offense gets the ball on the 35 yard line! WTF!? If it rolls into the endzone then you start at the 20 yard line. What a bunch of goofy shit... apparently this is what XFL does.

So some further details on this ass approach:

1) Kicker has to kick the ball in the 'landing zone' which is within the <= to the 20 yard line but > end zone. If so, the ball must be returned.
2) The ball could also bounce into the end zone in the landing zone, if that happens, the offense starts on the 20 yard line (if downed).
3) If the ball is kicked into the endzone period the opposing team starts on the 35 (some site said kicked into the endzone, and stay in bounds, but downed? That makes no sense).
4) If you kick SHORT of the 'landing zone' or kick out of bounds, team starts on the 40...


This is going to make returners and kickers now VERRRRY valuable. Because every kicker is going to be told to not kick it in the endzone but also don't kick it short of the 20 yard line (and the ones that keep fuckin' that up will be promptly fired).... so since kickers will ALL be told, "Kick it as close as possible to the goal line" and returners are all going to be told, "Don't let it land and roll into the endzone for Christ sake"... this will be really interesting.

Pittsburgh already acquired Patterson who is fairly useless these days as a WR/RB, but he's still a good returner....

I imagine kick return specialists and kickers are THRILLED with this... because if a kicker is able to routinely kick it inside the 5 yard line and roll the ball forward, he'd be a HUGE value... either it has to be returned or the offense gets the ball at the 20 yard line... that'd be HUGE.

Oh, and apparently now onside kicks can only be done in the 4th quarter ONLY if a team is trailing... don't understand the stupidity of that. Maybe that's a giant F you middle finger to Sean Payton who appears to have pissed everyone off.

 

[wilwhite]

Apparently if the ball is kicked into the endzone the offense gets the ball on the 35 yard line! WTF!? If it rolls into the endzone then you start at the 20 yard line. What a bunch of goofy shit... apparently this is what XFL does.

So some further details on this ass approach:

1) Kicker has to kick the ball in the 'landing zone' which is within the <= to the 20 yard line but > end zone. If so, the ball must be returned.
2) The ball could also bounce into the end zone in the landing zone, if that happens, the offense starts on the 20 yard line (if downed).
3) If the ball is kicked into the endzone period the opposing team starts on the 35 (some site said kicked into the endzone, and stay in bounds, but downed? That makes no sense).
4) If you kick SHORT of the 'landing zone' or kick out of bounds, team starts on the 40...


This is going to make returners and kickers now VERRRRY valuable. Because every kicker is going to be told to not kick it in the endzone but also don't kick it short of the 20 yard line (and the ones that keep fuckin' that up will be promptly fired).... so since kickers will ALL be told, "Kick it as close as possible to the goal line" and returners are all going to be told, "Don't let it land and roll into the endzone for Christ sake"... this will be really interesting.

Pittsburgh already acquired Patterson who is fairly useless these days as a WR/RB, but he's still a good returner....

I imagine kick return specialists and kickers are THRILLED with this... because if a kicker is able to routinely kick it inside the 5 yard line and roll the ball forward, he'd be a HUGE value... either it has to be returned or the offense gets the ball at the 20 yard line... that'd be HUGE.

Oh, and apparently now onside kicks can only be done in the 4th quarter ONLY if a team is trailing... don't understand the stupidity of that. Maybe that's a giant F you middle finger to Sean Payton who appears to have pissed everyone off.

The surprise onside kick is dead with this rule anyway. Why limit it to the 4th quarter? That makes it look super gimmicky. Almost nobody would ever use it outside of then anyway.

 

[Sharkonabicycle]

The surprise onside kick is dead with this rule anyway. Why limit it to the 4th quarter? That makes it look super gimmicky. Almost nobody would ever use it outside of then anyway.

Well I'm assuming if an onside kick is called then the 'landing zone' is exempt.... I mean the best position a team can get the ball is the 40 yard line if it's just kicked off naturally. If you onside kick it you're almost assuredly getting better field position than the 40 yard line.

Who knows... lol.

 

[shopson67]

The NFL continues to show they care very little about player safety. I am with you on this one. Couldn't agree more.

They only truly care about injuries when they affect the bottom line.