The new kickoff rule.

[Sharkinva]

Not sure if any one paid attention to this. but if it passes its going to put a premium of guys with speed who can tackle.

No more running starts for the kicking team, but also no more wedge blocking schemes for the receiving team. Also no more pre kick movement for the kicking team, so no shifting the coverage as the kicker is making his approah to flood one side of the field.

Apparently the rules change is designed to take the big boys off the field and lower the overly violent impacts on kickoffs.

On the flip side, if you dont have pure speed on the coverage team, I see this leading to quite a few more Kickoffs returned deep or for TDs.

Should be interesting to see how they handle this.

 

[Stymietee]

Not sure if any one paid attention to this. but if it passes its going to put a premium of guys with speed who can tackle.

No more running starts for the kicking team, but also no more wedge blocking schemes for the receiving team. Also no more pre kick movement for the kicking team, so no shifting the coverage as the kicker is making his approah to flood one side of the field.

Apparently the rules change is designed to take the big boys off the field and lower the overly violent impacts on kickoffs.

On the flip side, if you dont have pure speed on the coverage team, I see this leading to quite a few more Kickoffs returned deep or for TDs.

Should be interesting to see how they handle this.

I kind of like these rules, however, if there's nothing done about returning to the old kick-off spot, most kicks will result in touchbacks.

 

[skinsdad62]

I like them

 

[Rambunctious]

Kind of interesting.

 

[Beaker]

Wasn't wedge blocking made illegal a while ago? Like, pre-Hines-Ward-calling-Big-Ben-a-bitch-for-sitting-out-a-game-with-a-concussion ago?

 

[Sharkinva]

Wasn't wedge blocking made illegal a while ago? Like, pre-Hines-Ward-calling-Big-Ben-a-bitch-for-sitting-out-a-game-with-a-concussion ago?

The 5 man wedge was outlawed. YOu could get away with a three man wedge sort of. I guess what they are trying to do is get rid of the two on one blocks during kick returns.

Long term the rules while stated to be for safety reasons, will effect the kicking team more than the receiving team IMO.