New Kickoff Rule

[BigRichard]

Does anyone like the new kickoff rule? It is a bunch of crap. Who the hell thought that crap up? Hey, I know how we can make the game better. Lets make the kickoff a useless part of the game.

[Buck]

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[BigRichard]

damn

[007]

funny, I remember when it was always this way and hated the idea of moving it. Now I hate this.

[Demonpenz]

anything that protects the players I am fine with it. Even then I don't like it much

[RealSNR]

<iframe width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ZQkxJ4WcXjA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Mr. Laz]

repost + plenty of kickoffs were returned in the 1st week of the preseason

[DaFace]

repost + plenty of kickoffs were returned in the 1st week of the preseason

Depends on what you call plenty. I just ran the numbers, and during Preseason 2010, 18% of kickoffs were touchbacks. So far in 2011, that number is 38%. That's a pretty hefty change in the game.

[cabletech94]

it blows. but it's supposed to make player safety better (is that possible in the NFL?)

[BigRedChief]

I posted this in another thread.

They knew the consequenses when they changed the rule. But unless you take away the kick off potential of a run back there will always be wedge busters. Humans weighing 260 lbs with a running head start of 40 yards launching themselfs into another player.

I get the safety reason. But, I just can;t see why they couldn't have tried something else before just eliminating kick off returns

[DaFace]

And come the fuck on people. This has been discussed in other threads, but there hasn't been a thread about it. That's not a repost.

[Mr. Laz]

Depends on what you call plenty. I just ran the numbers, and during Preseason 2010, 18% of kickoffs were touchbacks. So far in 2011, that number is 38%. That's a pretty hefty change in the game.
yes, but people are acting like there were zero returns or something.

I don't like the rule much either but lets not get carried away.

[DaFace]

yes, but people are acting like there were zero returns or something.

I don't like the rule much either but lets not get carried away.

Well, there were practically none in OUR game, which is the main thing people around here saw. In our game yesterday, six of eight kickoffs were touchbacks (75%). The two that WEREN'T touchbacks went for 11 and 13 yards. Based on that sample, it seems like a pretty major impact.

[baitism]

Teams are returning them just for practice in pre-season. You can bet your ass when it counts they won't and teams will be more than content just booting it deep into the end zone/over the end zone every time.

[Earthling]

I'm trying hard to find something positive about the new kick-off rule and the only thing I can come up with is it will be a good time to go to the fridge and get a beer or sandwich and know you're not going to miss anything.

[Spott]

Besides that first kickoff last night when Lawrence tried to run it out of the back of the endzone, I think the rest were touchbacks.

[chasedude]

I'm trying hard to find something positive about the new kick-off rule and the only thing I can come up with is it will be a good time to go to the fridge and get a beer or sandwich and know you're not going to miss anything.

This!

As usually the kick-off follows the commercials it gives you even more time.

[KCrockaholic]

Teaching proper technique and fundamentals will help prevent injuries. Taking away the kick-off from football is complete and total bullshit. I see no good in this at all. It's taking away a major part of football.

[Munson]

Terrible rule. It eliminates some of the most exciting plays from the game. They'll change it back next year due to all of the negative feedback.

[HotRoute]

I'd like to see teams just start squib kicking it every time

[notorious]

If a kicker can't get a touchback now they are pretty weak.

[DaFace]

One thing I hadn't thought about is that this makes an onside kick (very slightly) less risky. I wonder if any coaches will actually consider that this year and do it more frequently.

[TrebMaxx]

I would like a firestorm of bitching about the KO rule to the NFL in hopes they realize in pre-season it blows and change it back before the season starts. I have seen on other sites that agreee, the KO now sucks so who knows if the negative feedback from the FANS may gain any momentum .

[threebag]

Lessens the need for a return specialist. I believe it takes away one of the most exciting plays of the game.

[Tylerthigpen!1!]

Terrible rule. It eliminates some of the most exciting plays from the game. They'll change it back next year due to all of the negative feedback.

They would look like a bunch of idiots because they already declared kickoffs "unsafe". When in reality all they care about is money.

[Tytanium]

anything that protects the players I am fine with it. Even then I don't like it much

Even the Stanford guy that got paralyzed thinks it's a bunch of crap, and he didn't want to be the poster boy of the rule.

edit: It gives networks an excuse to add another 60 seconds of advertising they would otherwise spend airing the kickoff after every score? *shrug*?

[Chiefnj2]

New kickoff rule = it's okay to turn on the tv 3 minutes late and not miss anything.

[durtyrute]

Why kick it off, they might as well just let everyone start on the twenty after a score if they're going to do this bs.

[morphius]

After the fun that kick off returners have brought to us over the last few years, well, this just hurts to watch. You are almost going to need a DVR to handle high scoring games.

[alpha_omega]

It's teh suck.

And, why in the world did we bring in a kickoff specialist?

[Bane]

It fucking sucks.

[jAZ]

So what is the new kick off rule?

[Tytanium]

So what is the new kick off rule?

Kickoffs start from the 35 instead of the 30, resulting in a lot more touchbacks. You also don't need an above average leg to get touchbacks anymore.

[DanT]

I definitely like having NFL overtime games be less dependent on the outcome of the coin toss. The new rule helps accomplish that. Ever since the NFL started kicking off from the 30 (in 1994), the coin-toss winner has won about 60% of the games. From 1974 to 1993, when the kickoff was at 35 and the NFL had regular season sudden death OT, the coin-toss winner won only about 50% of the decided games.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5022064
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2002/10/25/SP140818.DTL

This all has to do with the value of field position. There's an important advantage from starting a drive at your own 25-yard line instead of you own 20-yard line.
http://dynamist.com/articles-speeches/nyt/football.html

Now, one could have fixed the advantage to the overtime coin toss winner by just having the kickoff be from the 35-yard line in OT--leaving it at the 30-yard line for the first four quarters--but that sort of flexibility bothers some fans.

So I like the new rule based on the overtime situation. The fact that it will reduce the risk of injury to the players is an additional advantage, which makes me like the rule even more.

I'm not wildly crazy about the new rule, but it's definitely better in my opinion than kicking off from the 30-yard line, which to me made the game less interesting and less fair. I like balanced games, not ones that are tilted against the defense. I also like players living long lives after they retire from the game.

[bobbymitch]

If the main reason is for "safety", then I fail to see the difference between a kickoff and a punt. There are still big guys with a full head of staem headed to whomever has the ball.

Ity would seem that they should have the kickoff at the 30, but not allow any coverage player movement until the ball has left the tee. That would give at leat a little more time for the return guy to catch and see what options are available.

[Ming the Merciless]

funny, I remember when it was always this way and hated the idea of moving it. Now I hate this.

pretty much

fuck change

bastards

[Garcia Bronco]

This is actually the old rule.

[chefsos]

One thing I hadn't thought about is that this makes an onside kick (very slightly) less risky. I wonder if any coaches will actually consider that this year and do it more frequently.I absolutely think so. I also think some kickers with strong legs will try some high floaters to the goal line in order to possibly bust that returner's ass at the 10 or 15.

[Hammock Parties]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/08/15/jets-take-different-approach-to-kick-returns/

Jets special teams coach Mike Westhoff doesn’t see much use in a touchback, at least in the preseason.

Westhoff’s rule for kick returns on Monday night was simple. He lined up the returner line up seven yards deep in the end zone. If the returner can catch the ball while moving forward, he was instructed to take the ball out. If you have to back up for the kick, then take the touchback.

The Jets’ return units got more practice that way Monday, but it remains to be seen whether the Jets stay that aggressive during the season. If you have a good return man, it’s not such a crazy idea.

Sunday Night Football on NBC producer Fred Gaudelli actually predicted this very concept on PFT Live Monday. He thought teams might be more willing to gamble on taking the ball out of the end zone.

[007]

If the main reason is for "safety", then I fail to see the difference between a kickoff and a punt. There are still big guys with a full head of staem headed to whomever has the ball.

Ity would seem that they should have the kickoff at the 30, but not allow any coverage player movement until the ball has left the tee. That would give at leat a little more time for the return guy to catch and see what options are available.

Would be a good way to stop false starts on kickoffs too.

[Deberg_1990]

I absolutely think so. I also think some kickers with strong legs will try some high floaters to the goal line in order to possibly bust that returner's ass at the 10 or 15.

Yes this....sounds like something Todd Haley might try.

[Chiefnj2]

I absolutely think so. I also think some kickers with strong legs will try some high floaters to the goal line in order to possibly bust that returner's ass at the 10 or 15.

I doubt it. 98% of NFL coaches are conservative. Having the offense take the ball at the 20 is considered a victory for the kicking team. As far as risk/reward, I see there being a much bigger risk than the reward of stopping the guy at the 15 for a 5 yard field position change.