The New NFL's "Hybrid Kickoff" Proposal

[Lzen]

Thought this was interesting. It should be wild if this is implemented (possibly this season).

[ChiefsCountry]

If it's the XFL model, it would be a good rule change

[Lzen]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

If it's the XFL model, it would be a good rule change

I don't know exactly what is the XFL model but I believe they said it was a hybrid of that and the old NFL model.

[DaFace]

I like it in concept, but man...that's a lot of convoluted rules. I'd be more in favor of it if they simplified it a bit.

[Lzen]

Originally Posted by DaFace

I like it in concept, but man...that's a lot of convoluted rules. I'd be more in favor of it if they simplified it a bit.

I agree. Seems rather complex. Though it does sound a lot more fun and interesting than watching the kickoff go through the end zone 90% of the time. Should be wild.

[Sassy Squatch]

Originally Posted by Lzen

I agree. Seems rather complex. Though it does sound a lot more fun and interesting than watching the kickoff go through the end zone 90% of the time. Should be wild.

I think the most insane part is it's actually going to punish kickers badly for doing that going forward. The ball gets put at the THIRTY FIVE if it lands in the end zone or out the back of it.

[Sassy Squatch]

It's not THAT convoluted once you sit down and read it a bit but holy shit is it unnecessarily complicated.

[-King-]

Originally Posted by Sassy Squatch

It's not THAT convoluted once you sit down and read it a bit but holy shit is it unnecessarily complicated.

I think it just seems convoluted to some because it's being explained from its most basic level. If you explained any basic football play from its most basic level down to the formation it would seem just as convoluted.

I like it honestly. The only part I don't like is the automatic start at the 35 if the kick goes into the endzone. Just have the kicker line up further back and let him boot it IMO.

[Sassy Squatch]

The kickoff team would follow the current alignment rules, with the 10 cover players, excluding only the kicker, required to have a foot on the opponent’s 40-yard line.

The bulk of the return team would be in a so-called “setup zone”, between the 30- and 35-yard line. At least nine players would have to be in that area, and six of them would have to have a foot on the 35.

Teams would then put one or two returners in the “landing zone,” which would be between the 20-yard and the goal line.

No one would be allowed to move other than the kicker and returners until the ball was fielded by a man on the return team.

No fair catches.

To incentivize creating returns, if the ball landed in the end zone, or went through the end zone, on the fly, a touchback would take the ball out to the 35-yard line.

If the ball, on the other hand, bounced in the landing zone, and was then downed in the end zone, a touchback would only take the ball to the 20-yard line.

If the ball didn’t get past the 20-yard line on the fly, it’d be treated as an out-of-bounds kick, and the offense would take possession on the 40.

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by Sassy Squatch

The kickoff team would follow the current alignment rules, with the 10 cover players, excluding only the kicker, required to have a foot on the opponent’s 40-yard line.

The bulk of the return team would be in a so-called “setup zone”, between the 30- and 35-yard line. At least nine players would have to be in that area, and six of them would have to have a foot on the 35.

Teams would then put one or two returners in the “landing zone,” which would be between the 20-yard and the goal line.

No one would be allowed to move other than the kicker and returners until the ball was fielded by a man on the return team.

No fair catches.

To incentivize creating returns, if the ball landed in the end zone, or went through the end zone, on the fly, a touchback would take the ball out to the 35-yard line.

If the ball, on the other hand, bounced in the landing zone, and was then downed in the end zone, a touchback would only take the ball to the 20-yard line.

If the ball didn’t get past the 20-yard line on the fly, it’d be treated as an out-of-bounds kick, and the offense would take possession on the 40.

I get why they want to do this, but I think I'd rather they just go back to the old kickoff spot (30 yard line I think?) so that it's harder to boot it through the end zone. Or hell, move it back even further so that only the biggest legs can get it there.

[Monticore]

Kickers having fun o thread the needle or else you give the other team the ball at 40 makes late game situations more entertaining and there will be TDs from this , once you get by the initial line your gone .

[jd1020]

Originally Posted by DaFace

I get why they want to do this, but I think I'd rather they just go back to the old kickoff spot (30 yard line I think?) so that it's harder to boot it through the end zone. Or hell, move it back even further so that only the biggest legs can get it there.

Move it back, keep the alignment of the "Hybrid" rule and the can't move til it hits the ground or is caught. The ball cannot touch the ground before the 35 where the receiving team lines up or its treated like an OB kick and the offense starts at the 40.

[Shag]

Originally Posted by DaFace

I get why they want to do this, but I think I'd rather they just go back to the old kickoff spot (30 yard line I think?) so that it's harder to boot it through the end zone. Or hell, move it back even further so that only the biggest legs can get it there.

The idea is that the NFL wants to encourage returns, but without the huge collisions that happen with a 40yd running start. While this new approach is a little convoluted, I think it accomplishes the safety improvement for the NFL, and brings back returns for the fans.

[mr. tegu]

Originally Posted by Sassy Squatch

If the ball didn’t get past the 20-yard line on the fly, it’d be treated as an out-of-bounds kick, and the offense would take possession on the 40.

An interesting side effect is that this would effectively end squib kicks.

[Chief Pagan]

Originally Posted by Sassy Squatch

The kickoff team would follow the current alignment rules, with the 10 cover players, excluding only the kicker, required to have a foot on the opponent’s 40-yard line.

The bulk of the return team would be in a so-called “setup zone”, between the 30- and 35-yard line. At least nine players would have to be in that area, and six of them would have to have a foot on the 35.

Teams would then put one or two returners in the “landing zone,” which would be between the 20-yard and the goal line.

No one would be allowed to move other than the kicker and returners until the ball was fielded by a man on the return team.

No fair catches.

To incentivize creating returns, if the ball landed in the end zone, or went through the end zone, on the fly, a touchback would take the ball out to the 35-yard line.

If the ball, on the other hand, bounced in the landing zone, and was then downed in the end zone, a touchback would only take the ball to the 20-yard line.

If the ball didn’t get past the 20-yard line on the fly, it’d be treated as an out-of-bounds kick, and the offense would take possession on the 40.

Just wait for the Refs to make a controversial decision/interpretation on this in a Bill's game and y'all be back to square one.