NFL approves new kickoff rule

[slats]

NFL approves new kickoff rule

By Michael David Smith

Published March 26, 2024 09:20 AM

In one of the most significant rule changes in NFL history, league owners voted today to fundamentally change the kickoff.

In a vote at the annual league meeting, the NFL has adopted a low-impact kickoff, modeled on what has previously been used in the XFL, that the league believes will increase the number of returns while decreasing the number of injuries.

Fans will notice major changes immediately, starting with the first play of every game: Kickoffs will not look the same this year.

Under the new rule, 10 players on each team will line up just five yards apart and won’t begin running until the ball gets back to the returner, meaning players won’t be going full speed when they crash into each other, which caused so many injuries on kickoffs in years past. Of the 22 players on the field, only the kicker and the kickoff returner will line up separately from those 20 players who are five yards apart.

The rule was changed as a one-year trial, which means it will need to be re-approved next year or else the league will revert to its previous kickoff rules.

When the rule was tried in the XFL, injuries were down and returns were up. That’s what the NFL hopes to see this year. And the kickoff in the NFL will look different than it has ever looked before.

[The Crusher]

Fine, take the win and now throw that hip drop nonsense into the crapper. Refs already have  enough control to their discretion. 

[NYJCAP2]

Can’t say I’m excited or angry.

They purposely broke the old play, now they’re trying to cover their tracks.

I feel some teams are really going to be unprepared for this.

[usanyj]

Are they kicking from the 35 like last year?  

So a returner will have, what? 30-40 yards of green in front of him as he catches the ball?

 

[JetsFanatic]

Finally a new rule I like. This will keep the kickoff relevant and greatly reduce touchbacks.

[usanyj]

 

Ok, after some research, this isn't the worst thing

[JetPotato]

We're going to lose 1-2 key games on kickoff returns. Book it.

[bicketybam]

2 minutes ago, JetPotato said:

We're going to lose 1-2 key games on kickoff returns. Book it.

[SomebodytoAnybody47]

I like it. Kick off returns barely exist anymore. Should spice it up.

[NYJCAP2]

11 minutes ago, usanyj said:

Are they kicking from the 35 like last year?  

So a returner will have, what? 30-40 yards of green in front of him as he catches the ball?

 

 

[slats]

I think it’s pretty convoluted, but I’ll probably get used it and eventually like it. Beats a touchback on every kick, I guess. 

[Dunnie]

Its good for guys like leon washington, jeremy kerly, and xavier gibson (devin hester types) - brings them back into the fold and keeps specials part of the game .. better than getting rid of the play altogether.

Edited March 26 by Dunnie

[playtowinthegame]

Get me a speedster for this play.

[OtherwiseHappyinLife]

I’m angry at the rule change … and I don’t know why.

[jbt]

3 minutes ago, playtowinthegame said:

Get me a speedster for this play.

Xavier Worthy in a trade down?

40-Yard Dash

4.21

[greenwichjetfan]

I absolutely despised the rule change a few years ago that all but eliminated returns and replaced them with touchbacks.

This is a step in the right direction, but still not great. While it gives us a "return" with decreased injuries, the returns are going to be 10 yards and a cloud of dust every time based on where the players are going to be lining up. It really doesn't allow for big return possibilities, which is a downer. 

[islesmb]

 

[Barry McCockinner]

glad kickoff returns will be back. they are exciting, sometimes game changing plays, and put more value on special teams. What about onsides kicks though?

 

[Alka]

59 minutes ago, JetsFanatic said:

Finally a new rule I like. This will keep the kickoff relevant and greatly reduce touchbacks.

The kicker who kicks off is immediately more important to the roster.  Getting "Greg the Leg" for another 2 years turns into a big win for the Jets.

[The Crusher]

1 hour ago, usanyj said:

 

Ok, after some research, this isn't the worst thing

Kinda cool. I'll take it. 

[mrcoops]

This is good for kick returns, bad for onside kicks.  I guess, on balance, it's a positive change as there are far more kickoffs than there are onside kicks.

One question: how do the blockers on the receiving team know when the returner has caught the ball - do they just react to the coverage team starting to move?

[IndianaJet]

So in the XFL, the kicker is kicking off from the 30 instead of the 35.

Where will the NFL kickers be kicking off from?  If it's still the 35 you'll probably still have a ton of touchbacks.

[slats]

6 minutes ago, Barry McCockinner said:

glad kickoff returns will be back. they are exciting, sometimes game changing plays, and put more value on special teams. What about onsides kicks though?

I love the surprise offsides kick, but the last rule change pretty much ****ed that play, anyway. Have to wonder if they’ll implement the 4th & 20 option that’s been kicked about. 

[IndianaJet]

8 minutes ago, IndianaJet said:

So in the XFL, the kicker is kicking off from the 30 instead of the 35.

Where will the NFL kickers be kicking off from?  If it's still the 35 you'll probably still have a ton of touchbacks.

Found it:

Quote

During the 2024 season, kickers will continue to kick from the 35-yard line, but the other 10 players on the kickoff team will line up at the receiving team's 40-yard line. At least nine members of the return team will line up in a "setup zone" between the 35- and 30-yard lines. Up to two returners can line up in a "landing zone" between the goal line and the 20-yard line.

 

[SomebodytoAnybody47]

21 minutes ago, Barry McCockinner said:

glad kickoff returns will be back. they are exciting, sometimes game changing plays, and put more value on special teams. What about onsides kicks though?

 

Onside kicks are only allowed in the 4th quarter now but are just the same as they usually are. Line up unbalanced.

They just have to declare it, which is why the surprise onside kick is now dead.

[SomebodytoAnybody47]

 

Good video explaining it all.

[UntouchableCrew]

I actually love this and think it's vastly superior to just getting rid of kickoffs.

[hawk]

1 hour ago, NYJCAP2 said:

Can’t say I’m excited or angry.

They purposely broke the old play, now they’re trying to cover their tracks.

I feel some teams are really going to be unprepared for this.

Teams will put high end athletes that can see 30-40 yards up the field before anyone is even close.  I can't see this going badly.  

The ball is touched at the 5 yard line, and the return team then can go?  Isn't that like 60 yards apart?

It will make kickers with strong legs much more important.  

Edit: just saw kick team starts at the opposing teams 40.  So if the ball is caught at the 5, the opposing team is 35 yards away.  There will be a huge number of kick returns for TD.  

Breece Hall is now our Kick Returner.

[THE BARON]

1 hour ago, NYJCAP2 said:

Can’t say I’m excited or angry.

They purposely broke the old play, now they’re trying to cover their tracks.

I feel some teams are really going to be unprepared for this.

I like the new rule.  I can't imagine that teams won't be prepared.  The well coached teams will come out on top and the teams with poor coaching will suffer.  It rains or shines on all teams.  

I think what this does mean is that teams with a really good return man are going to benefit the most.  All the NFL kickers can get the ball down there.  Where the teams line up means there is less involved for the coverage guys on defense and blocking guys on offense.  They are pretty much NPC's.  Your return guy is everything.  We may see the emergence of a new variety of player.  A true kick-return specialist.  Very exciting for sure.  

[THE BARON]

Just now, hawk said:

Teams will be high end athletes that can see 30-40 yards up the field before anyone is even close.  I can't see this going badly.  

The ball is touched at the 5 yard line, and the return team then can go?  Isn't that like 60 yards apart?

It will make kickers with strong legs much more important.  

NFL kickers and all boom it.  Few if any cant.  The guy that will be elevates is the return man.  Think Devon Hester or the likes.  Teams with an elite return man are going to clean up

[Barry McCockinner]

23 minutes ago, SomebodytoAnybody47 said:

Onside kicks are only allowed in the 4th quarter now but are just the same as they usually are. Line up unbalanced.

They just have to declare it, which is why the surprise onside kick is now dead.

Remember when you had to yell "blitz" when playing backyard football?

Now they have to yell "surprise MFRs" prior to attempting onsides kick

[hawk]

4 minutes ago, THE BARON said:

NFL kickers and all boom it.  Few if any cant.  The guy that will be elevates is the return man.  Think Devon Hester or the likes.  Teams with an elite return man are going to clean up

The ball will need to clear the end zone.  Not many can do that on a regular basis.

A return guy can catch the ball in the back of the end zone and still have 30 or 40 yards of space.  Obviously, that will collapse quickly, buy you are still allowing highly talented individuals see the field for a long time.

[Sperm Edwards]

19 minutes ago, slats said:

I love the surprise offsides kick, but the last rule change pretty much ****ed that play, anyway. Have to wonder if they’ll implement the 4th & 20 option that’s been kicked about. 

Since it's not that full-speed injury risk, they could also just say the old alignment goes back into place for onside kicks, but the kicking team can't pull a switcheroo and purposely kick it deep instead. In that case the only thing that'd be eliminated is a surprise onside kick, like NO in the Super Bowl. 

I really dislike the 4th & 20 idea as much, though I admit it's because it's such an unknown with a massive ability of reversing far more game outcomes away from teams that have dominated or beaten up an opponent for the prior 55-58 minutes. With enough opportunities, I think that converts better than onside kicks. It's not really even to look at recent/historical 4th & 20 rates, because they often will occur with less green in front of them, disallowing receivers to spread out as much. Anyway it further tips the scales that much more towards teams with elite downfield passing games, where the onside kick is comparatively impartial to those with quick-strike shorter passing attacks or just heavy running teams (though naturally teams will be running less in an onside kick scenario). 

Some other things I didn't initially consider to make it even worse, but looking it up now, and this article brings them up:

https://www.outkick.com/nfl/nfl-tables-proposal-for-4th-20-play-to-replace-onside-kick-but-theres-a-better-solution-anyways-dan-zaksheske

It's more of a momentum swing that can carry over right after a drive resulting in a TD or FG, with the suddenly-hot offense (rather than the special teams unit) determining if they get another free possession.

Next, they can score the outright winning TD on that 4th & 20 attempt -- you not only have a chance to get only 20 yards, but if they're covering too tightly within a 20 yard zone to prevent that conversion, an offense can choose to stretch the field 50 yards to thin out the D. It's too much strategy advantage for a team that - up to that point - has otherwise earned a loss. 

Beyond that, the offense gets still another advantage in that they can goad a defense into committing a defensive coverage penalty that would've been impossible an onside kick. Not even just pass interference to advance the ball dozens of yards, which is bad enough and will happen with these flag-happy refs throwing or pocketing flags so subjectively. Even just mere holding - often so very ticky-tack at that - can give the trailing team a free extra possession with the game on the line. The inevitable coverage-penalty issue is probably the worst unintended side effect of all, and it's only additive to the above reasons.

Another they don't mention -- it's surely going to be minor in frequency, penalty-wise, but could happen now & then & is so hotly debated by both teams when it does, is unnecessary roughness on a sack (or even after an incomplete or otherwise unsuccessful attempt) that never would've otherwise been under onside kick rules.

I don't love the article's proposed solution (make the possession like a 2-point conversion attempt from the 15; it's still a long conversion, and you can't thin out the defense by sending 2 guys way deep, and the safeties with them, to make a merely longer-underneath conversion more plausible. It's better than 4th & 20 with well over 50 yards of green ahead, but I still like the onside kick better. The lack of predictability of a bouncing football doesn't give any serious advantage to even the best team making such attempts.

 

Anyway there's a whole lot more to consider than just prior rates of converting 4th & 20 under normal game conditions from various parts o the field. So no, I don't like it. You didn't ask me directly, but I could sense you wanted my extensive input. 

[Darnold's Forehead]

Going to be holding on every kickoff.  Butchering the sport.

[THE BARON]

1 hour ago, JetPotato said:

We're going to lose 1-2 key games on kickoff returns. Book it.

Or win a few based on it.  Jets ST was pretty darn good.  The kicker is important, but the real player will be the return guy.  Who will be doing it for the Jets ??? Need flat out speed above all and then quickness once they get to the coverage,

Gipson ??? 

We are going to see teams with a great return man win games every week.  It is going to make the kick returner very significant. 

Perhaps time to look at the speed and quickness of guys drafted in later rounds ??? Or more emphasis on flat out speed when drafting a WR up very high ??? 4,2   40 time ???