NFL approves new kickoff rule

[Smashmouth]

Does the NFL have any clue how fast an NFL athelete can get up too full speed ? That includes both sides of this ...the returner will be at full speed and most times you do not see a full on head on collision of two players. Due to the player holding the ball and the strong possibility to cut defenders will have to slow down or just run right past . This is ridiculous they should just go back to the old way since most of the injuries happen from hits the Returner never even sees coming so by increasing the number of returns you increase the number of injuries and Im pretty sure there is no way around that. XFL my ass the XFL players are in the XFL for a reason they are not NFL caliber and comparing the two is also ridiculous.

[THE BARON]

3 minutes ago, hawk said:

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.

It will still be a lot more abut the return man vs. the kicker, the coverage guys or the blocker.  We are going to see teams with great return men scoring every week.  Teams with marginal return guys wont do much.  This is going to take a return man with all out acceleration and flat out speed.  Return man that have it are going to be adding 6 points for their team most every game.  

Who's the Jets fastest guy ???

[JoeNamathsFurCoat]

LOL

Touchback and you get the ball at your own 35.

Might as well place the ball in plus territory so you can line up for a FG right away 🤣

I guess Goodell doesn't think scoring is high enough.  Every rule change seems to favor offense over defense.

[JoeNamathsFurCoat]

2 hours ago, usanyj said:

 

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

It's a punt / "free kick"?

Looks so weird. 

And how the frick are you supposed to do an onside kick from that formation??

[Dunnie]

1 hour ago, greenwichjetfan said:

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. 

Placing the kickoff will matter.

[Adoni Beast]

What's the penalty if the kicking team runs before the ball is caught?

[Adoni Beast]

If you don't have a good offense you should have gotten one already and now you BETTER get one asap. Teams will be starting drives at much better field position and defenses are going to be hanging on by a thread.

[Jetsfan80]

So the end result is the NFL wanted to bring back kickoffs and do them safer, so they consulted with the rulebook of.....the XFL.  lol.

[C Mart]

Ari Meirov @MySportsUpdate
Another change: NFL teams are now allowed to place up to 2 players on IR before rosters go from 90 to 53 and still have those players designated for return during the season.

Before this, any player placed on IR during camp would be out for the season.

A noteworthy change for roster flexibility.

[C Mart]

Jeremy Fowler @JFowlerESPN

NFL is moving the trade deadline to Week 9. Steelers proposed moving the deadline back a week.

 

Adam Schefter @AdamSchefter

NFL owners voted today to approve a trade deadline that now will be pushed back one week, until the Tuesday after the Week 9 games

[SpankyJohnson]

13 minutes ago, Adoni Beast said:

What's the penalty if the kicking team runs before the ball is caught?

Get to punch the QB in the face.

[Adoni Beast]

3 minutes ago, SpankyJohnson said:

Get to punch the QB in the face.

[Doggin94it]

1 hour ago, Alka said:

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.

 

1 hour 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.

Teams will be aiming to have the kick land short of the end zone, because a touchback on a kick that lands in (or through) the endzone will come out to the 30. (If it bounces into the endzone from the field, a touchback goes to the 20)

 

[Doggin94it]

The full rule, in all its glorious simplicity

[JetPotato]

52 minutes ago, THE BARON said:

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 ???

That's cute. 

[Alka]

13 minutes ago, Doggin94it said:

Teams will be aiming to have the kick land short of the end zone, because a touchback on a kick that lands in (or through) the endzone will come out to the 30. (If it bounces into the endzone from the field, a touchback goes to the 20)

You got it wrong here.  The players on the kicking team "CAN NOT MOVE" until the player receiving the kick touches the ball.

That gives a HUGE" advantage to the receiving team.  If the player catches the ball 1 yard into the end zone, assuming both sides run the same speed, by the time the kicking team hits the 35 yard line, the player running back the kickoff will already be at the 34 yard line.  If there is any blocking, then you can expect a kickoff to at least get to the 40 yard line.

Again, the best bet is for the kicker to kick the darn ball out of the endzone.

[THE BARON]

2 minutes ago, Alka said:

You got it wrong here.  The players on the kicking team "CAN NOT MOVE" until the player receiving the kick touches the ball.

That gives a HUGE" advantage to the receiving team.  If the player catches the ball 1 yard into the end zone, assuming both sides run the same speed, by the time the kicking team hits the 35 yard line, the player running back the kickoff will already be at the 34 yard line.  If there is any blocking, then you can expect a kickoff to at least get to the 40 yard line.

Again, the best bet is for the kicker to kick the darn ball out of the endzone.

Exactly.  And even if there is no scoring TD if the kick is fielded, we are going to see a lot more scoring.  Offenses are already given all the advantages.  Now add shorter fields after the kickoff.  

[Alka]

1 minute ago, THE BARON said:

Exactly.  And even if there is no scoring TD if the kick is fielded, we are going to see a lot more scoring.  Offenses are already given all the advantages.  Now add shorter fields after the kickoff.  

Yes.  Going back to my original point, having "Greg the Leg"  kicking off for the next 2 years is a wonderful thing!

[BigRy56]

This year feels a little overboard with the fundamental changes

[THE BARON]

2 minutes ago, Alka said:

Yes.  Going back to my original point, having "Greg the Leg"  kicking off for the next 2 years is a wonderful thing!

Fore sure.  There are a lot of hidden points to be found for a team that really emphasizes special teams.  Unless situationally problematic, I would go for two points after a TD every chance I could.  I'd have a boatload of plays ready and I'd drill my players on it regularly.  Along with that, I'd work on having a really good return man and a kicker with a strong leg.  That would win you games even if you didn't have the league's best offense or defense.  

[Doggin94it]

36 minutes ago, Alka said:

You got it wrong here.  The players on the kicking team "CAN NOT MOVE" until the player receiving the kick touches the ball.

That gives a HUGE" advantage to the receiving team.  If the player catches the ball 1 yard into the end zone, assuming both sides run the same speed, by the time the kicking team hits the 35 yard line, the player running back the kickoff will already be at the 34 yard line.  If there is any blocking, then you can expect a kickoff to at least get to the 40 yard line.

Again, the best bet is for the kicker to kick the darn ball out of the endzone.

You think the receiver can cover 34 yards in the time it takes the kicking team to cover 5?

[Doggin94it]

37 minutes ago, Alka said:

You got it wrong here.  The players on the kicking team "CAN NOT MOVE" until the player receiving the kick touches the ball.

That gives a HUGE" advantage to the receiving team.  If the player catches the ball 1 yard into the end zone, assuming both sides run the same speed, by the time the kicking team hits the 35 yard line, the player running back the kickoff will already be at the 34 yard line.  If there is any blocking, then you can expect a kickoff to at least get to the 40 yard line.

Again, the best bet is for the kicker to kick the darn ball out of the endzone.

Didn't even see you said "assuming the same speed" which tells me you are just not understanding the rule.

The coverage team doesn't start from their own 35 (where the ball is kicked from). The coverage team starts from the opponent's 40 yard line (40 yards from the end zone). Assuming "same speed" and a ball caught at the 1 yard line, they'll meet at the 20.5. Blocking will shift that somewhat - how much depends on the returner, coverage team, and skill of the blockers. 

I don't particularly like this rule change, but you're imagining details that aren't the actual rule

[JoeNamathsFurCoat]

Is there any data to suggest this will actually lead to fewer injuries?

I agree the play needs to be restored to relevance.

But they already moved touchbacks from the 20 to the 25.

Before long, the receiving team will be getting the ball at midfield.

[Greensleeves]

3 hours ago, Dunnie said:

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.

I agree. It's way better than it was before. Nice to see the NFL learned from the XFL. 

[Dcat]

4 hours ago, slats said:

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.

Ok everyone. Let us review the details of the new rules. Pull up a chair.

[Dcat]

1 hour ago, Doggin94it said:

The full rule, in all its glorious simplicity

Is this the full rule?  It actually says "summary"

[JoeNamathsFurCoat]

There are at least 2 ways to look at this:

1)  This rule is bad for the Jets, who have a great defense.  Will make it significantly harder to stop drives that start on the 35 or 40 yard line (instead of the 25).

2)  On the other hand, it shouldn't hurt them too bad since the Jets only kickoff once or twice a game 🤣

[Jet Nut]

2 hours ago, Alka said:

You got it wrong here.  The players on the kicking team "CAN NOT MOVE" until the player receiving the kick touches the ball.

That gives a HUGE" advantage to the receiving team.  If the player catches the ball 1 yard into the end zone, assuming both sides run the same speed, by the time the kicking team hits the 35 yard line, the player running back the kickoff will already be at the 34 yard line.  If there is any blocking, then you can expect a kickoff to at least get to the 40 yard line.

Again, the best bet is for the kicker to kick the darn ball out of the endzone.

I think they can move as soon as the ball crosses into the receiving zone

[UntouchableCrew]

4 hours ago, THE BARON said:

Or win a few based on it.  Jets ST was pretty darn good.  

I was about to say. Jets special teams are a heck of a lot better than our offense.

[NYJCAP2]

5 hours ago, THE BARON said:

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.  

I strongly disagree with this sentiment, some teams are going to be totally unprepared for the personnel others have on the field.

Mismatches are going to be exploited easily. Every team has athletes and guys that can return. I think the strategy will be on who blocks it the best.

[THE BARON]

2 minutes ago, NYJCAP2 said:

I strongly disagree with this sentiment, some teams are going to be totally unprepared for the personnel others have on the field.

Mismatches are going to be exploited easily. Every team has athletes and guys that can return. I think the strategy will be on who blocks it the best.

Could be, yes... Will be interesting to see play out... 

[raffyD]

I'm assuming no cutblocks are allowed

[Alka]

4 hours ago, Jet Nut said:

I think they can move as soon as the ball crosses into the receiving zone

No, they can't.  Either the ball must hit the ground first, or the returner must first touch the ball.  Crossing a zone doesn't mean anything.

[Alka]

5 hours ago, Doggin94it said:

The coverage team doesn't start from their own 35 (where the ball is kicked from). The coverage team starts from the opponent's 40 yard line (40 yards from the end zone). Assuming "same speed" and a ball caught at the 1 yard line, they'll meet at the 20.5. Blocking will shift that somewhat - how much depends on the returner, coverage team, and skill of the blockers. 

I don't mean to be rude here, "But where are you getting your garbage information from?"

I have read the rule.  The rule states that the kickoff team kicks the ball off from their own 35 yard line.  This is the same as in the past.  The kickoff from the 35 yard line does not change.

I will correct myself though.  Assuming the speed of both sides are the same, they will meet at the 32 yard line, which is correct.  I said they would meet at the 35 yard line, which is incorrect.

 

[Alka]

5 hours ago, Doggin94it said:

You think the receiver can cover 34 yards in the time it takes the kicking team to cover 5?

Again, you are mistaken.  

Even from a common sense point of view, this rule is to encourage run backs.  If you were correct, which you are not, and kicking off from the opponents 40 yard line, the receiving team would never be returning kicks.  Common sense.  Think about what you are saying.

In any case, like I said, I actually read the rule.  Kickoff from the 35 yard line, like in the past.