The dumb new NFL Kickoff (1 Viewer)

[offdee]

It’s obvious that all that’s gonna end up happening 90% of the time is it’s going to just get kicked out of the end zone for a touchback. So the change is basically pointless.

Talking heads all saying touchbacks needs to come out to the 35 instead of the 30 and that will change strategy.

Why don’t they just move the kicker back 20 yds so it’s hard/impossible to kick it into the end zone?

 

[Gally]

Why don’t they just move the kicker back 20 yds so it’s hard/impossible to kick it into the end zone?

Thank you. This is the right answer.

 

[IvanKaramazov]

If the NFL really hates kick-offs that much -- and they obviously do -- just get rid of them. Each fresh possession starts at the 25. (Punts stay, of course).

Sure, that takes some excitement out of the game, but at least it's honest and it isn't trying to force something stupid on us.

 

[offdee]

If the NFL really hates kick-offs that much -- and they obviously do -- just get rid of them. Each fresh possession starts at the 25. (Punts stay, of course).

Sure, that takes some excitement out of the game, but at least it's honest and it isn't trying to force something stupid on us.

Many are worried that if they get rid of kickoffs then that starts the slippery slope of removing all kicking duties, including punts.

It’s clear the NFL wants the kickoff but they just want it to actually be run out more often and then safer when that happens.

Just moving back the kicker 20 yds easily solves all of these issues. It’s so obvious to me, I don’t understand why it’s not being brought up as a solution by anybody.

 

[TheAristocrat]

If the NFL really hates kick-offs that much -- and they obviously do -- just get rid of them. Each fresh possession starts at the 25. (Punts stay, of course).

Sure, that takes some excitement out of the game, but at least it's honest and it isn't trying to force something stupid on us.

I'm all for this. Forces a single commercial time out instead of XP-commercials-"kickoff"-commercials-first down.

 

[Willie Neslon]

How about if a team playing on Thursday night kicks it into the endzone 3 times we all get free Peacock that week.

 

[Gally]

If the NFL really hates kick-offs that much -- and they obviously do -- just get rid of them. Each fresh possession starts at the 25. (Punts stay, of course).

Sure, that takes some excitement out of the game, but at least it's honest and it isn't trying to force something stupid on us.

They don't hate kickoffs. They think they are unsafe. All the rule changes they have made are trying to limit the safety risks of guys barreling down at each other at high speeds and colliding causing injuries.......but they want the kicks to be returned. offdee has the answer. I have been wondering why they didn't just do that from the get go. I guess it's too simple.

 

[B Maverick]

How many players are out of a job with no kickoffs? Not all of them would be on punt teams right?
Player's Union probably doesn't want kickoffs eliminated to save a player or two.

Have all the kickers test how far they can kick. Take the average distance and have the kickoff that far away from the goalline. Still get some touchbacks, should get some run backs....

 

[offdee]

Have all the kickers test how far they can kick. Take the average distance and have the kickoff that far away from the goalline. Still get some touchbacks, should get some run backs....

20 yds back further would do exactly this. You can see when Kickers boom it that they are clearing the 10 yds of the endzone and then carry it about another 10 yds to around the front few rows of the crowd which is approx. another 10 yds (20 yds total past the endzone line)

There are probably a few guys that could kick it into the endzone still but they would have to hit it pure and no wind affecting it. But majority of kickers would end up right in the designated section for returns which is what they are striving for. At minimum all teams would have to prepare both the kickoff and kick return teams to run/block/tackle for a return to happen, because even the furthest kicking kickers aren't going to get it to the endzone every time.

The other issue here with how it's setup now is that teams will just kick it out of the endzone each time because it's one less thing they need to practice or scheme for throughout the week. Why take any time or energy to practice and game plan a Kickoff coverage when you don't have to? Use the additional practice time gained for offense and defense.

 

[B Maverick]

Have all the kickers test how far they can kick. Take the average distance and have the kickoff that far away from the goalline. Still get some touchbacks, should get some run backs....

20 yds back further would do exactly this. You can see when Kickers boom it that they are clearing the 10 yds of the endzone and then carry it about another 10 yds to around the front few rows of the crowd which is approx. another 10 yds (20 yds total past the endzone line)

There are probably a few guys that could kick it into the endzone still but they would have to hit it pure and no wind affecting it. But majority of kickers would end up right in the designated section for returns which is what they are striving for. At minimum all teams would have to prepare both the kickoff and kick return teams to run/block/tackle for a return to happen, because even the furthest kicking kickers aren't going to get it to the endzone every time.

The other issue here with how it's setup now is that teams will just kick it out of the endzone each time because it's one less thing they need to practice or scheme for throughout the week. Why take any time or energy to practice and game plan a Kickoff coverage when you don't have to? Use the additional practice time gained for offense and defense.

Makes sense. I was just thinking in the games kickers may not always kick as far as they can. Situation, opponent, etc and sometimes its not just a boot through the back. Hence the kick contest. Regardless, I am agreeing with you all saying this.

 

[Grace Under Pressure]

Can get with this idea, but how does moving it back avoid the high-speed collisions? Apologies if that's obvious and just over my head lol.

 

[B Maverick]

Can get with this idea, but how does moving it back avoid the high-speed collisions? Apologies if that's obvious and just over my head lol.

I think it minimizes it. The collision is the guy with the ball being tackled, which he is expecting and prepared to have happen. And they can not eliminate because, well, football. Aside from increasing touchbacks. They are trying to eliminate the other 20 players on the field running full speed into each other. Making it more like the oline blocking instead of just random collisions...

 

[Runkle]

Can get with this idea, but how does moving it back avoid the high-speed collisions? Apologies if that's obvious and just over my head lol.

It's not moving it back that avoids the collisions. The new rule (everyone lines up on the same line, a few yards apart) is what avoids the collisions. But he problem is all the kicks end up a touchback with no return because the kick happens from too close to midfield. What they want is a return with no dangerous collisions, so the OP's idea is to move the kick point back farther so it's more likely to land in the field of play, and retain the alignment that reduces the collisions.

 

[Grace Under Pressure]

Can get with this idea, but how does moving it back avoid the high-speed collisions? Apologies if that's obvious and just over my head lol.

It's not moving it back that avoids the collisions. The new rule (everyone lines up on the same line, a few yards apart) is what avoids the collisions. But he problem is all the kicks end up a touchback with no return because the kick happens from too close to midfield. What they want is a return with no dangerous collisions, so the OP's idea is to move the kick point back farther so it's more likely to land in the field of play, and retain the alignment that reduces the collisions.

Got it, makes sense thx. And it's seemingly a good idea.

 

[Spartans Rule]

I still like the idea that instead of a kickoff, the team that just scored gets the ball at their own 25 facing 4th-and-15. Usually they punt, and it's sort of like a kickoff, but they could also go for it, replacing the onside kick with a similar longshot option.

 

[TheAristocrat]

How about each team concusses their kicker, the ball gets spotted at the 25, and field goals and extra points are more exciting.

 

[offdee]

Can get with this idea, but how does moving it back avoid the high-speed collisions? Apologies if that's obvious and just over my head lol.

It's not moving it back that avoids the collisions. The new rule (everyone lines up on the same line, a few yards apart) is what avoids the collisions. But he problem is all the kicks end up a touchback with no return because the kick happens from too close to midfield. What they want is a return with no dangerous collisions, so the OP's idea is to move the kick point back farther so it's more likely to land in the field of play, and retain the alignment that reduces the collisions.

Yep, nothing changes with the present setup other than the Kicker just kicks from 20 yds further back.

 

[kupcho1]

I still like the idea that instead of a kickoff, the team that just scored gets the ball at their own 25 facing 4th-and-15. Usually they punt, and it's sort of like a kickoff, but they could also go for it, replacing the onside kick with a similar longshot option.

Honestly, I think this is a great idea. Not only would it reduce injuries, but it would also provide an opportunity for a team that was behind in the game to go for it, keep the ball and score again.
Onside kicks certainly aren't doing it. They work, what, 1% of the time?
BTW, how would onside kicks work with this new rule?

 

[belljr]

They should just do how we used to do kickoffs playing pickup have somebody launch it with by throwing it as far and high as possible. So instead of a kicker you just have your third string quarterback throwing hail Mary's

 

[offdee]

BTW, how would onside kicks work with this new rule

The kicking team has to annnounce in advance they are trying an onside and they all line up like normal. No sneaking an onside anymore.

 

[offdee]

They should just do how we used to do kickoffs playing pickup have somebody launch it with by throwing it as far and high as possible. So instead of a kicker you just have your third string quarterback throwing hail Mary's

How would this help anything?

 

[kupcho1]

BTW, how would onside kicks work with this new rule

The kicking team has to annnounce in advance they are trying an onside and they all line up like normal. No sneaking an onside anymore.

So there's even less of a chance of an onside kick succeeding.
Riveting!

 

[offdee]

BTW, how would onside kicks work with this new rule

The kicking team has to annnounce in advance they are trying an onside and they all line up like normal. No sneaking an onside anymore.

So there's even less of a chance of an onside kick succeeding.
Riveting!

I mean how often is there a fake onside kick in a season...maybe 1 or 2? When a team is planning to do an onside kick it's pretty obvious it's happening 99.9% of the time.

 

[belljr]

They should just do how we used to do kickoffs playing pickup have somebody launch it with by throwing it as far and high as possible. So instead of a kicker you just have your third string quarterback throwing hail Mary's

How would this help anything?

They can't throw as far as kick.. duh

 

[offdee]

They should just do how we used to do kickoffs playing pickup have somebody launch it with by throwing it as far and high as possible. So instead of a kicker you just have your third string quarterback throwing hail Mary's

How would this help anything?

They can't throw as far as kick.. duh

Most NFL QBs would have no problem throwing it into the endzone from the opposite 35. That’s 65yds.

 

[belljr]

They should just do how we used to do kickoffs playing pickup have somebody launch it with by throwing it as far and high as possible. So instead of a kicker you just have your third string quarterback throwing hail Mary's

How would this help anything?

They can't throw as far as kick.. duh

Most NFL QBs would have no problem throwing it into the endzone from the opposite 35. That’s 65yds.

It's a joke bromingo why so serious

 

[Chemical X]

fill balls with helium

 

[The Gator]

Keep the same setup and make an OL kickoff.

 

[TennesseeJed]

How many players are out of a job with no kickoffs?

Assuming rosters stayed the same size, there would not be an impact that the union would care about. And in fact, it might give a spot to a more veteran player.

 

[belljr]

Get rid of the tee. Kickers have to do the heel divot thing to tee it up

 

[thecatch]

How many players are out of a job with no kickoffs?

Assuming rosters stayed the same size, there would not be an impact that the union would care about. And in fact, it might give a spot to a more veteran player.

This.

 

[GregR]

BTW, how would onside kicks work with this new rule

The kicking team has to annnounce in advance they are trying an onside and they all line up like normal. No sneaking an onside anymore.

So there's even less of a chance of an onside kick succeeding.
Riveting!

Rules revert to basically what we've had in the past for the onside kick (teams line up at the old positions 10 yards apart). One additional penalty. If the ball goes 15 yards untouched beyond the receiving team's line then it's a 15 yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty (spotted from the 35 kicking spot), so receiving team would end up with the ball at the kicking team's 20. Would prevent a team declaring an onside kick then kicking it deep.

 

[dickey moe]

I like fake onside kicks.

 

[belljr]

Listen Im for player safety, but it's a violent game by default. All the studies posted didn't make it seem like kickoff was head an shoulders above others plays, I could be wrong. You can't legislate injuries out of the games. It's impossible

 

[Capella]

Surprised people don’t like this. I feel like it’s pretty exciting. Who liked the old kickoffs? Nothing ever happened.

 

[titusbramble]

So I'm watching Redzone. Did I hear right that if you want to onside kick, you need to:

a) be in the fourth quarter
b) be losing
c) tell the other team beforehand?

If so that's the stupidest thing I've ever heard

 

[Kanil]

If the NFL really hates kick-offs that much -- and they obviously do -- just get rid of them. Each fresh possession starts at the 25. (Punts stay, of course).

Sure, that takes some excitement out of the game, but at least it's honest and it isn't trying to force something stupid on us.

Many are worried that if they get rid of kickoffs then that starts the slippery slope of removing all kicking duties, including punts.

It’s clear the NFL wants the kickoff but they just want it to actually be run out more often and then safer when that happens.

Just moving back the kicker 20 yds easily solves all of these issues. It’s so obvious to me, I don’t understand why it’s not being brought up as a solution by anybody.

I thought the point was trying to stop the injuries from everyone having room to get to full speed and smash into eachother. I think taking it back 20 yards would still cause those injuries they are trying to avoid.

 

[Cowboysfan8]

So I'm watching Redzone. Did I hear right that if you want to onside kick, you need to:

a) be in the fourth quarter
b) be losing
c) tell the other team beforehand?

If so that's the stupidest thing I've ever heard

That’s how I heard it. And I agree

 

[offdee]

If the NFL really hates kick-offs that much -- and they obviously do -- just get rid of them. Each fresh possession starts at the 25. (Punts stay, of course).

Sure, that takes some excitement out of the game, but at least it's honest and it isn't trying to force something stupid on us.

Many are worried that if they get rid of kickoffs then that starts the slippery slope of removing all kicking duties, including punts.

It’s clear the NFL wants the kickoff but they just want it to actually be run out more often and then safer when that happens.

Just moving back the kicker 20 yds easily solves all of these issues. It’s so obvious to me, I don’t understand why it’s not being brought up as a solution by anybody.

I thought the point was trying to stop the injuries from everyone having room to get to full speed and smash into eachother. I think taking it back 20 yards would still cause those injuries they are trying to avoid.

Im not proposing taking everyone back. Only the kicker moves back 20 yds. All other players on the field remain where they are presently.

 

[offdee]

Surprised people don’t like this. I feel like it’s pretty exciting. Who liked the old kickoffs? Nothing ever happened.

It’s better when the ball is actually returned but that’s what’s being discussed in this thread…it very rarely gets returned still, so the change is pointless.

 

[Rustoleum]

Having just witnessed this in-person at the Bengals game, the new kickoff weirdly sucked the life out of the whole place. It’s just goes eerily quiet after the ball is kicked and both teams are standing still waiting for it to come down. The one I remember being returned just went to the 30 anyway, so it kinda pointless. I do see where there a TD In another game, so maybe it will be better.

We came up alternatives in the stands though:
-instead of kicking, there are 3 big jack-in the-boxes, and the ball just randomly pops out of one and you go from there.
- somebody suggested that one box randomly have a football-shaped hornet nest.
- last proposal was two guys, only they are blindfolded and the special teams coach has to yell directions at them to find the ball.

 

[offdee]

We came up alternatives in the stands though:
-instead of kicking, there are 3 big jack-in the-boxes, and the ball just randomly pops out of one and you go from there.
- somebody suggested that one box randomly have a football-shaped hornet nest.
- last proposal was two guys, only they are blindfolded and the special teams coach has to yell directions at them to find the ball.

It’s no wonder you lost to the Patriots.

 

[dickey moe]

If the NFL really hates kick-offs that much -- and they obviously do -- just get rid of them. Each fresh possession starts at the 25. (Punts stay, of course).

Sure, that takes some excitement out of the game, but at least it's honest and it isn't trying to force something stupid on us.

Many are worried that if they get rid of kickoffs then that starts the slippery slope of removing all kicking duties, including punts.

It’s clear the NFL wants the kickoff but they just want it to actually be run out more often and then safer when that happens.

Just moving back the kicker 20 yds easily solves all of these issues. It’s so obvious to me, I don’t understand why it’s not being brought up as a solution by anybody.

I thought the point was trying to stop the injuries from everyone having room to get to full speed and smash into eachother. I think taking it back 20 yards would still cause those injuries they are trying to avoid.

Im not proposing taking everyone back. Only the kicker moves back 20 yds. All other players on the field remain where they are presently.

But what if the kicker kicks the football into a teammates ***?

 

[offdee]

If the NFL really hates kick-offs that much -- and they obviously do -- just get rid of them. Each fresh possession starts at the 25. (Punts stay, of course).

Sure, that takes some excitement out of the game, but at least it's honest and it isn't trying to force something stupid on us.

Many are worried that if they get rid of kickoffs then that starts the slippery slope of removing all kicking duties, including punts.

It’s clear the NFL wants the kickoff but they just want it to actually be run out more often and then safer when that happens.

Just moving back the kicker 20 yds easily solves all of these issues. It’s so obvious to me, I don’t understand why it’s not being brought up as a solution by anybody.

I thought the point was trying to stop the injuries from everyone having room to get to full speed and smash into eachother. I think taking it back 20 yards would still cause those injuries they are trying to avoid.

Im not proposing taking everyone back. Only the kicker moves back 20 yds. All other players on the field remain where they are presently.

But what if the kicker kicks the football into a teammates ***?

The same way it’s handled now. Why would moving the kicker back make this more of an issue?

 

[The Duff Man]

The Bills managed to give up a TD on this play AND kick it out of bounds on the next one.

Execution!

 

[Kanil]

If the NFL really hates kick-offs that much -- and they obviously do -- just get rid of them. Each fresh possession starts at the 25. (Punts stay, of course).

Sure, that takes some excitement out of the game, but at least it's honest and it isn't trying to force something stupid on us.

Many are worried that if they get rid of kickoffs then that starts the slippery slope of removing all kicking duties, including punts.

It’s clear the NFL wants the kickoff but they just want it to actually be run out more often and then safer when that happens.

Just moving back the kicker 20 yds easily solves all of these issues. It’s so obvious to me, I don’t understand why it’s not being brought up as a solution by anybody.

I thought the point was trying to stop the injuries from everyone having room to get to full speed and smash into eachother. I think taking it back 20 yards would still cause those injuries they are trying to avoid.

Im not proposing taking everyone back. Only the kicker moves back 20 yds. All other players on the field remain where they are presently.

But what if the kicker kicks the football into a teammates ***?

The same way it’s handled now. Why would moving the kicker back make this more of an issue?

I misunderstood... Just the kicker moves back, not the whole formation. That makes more sense.

 

[Don Quixote]

From Tom Pelissero on Twitter/X. Stats make it look like an improvement so far.

Some Week 1 stats on the new dynamic kickoff:

34 percent of kickoffs were returned (54 of 159), up from 20.5 percent in Week 1 in 2023 (32 of 156).

1 kickoff was returned for a touchdown in Week 1, after only 4 were returned for touchdowns in all of 2023.

There were 3 kickoff returns of at least 40 yards in Week 1 -- up from an average of 1.3 such returns per week in 2023, totaling 24 for the entire season.

The average drive start is the 29.5 yard line, up from the 25 through Week 1 a year ago.

Scoring averaged 45.5 points per game, the highest through Week 1 since 48 in 2021.

 

[Phil Elliott]

How about if a team playing on Thursday night kicks it into the endzone 3 times we all get free Peacock that week.

Or ESPN for Direct TV customers.

 

[SWC]

From Tom Pelissero on Twitter/X. Stats make it look like an improvement so far.

Some Week 1 stats on the new dynamic kickoff:

34 percent of kickoffs were returned (54 of 159), up from 20.5 percent in Week 1 in 2023 (32 of 156).

1 kickoff was returned for a touchdown in Week 1, after only 4 were returned for touchdowns in all of 2023.

There were 3 kickoff returns of at least 40 yards in Week 1 -- up from an average of 1.3 such returns per week in 2023, totaling 24 for the entire season.

The average drive start is the 29.5 yard line, up from the 25 through Week 1 a year ago.

Scoring averaged 45.5 points per game, the highest through Week 1 since 48 in 2021.

stop saying facts that ruin the arguments being made in this thread take that to the bank bromigo

 

[belljr]

Kick opposite leg obviously