NFL's new dynamic kickoff rule: What to know

[MULTIZ321]

NFL's new dynamic kickoff rule: What to know

https://www.wfla.com/news/nfl-dynamic-kickoff-rule-what-to-know-before-the-regular-season-starts/

Richard

 

[Talent312]

This messes with real football.
What's next, no-fun-league? Flag football?

 

[LannyPC]

This messes with real football.
What's next, no-fun-league? Flag football?

I was watching an explanation of this on You Tube yesterday and, in the comments, a lot of viewers had the same sentiments.

I know to the traditionalist, it does seem out of place but I do like the upside to it. The statistic shown in this video says that last year, only 20% of kickoffs were returned. Let's face it. The touchback and the deliberate kicking of the ball through the end zone was a boring play. This new rule will make sure that nearly 100% of the kickoffs will be returned. It's also predicted that this new rule will reduce the number of injuries.

For those who hate this new rule, what suggestion would you come up with to reduce the number of touchbacks and encourage more returns?

 

[Brett]

This messes with real football.
What's next, no-fun-league? Flag football?

Flag football is an Olympic sport!

 

[Makai Guy]

For those who hate this new rule, what suggestion would you come up with to reduce the number of touchbacks and encourage more returns?

Kick off from 15-20 yards further back.

 

[LannyPC]

Kick off from 15-20 yards further back.

Interesting idea.

Has this idea been brought up and discussed before by coaches, commentators, rules committee members, owners, etc.?

 

[Talent312]

I suspect they primarily focused on reducing costs associated with concussions with this convoluted approach.
But maybe a few of 'em were high on drugs...
"Let's make 'em stand around and watch the ball fly in the air. It'll be a hoot."

 

[Rolltydr]

Interesting idea.

Has this idea been brought up and discussed before by coaches, commentators, rules committee members, owners, etc.?

I thought one important reason for changing the kickoff was to reduce injuries from large bodies colliding at full speed. I think that is one of the reasons teams started kicking the ball out of the endzone So much. It was a way for both teams to avoid unnecessary risks. It was, however, also boring. I want to see how this progresses throughout the season and how teams adjust. If it does indeed reduce injuries, but also increases the number of returns, I think it will be a net positive.

 

[LannyPC]

If it does indeed reduce injuries, but also increases the number of returns, I think it will be a net positive.

|I agree. But it seems like there are a lot of traditionalists who can't stand the sight of a change like this.

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

|I agree. But it seems like there are a lot of traditionalists who can't stand the sight of a change like this.

I remember traditionalists who couldn't stand the sight of a hockey goalie wearing a mask. I imagine that in the day there were traditionalists who couldn't stand the sight of boxers wearing gloves instead of going bare-knuckle.

Football is a far more dangerous sport than it was back in the day when many of those traditionalists played. I remember when the Minnesota Vikings drafted Ron Yary, and he was considered a giant of an offensive lineman because he weighed about 220 or 230 lbs. With the Vince Lombardi era packers, many lineman were under 200 lbs. Linebackers were 220-250 lbs. And some defensive backs were ~160 lbs.

Now players are more massive, and they are faster. Energy = mass x velocity^2. With players who are bigger and faster, collisions on the field involve far more energy than 50 years ago. And injury risk and severity during impact is directly related to collision energy.

To my mind, this is a totally logical and rational response to changing playing conditions.

**********

I have a family member who was an avid pro football fan until he had the chance to meet some retired pro football players and learned of the physical issues they were dealing as a result of their career. He decided that, as much as he loved football, in good conscience he could no longer a support something that exacted that kind of physical toll on people just for his pleasure.

 

[MULTIZ321]

New NFL kickoff rules explained: What's the landing zone?

https://flipboard.com/video/wbal/7d7cec7077

Richard

 

[Talent312]

New Rule on onside kicks...
Onside kicks will only be allowed in the fourth quarter, and only if a team is trailing. The team that wants to attempt the onside kick will have to "declare" that it's trying it. This will eliminate the surprise onside kick.
... The "No Fun League" strikes again.
At least college football still has some vestige of original football.

 

[pedro47]

Change is good; but please stop over turning the referee calls on the field that changes the out come of the game especially in the final minutes of the game . IMHO

 

[Timeshare Von]

Watched (most of) the Packers/Eagles' game last night. The new kick-off rule in action looked silly!

 

[Ralph Sir Edward]

I watched it in preseason. So far, nobody has set up a blocking scheme for these kickoffs. Once they do, I think people will find them very exciting. The ability to open holes in the "line" will lead to many touchdowns, because once you break through the line, there is only the kicker (not known for tackling ability) between the the returner and the goal line.

 

[LannyPC]

Change is good; but please stop over turning the referee calls on the field that changes the out come of the game especially in the final minutes of the game . IMHO

...like what happened in the Ravens/Chiefs game Thursday night?

 

[LannyPC]

I watched it in preseason. So far, nobody has set up a blocking scheme for these kickoffs. Once they do, I think people will find them very exciting. The ability to open holes in the "line" will lead to many touchdowns, because once you break through the line, there is only the kicker (not known for tackling ability) between the the returner and the goal line.

I think the problem that a lot of traditionalists are having with this new rule is how the setup looks. It's a very strange look from what we've seen over the last hundred years. But once the returner catches the ball, it's just like the kickoff returns were in previous years except it will likely lead to fewer and less severe injuries, and there will be more returns and fewer touchbacks.

 

[ScoopKona]

New Rule on onside kicks...

I can live with the new kickoff. But what they've done to onside kicks doesn't make the game any safer. It removes strategy (the Saints surprise onside kick was one of the best Superbowl moments of all time and one of the gutsiest play calls ever). And it makes the game less exciting. There's no reason I can see for making this change.

It's like demanding that runners on first base announce their intention to steal.