How the new kick off rule changes affect the Bills Drafting

[HaldimandBills]

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/39813751/everything-know-nfl-hybrid-kickoff-rule-change

 

I am curious how people feel the new kick off rule will affect our draft? 

 

I was under the impression that the Bills go Receiver and DL with their first 2 picks and then load up on dl, db, and maybe a developmental interior OL, and RB after that. 

 

With these new rule changes I think the Bills top 2 picks remain the same but the Bills also look to add athletic LB, shifty reciever/kick returner, and of course more db picks than I was anticipating. 

 

Samuel will be a part of the return team and potentially Shakir but I think with how revolutionary the kick off will be this season the Bills will be forced to draft players who will excel in it.

 

Am I wrong in thinking this? How does everyone else feel? I just feel it would be a waste to not double dip on reciever with at least 2 of your first 5 picks in such a deep receiver draft. Wish the LB in this draft were better.

Edited March 28 by HaldimandBills

[Mikie2times]

I wonder if we even know what our approach will be with personnel. I could see the player groups being similar to what we see on offense and defense where the coverage teams are more tilted toward speed and the kickoff teams more size. As some have said this is more like a stretch run play. We might even see offensive lineman on the return squads. Will LB's and TE types rule these plays? Certainly demand for returners will be high by all teams. I wonder if teams would consider burning a roster spot for a specialist when two returners are likely required and only one TD was even scored  last year in the XFL. So who knows how valuable these guys will be? This play will make for a really interesting addition to the season.  

[NewEra]

Could come into play come the draft.   Maybe they use Shakir?  We don’t have anyone else atm.  

[GrimboG]

Deonte Harty is still a FA....

[BuffaloBillyG]

7 hours ago, NewEra said:

Could come into play come the draft.   Maybe they use Shakir?  We don’t have anyone else atm.  

In addition we do have Andy Isabella, Ty Johnson and Darrynton Evans signed. KJ Hamler could get a peek there as well IMO. 

 

Just my hunch but with the way the new return set up looks I think a good returner will shift from straight line speed to more of a guy that can operate in small spaces. Less Harty types more Braxton Berrios types. Steelers signing Cordarrelle Patterson minutes after the rule was passed may be an indication of what they expect.

 

Could we take a later pick on an extra end of roster guy with that in mind? Absolutely. Heck, I think it may bump the value in someone like Luke McCaffrey. 

[PromoTheRobot]

I actually called Schoop and Bulldog the other day and asked if anyone considered the scope of this rule change? (FYI, They didn't.) This changes the old fashioned kickoff into a wildcat running play with only one layer of defense.

 

In the XFL, this rule only resulted in 2 kickoff returns for touchdowns. But consider that XFL teams have no off-season and minimal training camps. Teams are put together and game plans worked out in a few weeks.

 

Now consider NFL teams have higher level talent and coaches that can work year-round on game planning, plus have mini-camps, training camp and preseason games to implement this. 

 

And with both receiving team and coverage teams lined up against each other in line across the field, there are no second or third level defenders to make tackles, except for the kicker. If you create a hole and your guy gets through it, you are off to the races.

 

So I'm really curious to see how this works out for the NFL because it completely changes the skill sets needed. Open field blockers versus line-of-scrimmage run blockers. Kick returners versus runners that can find holes. There might be one or more kick returns for TD per game, and will that be a good thing.

Edited March 29 by PromoTheRobot

[The Jokeman]

McDermott referenced in when brought up different player body types etc. The biggest change to me is return men have to be better at avoiding contact vs pure speed. So you might see more backup RBs returning kicks now. 

[Chicken Boo]

My guess is that KJ Hamler will be the return guy.

 

He has game-breaking speed, but likely won't see the field much.  I'd like for them to utilize that speed somehwere.

[frostbitmic]

My guess is won't affect the teams make up one bit.

 

Kick it out of the end zone and use a WR or RB on returns.

[JohnBonhamRocks]

I think it affects our roster building more for bottom end types than returners. By that I mean likely more focus on big uglies than track stars because sprinting down field was taken out of the equation.

[Kirby Jackson]

9 hours ago, NewEra said:

Could come into play come the draft.   Maybe they use Shakir?  We don’t have anyone else atm.  

Samuel is WAY more capable than Shakir to take on that role IMO. I suspect that the KO rule was a thought as they signed him.

[BuffaloBillyG]

57 minutes ago, The Jokeman said:

McDermott referenced in when brought up different player body types etc. The biggest change to me is return men have to be better at avoiding contact vs pure speed. So you might see more backup RBs returning kicks now. 

Something else to consider. With the way this return is set up it makes it more of an offensive play than a special teams return. You may see some guys pulling to set up lanes, combo blocks. Things of that nature that weren't part of the return aspect before. I think it would be smart for teams to have some collaboration between the ST coaches and the OC on play design. Likewise, on the KO coverage units having the DC weigh in may be smart. 

[NewEra]

20 minutes ago, Kirby Jackson said:

Samuel is WAY more capable than Shakir to take on that role IMO. I suspect that the KO rule was a thought as they signed him.

I agree, he’s more capable for sure.  As is cook imo.  I just don’t know if they’d want to risk injury to an 8-10M player or our starting RB.  But you could definitely be right

[Kirby Jackson]

5 minutes ago, NewEra said:

I agree, he’s more capable for sure.  As is cook imo.  I just don’t know if they’d want to risk injury to an 8-10M player or our starting RB.  But you could definitely be right

Yeah, I doubt that they use Cook but could use Samuel. He is basically here as a “weapon.” He’s a poor man’s Deebo or a rich man’s McKenzie. I could see them getting 2-3 touches a game in the return game.

[Sammy Watkins' Rib]

1 hour ago, PromoTheRobot said:

This changes the old fashioned kickoff into a wildcat running play with only one layer of defense.

 

 

 

The defense will have to adjust once the ball touches the ground or the returner fields the kick. I would think you would see several coverage guys either drop back a few yards are perhaps more likely stay where they are rather than be part of the initial pursuit. That way the defense sets up multiple layers. 

[PromoTheRobot]

34 minutes ago, Sammy Watkins' Rib said:

 

The defense will have to adjust once the ball touches the ground or the returner fields the kick. I would think you would see several coverage guys either drop back a few yards are perhaps more likely stay where they are rather than be part of the initial pursuit. That way the defense sets up multiple layers. 

 

The question is how fast can that coverage team react to misdirection. see below.

 

 

[QLBillsFan]

1 hour ago, NewEra said:

I agree, he’s more capable for sure.  As is cook imo.  I just don’t know if they’d want to risk injury to an 8-10M player or our starting RB.  But you could definitely be right

I would surprised if Samuel is returning kicks. TJ is likely and right now Shakir for punts. If Bills do draft more than 8 I suspect a designated return guy is drafted late to compete. 

[Mat68]

I think you could see a day 3 pick on a player with Return ability whether that is Rb or Wr.