Process Posted September 6 Share Posted September 6 The NFL changed the kickoff rules to increase the number of returns. 9 out of 11 kickoffs yesterday were touchbacks.... Looks like this might be a bust but obviously this is a small sample size. How would you approach it? Kick deep every time? Mix it up? Once we have more data it will be interesting to see what the average starting position is when the kick is returned. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bleeding Bills Blue Posted September 6 Share Posted September 6 8 minutes ago, Process said: The NFL changed the kickoff rules to increase the number of returns. 9 out of 11 kickoffs yesterday were touchbacks.... Looks like this might be a bust but obviously this is a small sample size. How would you approach it? Kick deep every time? Mix it up? Once we have more data it will be interesting to see what the average starting position is when the kick is returned. They moved the touchback from the 25, to the 35, then back to the 30. For a big game that even though it's week 1 has potential playoff seeding ramifications, i didn't expect either team to do much creatively on the kickoffs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJS Posted September 6 Share Posted September 6 I don't think it is wise to just concede the 30, personally. But we'll see how it goes. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Low Positive Posted September 6 Share Posted September 6 The way that they have it set up, the returner pretty much gets to the 25 before contact so there is little advantage to kicking returnable balls. 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Process Posted September 6 Author Share Posted September 6 2 minutes ago, Low Positive said: The way that they have it set up, the returner pretty much gets to the 25 before contact so there is little advantage to kicking returnable balls. I agree with this, seems like more often than not, the returner would get to at least the 25 yard line, which doesn't give the kicking much incentive to put it in play. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strive_for_five_guy Posted September 6 Share Posted September 6 Just now, Process said: I agree with this, seems like more often than not, the returner would get to at least the 25 yard line, which doesn't give the kicking much incentive to put it in play. I heard the average starting position in the preseason was even the 28 yard line, so even less incentive to risk a return if you have a kicker that can kick for the touchback. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Turk Posted September 6 Share Posted September 6 (edited) There is almost no penalty for teams kicking touchbacks. If they really wanted to prevent touchbacks they either needed to move the kickoff back to the 20 like it used to be or up the penalty so it would be teams starting at the 35 or 40 instead of the 30. There is virtually no reason for a team to not kick the ball thru the endzone right now, especially since they have no idea how kick coverage will be on these plays over a large sample size during the season. An extra 5 yards, wow...big deal. The NFL made all these changes but were almost pointless due to not really penalizing the team for TBs or moving the ball father back on kickoff so that a TB would be much harder, which IMO is exactly what they wanted...give the "illusion" they were bringing kickoffs back into play but leave it so that kicking a TB is still going to be far and away the most likely outcome. Which is no surprise since that's what they do with lots of things...give the illusion they care for public image, but really don't...player safety, retired players, concussions, field playing surfaces, etc... Edited September 6 by Big Turk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frostbitmic Posted September 6 Share Posted September 6 Just give the team the ball at the 20 and be done with it, this kickoff scheme plain and simply sucks. 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JP51 Posted September 6 Share Posted September 6 29 minutes ago, MJS said: I don't think it is wise to just concede the 30, personally. But we'll see how it goes. I tend to agree unless you are worried about your ST which I think we are. So maybe it makes sense to concede especially against an opponent that many feel inferior. I think overall this year there will not be 1 philosophy team wise, I think it will be situational and predicated on the over all performance of your ST. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unbillievable Posted September 6 Share Posted September 6 No one is going to risk a possible long return for 3 yds advantage. The only thing we can hope for, is that some kickers can't make it to the endzone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Logic Posted September 6 Share Posted September 6 14 minutes ago, frostbitmic said: Just give the team the ball at the 20 and be done with it, this kickoff scheme plain and simply sucks. It's the 30 now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Turk Posted September 6 Share Posted September 6 36 minutes ago, MJS said: I don't think it is wise to just concede the 30, personally. But we'll see how it goes. Wiser than potentially giving up long returns to save 5 yards. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unbillievable Posted September 6 Share Posted September 6 34 minutes ago, MJS said: I don't think it is wise to just concede the 30, personally. But we'll see how it goes. Preseason has shown that they're already conceding the 25yd line. The timing and need to maintain your coverage lanes doesn't allow much collapse or pursuit to the ball. The returner basically hits a wall of tacklers at the 25. I'm wondering if there are teams that will allow their Returner to take it out of the endzone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColoradoBills Posted September 6 Share Posted September 6 Teams have been working on strategies for this. No one has shown their hand YET. It will take time to see if this is really stupid OR something else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frostbitmic Posted September 6 Share Posted September 6 9 minutes ago, Logic said: It's the 30 now. I'd be doing away with this form of kickoff, so I say make it the 20 like it used to be for a touchback. My way would be no injuries and no time wasted for just kicking it out of the end zone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Turk Posted September 6 Share Posted September 6 (edited) 10 minutes ago, ColoradoBills said: Teams have been working on strategies for this. No one has shown their hand YET. It will take time to see if this is really stupid OR something else. The strategy is to kick the ball out of the endzone and take the known versus the unknown, as multiple coaches and ST coaches have said. Edited September 6 by Big Turk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColoradoBills Posted September 6 Share Posted September 6 2 minutes ago, Big Turk said: The strategy is to kick the ball out of the endzone and take the known versus the unknown, as multiple coaches and ST coaches have said. That won't happen all the time. I'm going to wait and see what develops. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Process Posted September 6 Author Share Posted September 6 2 minutes ago, Big Turk said: The strategy is to kick the ball out of the endzone and take the known versus the unknown, as multiple coaches and ST coaches have said. If that's what it ends up being then the KO needs to just be eliminated and teams start with it at the 20 or 25. Teams shouldnt be starting with it on the 30 IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Turk Posted September 6 Share Posted September 6 (edited) 3 minutes ago, ColoradoBills said: That won't happen all the time. I'm going to wait and see what develops. Neither did kicking touchbacks last year...nothing is going to develop...teams are going to randomly try it until they get burnt once and say F that, it isn't worth it and continue kicking TBs. Just like they did with kicking short at times last year strategically. 3 minutes ago, Process said: If that's what it ends up being then the KO needs to just be eliminated and teams start with it at the 20 or 25. Teams shouldnt be starting with it on the 30 IMO. The NFL did it to themselves by not either increasing the penalty for TBs or moving the kickoff back so it would be harder to kick TBs. IMO, they don't want kickoffs and did all these changes for the "illusion" that they want to bring them back but they really don't. Edited September 6 by Big Turk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gugny Posted September 6 Share Posted September 6 If a team is up by three with, say, 13 seconds left in the 4th quarter … are they allowed to squib kick it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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