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New Kickoff Rule Hurts the Game.......
NFP»Columns»The Players Page
RSSWhy the NFL's new kickoff rule hurts the game
First preseason weekend shows us the negative impact. Matt Bowen
Print ThisSend ThisAugust 16, 2011, 04:05 PM EST
9 Comments
After the first weekend of preseason NFL action, the league’s new kickoff rule (ball placed at 35-yard line) has already brought a negative impact to the game from my perspective. Sure, there will be opinions out there that try to spin this into “new strategies” for special teams coaches across the NFL, but I’m not buying it.
IconThe NFL's new kickoff rule will impact the value of returners such as Josh Cribbs.
According to NFL.com, during the 2010 season, 16-percent of kickoffs went for touchbacks. The first weekend in the 2011 preseason? That number climbed to 33 percent. Let’s break it down and check out three reasons why this new rule is going to alter the game we see on Sundays.
The rookie evaluation process: I love watching rookies cover kicks in August and I wrote a post about it last Thursday. It is the reason I was able to make an NFL roster in my rookie season and for the majority of the draft picks, it is the only way to make the team. It doesn’t take an expert to see why Bears special teams coach Dave Toub elected to kick off from the 30-yard line (the previous standard) on Saturday night vs. the Bills: he wanted to grade his coverage team. And making a tackle inside of the 20-yard line can buy you some more reps in practice and eventually a game day jersey in the regular season.
Value of big name returners: Josh Cribbs, Devin Hester, Leon Washington, etc, etc. If you want to see the true value of the return game, look at the size of the game checks that the big name returners get during the season. The NFL is taking away the impact of the big play in the kicking game and many returners—including Cribbs—have already voiced their opinions. What was once an offensive weapon could be erased. And if it gets to the point that Patriots coach Bill Belichick discussed today (eliminating the kickoff all together in the NFL), there could be some return specialists looking for work.
Field position: Not an easy thing to put together consistent 80-yard drives. A lot of field to work with, and outside of an explosive play that generates plus 25-yards, the offenses in the NFL are going to have to play near mistake-free football. And game plans will change. The kickoff is a way to generate positive field position and give your QB a short field to work with.
The flip side to this argument from the league’s perspective: player safety. I get that after covering kicks myself for a living in the NFL, but the outlook on the overall game doesn’t seem to add up. Injuries are going to happen—rule changes or not.
Follow me on Twitter: MattBowen41
Last edited by soulman; 08-17-2011 at 12:03 PM.
I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap. 
Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
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I think Matt Bowen has a great take on this topic. I especially like the fact that his persepctive is one that comes from a guy, who as he put it, "used to cover kicks for a living".
In the long run this will hurt the game by taking away one of the most exciting plays in football. I also like his point about how it will negatively affect field position and therefore scoring. This is something the NFL spent years in trying to engineer rules that increased scoring and now this?
It's plain that this was a very naked move to limit the advantage that teams like the Bears, Browns and others have because they've taken the time to invest in their return team and stock it with superior players. Boo to the NFL Competition Committee for one of the worst ideas to come along in the past 20 years.
I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap. Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
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Unless they gag the announcers who are complaining about this loudly, I think this issue is headed to a change next year. At least I hope so.
Arguing on the internet is like winning the special olympics, even if you win your still messed up.
Restore the roar!
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I agree with what Bowen said
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Originally Posted by
short faced bear 
Unless they gag the announcers who are complaining about this loudly, I think this issue is headed to a change next year. At least I hope so.
Wouldn't surprise me at all if they did change it back shorty. I can't figure out how they convinced everyone that it was a good idea to begin with. In addition to devaluing great return specialists like Hester it may also have an effect on roster makeup. Teams tend to keep higher numbers of DB's and LB/DE's to play on coverage units so this may change that balance somewhat.
I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap. Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
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Teams that don't like it should just have an offsides penalty every kickoff to protest it...
"If you can't take the heat, keep f**kin dat chicken."
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High Fives / Like - 2 BEAR DOWN!, 0 Dislikes
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Originally Posted by
AtomicTommy Teams that don't like it should just have an offsides penalty every kickoff to protest it...
LOL...................clever, but effective. 
I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap. Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
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Originally Posted by
AtomicTommy Teams that don't like it should just have an offsides penalty every kickoff to protest it...
WOW, thats a good one. Wonder what the league would say to that? No penalty,rekick,or would they make it a 15 yard penalty to stop it?
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Probably just place the penalty yards from the spot of the return....
I STILL like the idea tho....
"Professional Armchair Quarterback" and other oxymora.....
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Yeah but it would work all of about twice before either the penalty was declined or it was enforced after the runback. Nice thought but it's way too obvious to work.
I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap. Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
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