Cookiemonster Posted December 13, 2011 Share Posted December 13, 2011 (edited) My thinking on the new kick-off rule, is that maybe the NFL didn't really think this through correctly. I don't think that they meant to take that much excitement out of the game. I think in their haste to eliminate head injuries and the like, they went overboard. With that in mind, I think that they could bring back some of the excitement by just tweeking it some. I would propose letting the kicker kick off from the same yard line as this year, but I would have the kick coverage team lined up 5 yards back. It should increase the amount of kicks being returned, and bring some of the excitement back, it would still result in a lot of touchbacks, keep the no-wedge rule,etc for player safety. I just don't think that they planned on seeing hardly any kicks returned. Thoughts? Edited December 13, 2011 by Cookiemonster Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GOBILLS78 Posted December 13, 2011 Share Posted December 13, 2011 I think they knew exactly what kind of impact it would have, and I'd be surprised if they had any intentions of tweaking the rule if it were to create more opportunities for returns. I hate it, you hate it, we all hate it. But the NFL really doesn't care. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookiemonster Posted December 13, 2011 Author Share Posted December 13, 2011 I think they knew exactly what kind of impact it would have, and I'd be surprised if they had any intentions of tweaking the rule if it were to create more opportunities for returns. I hate it, you hate it, we all hate it. But the NFL really doesn't care. I think they knew that it would reduce the amount of returns, but I don't think that they counted on them being almost totally eliminated. I would bet that there is at least some discussion regarding it when the rules committe gets together again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reddogblitz Posted December 13, 2011 Share Posted December 13, 2011 How about they kick off from the 33? If they don't want guys hurt on KOs, how about just give the receiving team the ball on the 35? Would spark more offense and scoring too. A win win. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GOBILLS78 Posted December 13, 2011 Share Posted December 13, 2011 I think they knew that it would reduce the amount of returns, but I don't think that they counted on them being almost totally eliminated. I would bet that there is at least some discussion regarding it when the rules committe gets together again. Through five weeks, touchbacks were at 51.4 percent league-wide, so they haven't been totally eliminated. Also, the NFL would point to an increase in average kickoff return yardage and scoring in its attempt to justify the new rule. How about they kick off from the 33? If they don't want guys hurt on KOs, how about just give the receiving team the ball on the 35? Would spark more offense and scoring too. A win win. I think that would just lure teams to kick shorter, and in turn lead to more returns. Again, something the league is trying to stay away from. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ieatcrayonz Posted December 13, 2011 Share Posted December 13, 2011 My thinking on the new kick-off rule, is that maybe the NFL didn't really think this through correctly. I don't think that they meant to take that much excitement out of the game. I think in their haste to eliminate head injuries and the like, they went overboard. With that in mind, I think that they could bring back some of the excitement by just tweeking it some. I would propose letting the kicker kick off from the same yard line as this year, but I would have the kick coverage team lined up 5 yards back. It should increase the amount of kicks being returned, and bring some of the excitement back, it would still result in a lot of touchbacks, keep the no-wedge rule,etc for player safety. I just don't think that they planned on seeing hardly any kicks returned. Thoughts? That change would screw up on-side kicks wouldn't it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookiemonster Posted December 13, 2011 Author Share Posted December 13, 2011 That change would screw up on-side kicks wouldn't it? He would only have to kick it only 5 yards for it to be recoverable by the kicking team. When was the last time that you saw a kicker recover his own onside kick anyway. Point well taken, I didn't think about that, just have it so he isn't allowed to make the recovery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max997 Posted December 13, 2011 Share Posted December 13, 2011 i hate it even more in Madden Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1billsfan Posted December 13, 2011 Share Posted December 13, 2011 How about putting touchbacks at the 25 or 30 yard line? That would even out the kickoff team's current built in advantage so if they wanted to pin them deep they'd have to work for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beerball Posted December 13, 2011 Share Posted December 13, 2011 My thinking on the new kick-off rule, is that maybe the NFL didn't really think this through correctly. I don't think that they meant to take that much excitement out of the game. I think in their haste to eliminate head injuries and the like, they went overboard. With that in mind, I think that they could bring back some of the excitement by just tweeking it some. I would propose letting the kicker kick off from the same yard line as this year, but I would have the kick coverage team lined up 5 yards back. It should increase the amount of kicks being returned, and bring some of the excitement back, it would still result in a lot of touchbacks, keep the no-wedge rule,etc for player safety. I just don't think that they planned on seeing hardly any kicks returned. Thoughts? They already do that. With this year's rule change they also limited the coverage team to starting within 5 yards of the KO. In the past they could get deeper which according to the league led to more violent collisions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwight in philly Posted December 13, 2011 Share Posted December 13, 2011 it just allows for another t v timeout. they are gradually sneaking more commercials in , now with the new t v contracts, expect more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4BillsintheBurgh Posted December 14, 2011 Share Posted December 14, 2011 Make the kicker start 5 yards away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
It's in My Blood Posted December 14, 2011 Share Posted December 14, 2011 it just allows for another t v timeout. they are gradually sneaking more commercials in , now with the new t v contracts, expect more. They've always gone to ads afte almost every kickoff, return or touchback. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragonborn10 Posted December 14, 2011 Share Posted December 14, 2011 How about putting touchbacks at the 25 or 30 yard line? That would even out the kickoff team's current built in advantage so if they wanted to pin them deep they'd have to work for it. That is the best thought so far...This would likely force teams to kick to the goal line and try to make a tackle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beerball Posted December 14, 2011 Share Posted December 14, 2011 That is the best thought so far...This would likely force teams to kick to the goal line and try to make a tackle. The league doesn't want tackles on KOs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
....lybob Posted December 14, 2011 Share Posted December 14, 2011 I've been surprised that there haven't been more onside kicks with the new rules. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jr1 Posted December 14, 2011 Share Posted December 14, 2011 The little Roscoe types can't handle getting hit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookiemonster Posted December 14, 2011 Author Share Posted December 14, 2011 I've been surprised that there haven't been more onside kicks with the new rules. Much more risky now, you take your chances on getting a TB or a return to no more than the 20, as opposed to having the opponent start at midfiled if you do not recover. The chances of an opponent getting a return to their own 40 or beyond are exteremly reduced now, so why take the chance on an on-side kick? If anything, I would say that it has caused a reduction in the number of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. WEO Posted December 14, 2011 Share Posted December 14, 2011 (edited) They already do that. With this year's rule change they also limited the coverage team to starting within 5 yards of the KO. In the past they could get deeper which according to the league led to more violent collisions. That's right Beerball. Few, if any, of the guys moaning about the "new" spot for kickoffis understand it's not new at all. Teams are now kciking off from exactly the same spot they did from '78 to '93--and they eliminated the long runup, so it should be easier to return kicks than in the Bills glory days in the early 90's. The Bills have only returned 28 kickoffs so far this year, compared to 69 for all of last year, yet the avg return is about the same, despite the new rule. Also, Bills rank dead last in punts returned. All of this despite drafting heavily in what were essentailly glorified return men over the past several years (Roscoe, MeKelvin, Spiller). What is Gailey doing with Special Teams? He has as little interest in this aspect of his team as he does in the defense, apparently. Edited December 14, 2011 by Mr. WEO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Big Cat Posted December 14, 2011 Share Posted December 14, 2011 I say you get one point for putting it through the uprights... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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