The Death of the Kickoff Return

[Brand J]

80.9% of kickoffs this year have resulted in a touchback. I do hope they go the XFL route to allow returners a chance to shine. Devin Hester, Dante Hall, Brian Mitchell, Josh Cribbs, and so many others would be obsolete today. 
 

The Endangered NFL kickoff

[RoyBatty is alive]

No kickoff returns are not dead.  The Texans had an upfield blocker go all the way for a TD in a kickoff last Sunday.  The NFL will continue to tweak it until it is outlawed and deemed too dangerous.  I would suggest they start by putting a ball kicked out of or downed in the endzone back to the 20, 25 is too generous imo.

[Bangarang]

Get rid of kickoffs and eliminate punting. No more extra points either. 

[pocoboy]

They should just say it: "It's not the injuries, it's that the injuries are usually to scrubs to whom we don't want to owe long term disability."

Edited September 26, 2023 by pocoboy

[Big Turk]

22 minutes ago, JayBaller10 said:

80.9% of kickoffs this year have resulted in a touchback. I do hope they go the XFL route to allow returners a chance to shine. Devin Hester, Dante Hall, Brian Mitchell, Josh Cribbs, and so many others would be obsolete today. 
 

The Endangered NFL kickoff

 

It's far less "death" than I thought with the new rule in place with a fair catch to the 25.  Yesterday was the first time I have seen this used...I am sure it has happened in other games that I haven't been watching, but by comparison, I have probably seen close to 20 kickoff returns in those games I watched.

Edited September 26, 2023 by Big Turk

[Prospector]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjddXjcIR24

 

Unless you are a fullback, lol

[Mr. WEO]

10 minutes ago, JayBaller10 said:

80.9% of kickoffs this year have resulted in a touchback. I do hope they go the XFL route to allow returners a chance to shine. Devin Hester, Dante Hall, Brian Mitchell, Josh Cribbs, and so many others would be obsolete today. 
 

The Endangered NFL kickoff

 

It wouldn't make sense to adapt the XFL method if the NFL's goal is to keep the return rate low.

 

A team with good coverage would never kick a touchback--a well placed kick to within 5 yards of the goal line has less than a 50/50 chance of getting past the 25 yard line.  Returners are obviously being told not to field these kicks.

[RoyBatty is alive]

Kickers are just too strong now.  Maybe start kicking off from the 25, that will eliminate a whole lot of touchbacks.

[Big Turk]

10 minutes ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

It wouldn't make sense to adapt the XFL method if the NFL's goal is to keep the return rate low.

 

A team with good coverage would never kick a touchback--a well placed kick to within 5 yards of the goal line has less than a 50/50 chance of getting past the 25 yard line.  Returners are obviously being told not to field these kicks.

 

Which games are these? Every game I have watched, and it's been a lot, has seen players returning these kicks instead of calling for a fair catch, except the one last night where he fair caught a kick at the 12.

10 minutes ago, RoyBatty is alive said:

Kickers are just too strong now.  Maybe start kicking off from the 25, that will eliminate a whole lot of touchbacks.

 

The NFL doesn't want to eliminate touchbacks, they want to eliminate KO Returns. That would be the opposite of what they are hoping to accomplish.

Edited September 26, 2023 by Big Turk

[RoyBatty is alive]

4 minutes ago, Big Turk said:

 

Which games are these? Every game I have watched, and it's been a lot, has seen players returning these kicks instead of calling for a fair catch, except the one last night where he fair caught a kick at the 12.

 

The NFL doesn't want to eliminate touchbacks, they want to eliminate KO Returns. That would be the opposite of what they are hoping to accomplish.

I know that and is exactly why I wrote "until it is outlawed and deemed too dangerous".

[Mr. WEO]

7 minutes ago, Big Turk said:

 

Which games are these? Every game I have watched, and it's been a lot, has seen players returning these kicks instead of calling for a fair catch, except the one last night where he fair caught a kick at the 12.

 

The NFL doesn't want to eliminate touchbacks, they want to eliminate KO Returns. That would be the opposite of what they are hoping to accomplish.

 

Not every touchback is kicked out of the endzone.  kicks that are a few yards back of the goal line are let go and those a few yards short of the goal line are allowed to bounce in. 

[BigAl2526]

For whatever reason, the league doesn't want a lot of kickoff returns.  They won't do anything that is likely to increase the number of returns.

Edited September 26, 2023 by BigAl2526

[Big Turk]

5 minutes ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

Not every touchback is kicked out of the endzone.  kicks that are a few yards back of the goal line are let go and those a few yards short of the goal line are allowed to bounce in. 

 

Yeah, that is true, but those are also still returned at a decent rate as well. The fair catch called in the field of play when teams kick it short resulting in a TB has not been used very often in the games I have watched.

[Brand J]

 

1 hour ago, RoyBatty is alive said:

No kickoff returns are not dead.  The Texans had an upfield blocker go all the way for a TD in a kickoff last Sunday.  The NFL will continue to tweak it until it is outlawed and deemed too dangerous.  I would suggest they start by putting a ball kicked out of or downed in the endzone back to the 20, 25 is too generous imo.

Almost every kickoff is a touchback now, 4/5 of them to be exact. That is death compared to earlier numbers, where just a few years ago 3/5 got returned. I’m not even comparing it to the 90s where 9/10 were returned. Remember the two TD returns Hines had last year that ignited the team? Yeah, those sort of exciting plays are being legislated out of the game, which is exactly what the NFL wants.

Edited September 26, 2023 by JayBaller10

[LabattBlue]

At this point dump the kickoffs completely, and to replace an onside kick, go with the one play must gain 15 yards from own 30.  

Edited September 26, 2023 by LabattBlue

[Brand J]

Just now, LabattBlue said:

At this point dump the kickoffs completely, and to replace an inside kick, go with the one play must gain 15 yards from own 30.  

I’m not for dumping the kickoff return because it has shown its value to the game. Fully with you on the onside kick. A 4th and 15 from the 35 yard line would be great, but I can see the opposing view.

[Brand J]

1 hour ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

It wouldn't make sense to adapt the XFL method if the NFL's goal is to keep the return rate low.

 

A team with good coverage would never kick a touchback--a well placed kick to within 5 yards of the goal line has less than a 50/50 chance of getting past the 25 yard line.  Returners are obviously being told not to field these kicks.

It’s less about keeping the return rate low and more about high speed collisions. The XFL model, with players on both sides 5 yards apart, lessens the overall concussion concerns. They’re not running 30-40 yards and blasting a guy at full speed.

[Bferra13]

I'm fine with how it is now. I initially thought it would be dead, but surprisingly I've seen more returns than I thought I would have already. Mostly from idiots who can't themselves to not take a knee when they should, but hey it's better than nothin.

[Dafan]

I wish they'd just get ride of the penalty for kicking off out off bounds.  If a kicker can put it out on the 5 yard line...let it stand that way.

[Buffalo_Stampede]

Eliminate kickoffs. All they are now is an extra commercial break. Maybe that’s why the NFL keeps them around.

 

The XFL kickoff would bring excitement.

[Bferra13]

3 minutes ago, Dafan said:

I wish they'd just get ride of the penalty for kicking off out off bounds.  If a kicker can put it out on the 5 yard line...let it stand that way.

NFL wants scoring and points. Pretty sure points =$$$$ to them. No way they would ever do that. If they did change that, kickers would master the art of it anyways. No bueno all around.

[The Frankish Reich]

1 hour ago, Bangarang said:

Get rid of kickoffs and eliminate punting. No more extra points either. 

I would like to see only 2 point conversions. The PAT is the dullest play in football. 

[frostbitmic]

TD

Commercials

XP

Commercials

Kickoff

Commercials

 

An extra block of commercials is why they won't get rid of it. 

 

Kicking the ball through the uprights on the kickoff should be worth a point. It would be a detriment to drawing a 10 or 15 yard penalty on the XP.

[WhoTom]

23 minutes ago, Dafan said:

I wish they'd just get ride of the penalty for kicking off out off bounds.  If a kicker can put it out on the 5 yard line...let it stand that way.

 

Sure, and watch otherwise close games become lopsided.

 

With the exception of the ones to start each half, KOs follow a score. The KO gives the opposing team a fair chance at good field position so they, too, have a reasonable opportunity to score. Pinning them back at the five with a KO out-of-bounds would be adding insult to injury. Not only did the opposing team score, but they left us with crappy field position. And unlike a punt, where there's a defense trying to block it, the place-kicker has all the time in the world to set up the kick, making the old corner-coffin kick a certainty.

 

A punt is a different story. When a team punts, it's surrendering the battle to fight another day. Trying to pin the opposing team back makes good sense from a competitive standpoint.

 

 

[Rigotz]

For the fans it's an exciting component of the game.

 

For the players and coaches it's an unnecessary head-on collision between two freight trains at full speed. 

 

It's only a matter of time before they get rid of it and we'll all miss it until we don't... which should only take a couple of years.

[Brand J]

@Rochesterfan You are the king of disagreeing and downvoting everything without any rational thought or insight.

[Matt_In_NH]

I am sure it has happened but I have yet to see a fair catch everyone said would kill kickoffs.  Is this rate less than last year?

[Paup 1995MVP]

3 hours ago, JayBaller10 said:

 

Almost every kickoff is a touchback now, 4/5 of them to be exact. That is death compared to earlier numbers, where just a few years ago 3/5 got returned. I’m not even comparing it to the 90s where 9/10 were returned. Remember the two TD returns Hines had last year that ignited the team? Yeah, those sort of exciting plays are being legislated out of the game, which is exactly what the NFL wants.

The kickoff return play is very exciting.  Kickoffs should have stayed at the 30 yard line.  More would be returned that way.  The NFL wants to take any and all violent high speed collisions out of the game.  The hard hit on supposed defenseless receivers is ridiculously enforced.  Intimidation can not be part of a defensive game plan any longer.  The numbers put up by WR's today is because the game is basically a physical brand of touch football.  Receivers don't have to worry about suffering serious injury like in yesteryear. 

 

Another annoyance of today's game is the amount of long FG's made.  Teams get to the opponents 40 yard line, and out trots the kicker.  I am amazed at how far these little guys can kick a football.  Is the ball different then it was in the 70's 80's and 90's?  I was happy when Justin Tucker's 61 yard kick to win the game against the Colts was SHORT!   

[ChrisWatson#21]

They sure were fun back in the days of Terrence McGee.  

[PetermansRedemption]

Could have a combined funeral for the kickoff and the onside kick. 

[Ethan in Cleveland]

I really don't understand why the NFL wants to eliminate kick returns. 

But then again I really don't care. I don't want a bunch of bottom of the roster players determining the outcome of a game. The Jets loss was sealed by a bunch of scrubs who couldn't make a tackle. It would have been far better if they had forced a fair catch and our defense was allowed to make a play.

[Brand J]

6 minutes ago, Ethan in Cleveland said:

I really don't understand why the NFL wants to eliminate kick returns. 

But then again I really don't care. I don't want a bunch of bottom of the roster players determining the outcome of a game. The Jets loss was sealed by a bunch of scrubs who couldn't make a tackle. It would have been far better if they had forced a fair catch and our defense was allowed to make a play.

Well, that was a punt return, but I understand where you’re coming from. At the same time, guys like Devin Hester never would’ve made a name for himself if he played today. He was a position-less player, neither a corner nor a wide receiver, but was still able to carve out a successful NFL career. Some even argue Hall of Fame. There could be another Hester on a roster right now, but when most of the kicks are booted through the endzone, that player is now relegated to being an unknown.

[ChronicAndKnuckles]

6 hours ago, RoyBatty is alive said:

No kickoff returns are not dead.  The Texans had an upfield blocker go all the way for a TD in a kickoff last Sunday.  The NFL will continue to tweak it until it is outlawed and deemed too dangerous.  I would suggest they start by putting a ball kicked out of or downed in the endzone back to the 20, 25 is too generous imo.

Yes, a full back 😅 we won’t see that again for another 10-20 years 

[Ethan in Cleveland]

1 minute ago, JayBaller10 said:

Well, that was a punt return, but I understand where you’re coming from. At the same time, guys like Devin Hester never would’ve made a name for himself if he played today. He was a position-less player, neither a corner nor a wide receiver, but was still able to carve out a successful NFL career. Some even argue Hall of Fame. There could be another Hester on a roster right now, but when most of the kicks are booted through the endzone, that player is now relegated to being an unknown.

I get what you are saying. Those plays and those players took your breath away at times. It seems like we are in the worst possible situation.  Either let it be a viable play and a part of the game or eliminate it all together

 Going to 4 min of commercial to then have a KO our of the endzone nad then 2 more min of commercials is terrible fan experience at home or in the stadium. 

 

[ChronicAndKnuckles]

5 hours ago, BigAl2526 said:

For whatever reason, the league doesn't want a lot of kickoff returns.  They won't do anything that is likely to increase the number of returns.

Kevin Everett is a good example. It’s dangerous when 2 200+ lb pieces of muscle are colliding  full speed. I wonder why punt returns are viewed as less dangerous..

Edited September 26, 2023 by ChronicAndKnuckles

[RiotAct]

 

 

[Da webster guy]

6 hours ago, JayBaller10 said:

80.9% of kickoffs this year have resulted in a touchback. I do hope they go the XFL route to allow returners a chance to shine. Devin Hester, Dante Hall, Brian Mitchell, Josh Cribbs, and so many others would be obsolete today. 
 

The Endangered NFL kickoff

 

you forgot my son Leodis

 

Sincerely

 

Mrs McKelvin

[Mr. WEO]

5 hours ago, Big Turk said:

 

Yeah, that is true, but those are also still returned at a decent rate as well. The fair catch called in the field of play when teams kick it short resulting in a TB has not been used very often in the games I have watched.

 

How many fair catches have there been this year?

5 hours ago, JayBaller10 said:

 

Almost every kickoff is a touchback now, 4/5 of them to be exact. That is death compared to earlier numbers, where just a few years ago 3/5 got returned. I’m not even comparing it to the 90s where 9/10 were returned. Remember the two TD returns Hines had last year that ignited the team? Yeah, those sort of exciting plays are being legislated out of the game, which is exactly what the NFL wants.

 

There is no rule preventing a returner, such as Hines, from running the kick back.  They simply have to the option to fair catch it in bounds for a touchback.

 

Returns certainly have not been "legislated out of the game"

 

 

[Utah John]

7 hours ago, Bangarang said:

Get rid of kickoffs and eliminate punting. No more extra points either. 

Tackling, too.  And falling down.  And blocking.  Any kind of contact, really.  

[ExiledInIllinois]

6 hours ago, Dafan said:

I wish they'd just get ride of the penalty for kicking off out off bounds.  If a kicker can put it out on the 5 yard line...let it stand that way.

The team just scored. Have to make it fair getting ball back!