We have Toub and I think this will become an advantage for us. The kickoff rules before today were just painful and ceremonial most of the time. I like this because we will master it earlier and be a big part of our 3-peat! [Reply]
NFL owners voted to approve changes to the league's kickoff structure for the 2024 season during their annual meeting in Orlando, introducing a system that they hope will produce more returns.
The league announced the change on Tuesday, saying the new structure would resemble a scrimmage style kickoff "by aligning players on both teams closer together and restricting movement to reduce space and speed."
For a standard kickoff, the ball would be kicked from the 35-yard line with the 10 kick coverage players lined up at the opposing 40, with five on each side of the field.
The return team would have at least nine blockers lined up in the “set up zone” between the 30- and 35-yard line with at least seven of those players touching the 35. There would be up two returners allowed inside the 20.
Only the kicker and two returners would be allowed to move until the ball hits the ground or was touched by a returner inside the 20.
Because of the reduced space and time, players won't be going at full running speed and are less likely to incur serious injury when they collide with their opponents.
It's a one-year rule change and can either be changed, kept or discarded by the start of the 2025 season. The style originated in the XFL, a competing professional football league, and has resulted in increased returns. [Reply]
So kickers will still be kicking off from the 35 yard line and touchbacks will give the receiving team the ball at the 30? It sounds like most kicks will still reach the end zone and teams will likely just take the touchback over attempting any kind of return. [Reply]
The new kickoff rule is going to make the bottom of the roster prevalent for special teams, making roster spots 48 to 53 crucial. Teams using a 4-3 or 3-4 defense will play a role in how their special teams are constructed.
"When you watch the XFL, there are different kinds of body types out there," Rizzi said. "I don't know how much the body types are going to change, some teams may choose to go a little bit bigger and soem teams may choose to go a little bit faster.
"I think that will be kind of the exciting part of the play, to see teams play it out. Teams will play with it in the preseason to see what their best options are. It also makes it exciting for guys at the bottom of the roster, those spots are going to become a lot more valuable for guys fighting for those core positions. Roster configuration is going to be a big part in this."
Will there be more returns?
Simply put, yes. The XFL with their kickoff had a 97% return rate compared to the NFL's 22% last season with the traditional kickoff. Even if the NFL's modified kickoff rules, the return percentage will be significantly higher this season compared to last.
What about the return average?
The return average in the NFL was 23.0 last season while the XFL was 21.3. The NFL had four kickoff return touchdowns compared to the XFL's one. Of course, the kickoff team was on their 35 and the return team could line up on the opponent's 45.
With just the kicker on the 35, the return yard average will decrease, but the returns go significantly up.
What is the Landing Zone?
The Landing Zone is the area between the receiving team's goal line and its 20-yard line. Any kick short of the Landing Zone will result in the receiving team having the ball placed at their own 40-yard line.
Any kick in the Landing Zone must be returned. Any kick that hits in the landing zone and then goes into the end zone, must be returned or downed by the receiving team. If the play is down, touchback to the 20-yard line.
The touchback rule
If a kick hits in the end zone and stays inbounds, it can be either returned or downed. If downed then touchback to the 30-yard line. Any kick that goes out of the back of the end zone (in the air or bounces), results in a touchback to the 30-yard line.
"This is one year only," said Atlanta Falcons CEO and Competition Committee Chairman Rich McKay. "We'll be able to tweak it so maybe the touchback returns to the 35. This will definitely reduce the return number, so something we thought could be as high as 85-90% will be around 50-60%. That's okay with us.
"The extra five yards, if you kick the touchback, is good for offense. That's the starting point. If it works the way we think it will, could it go to 35? Sure."
Just like under the previous rules, I'm gonna want the Chiefs to have as few returns as possible prior to Mahomes getting the ball. Almost nothing good can come of it. [Reply]
