Wow, my buddy! Did you hear about the crazy change that the NFL has made to their kickoff rule? It’s totally bananas! I bet you haven’t, so let me fill you in.
It turns out that the NFL is trying to make the game safer. And their new rule involves just about every aspect of the old kickoff. It’s no small change!
The most eye-catching change is that the kicking team’s players can’t get a running start from more than one yard behind the kick-off line, which means they can run but not build up speed by running. This rule also applies to the returner! And yeah, that includes the kicker too.
That’s not the only difference when it comes to a new NFL kickoff. There’s also a five-yard fringe area in which no one is allowed to make contact with, blocking or tackling. That includes all players from both the kicking and receiving teams. It’s a huge change from a traditional kickoff. Football is already an aggressive game, but now that aggression is even more limited.
On top of that, players on the returner’s team must line up at least eight yards apart from each other. That’s double the distance from the old NFL kickoff setup. And this is designed to keep them from bunching up to make returning the kick easier.
On top the all the new limitations, the kick-off team also can’t send more than five players past the 40-yard line, which was the official kickoff line. That means that some of the more creative strategies that teams might have used in kickoffs just got a whole lot harder.
So, the short of it is, the kicking team is at a major disadvantage and the return team has a much better chance of taking the ball in the opposite direction. That’s not to say it’s easy though. After all, the kick still has to be good enough to pin the returner and the receiving team back from the 25-yard line. Can the return team make it any further?
One thing’s for sure, it’s going to be super interesting to watch once the season starts. I’m sure a lot of teams are going to have to come up with some creative kickoff strategies if they want to make it down the field.
So my friends, what do you think? Will the new playoff rule be an upgrade to the NFL game? Do you think teams will be able to maximize the benefits of the new rule? Will it make for a more exciting game?
Going beyond the new rule, I think that the team’s new off-season strategies, coaching staff, and team construction can play a massive role in delivering the goods. Specifics like the plays they call, the players they have, and how well they can execute are going to be a big determinant in kicking off success. The new rule gives teams a blueprint but it’s up to them to put it to good use.
Speaking of which, one of the most important strategies that teams will need to think of is what play they’re going to use. The most basic play would be a squib, where the kicker shoots the ball straight down the middle, with low trajectory and a lot of spin. This play offers the kicking team the advantage of using their blocking and increase an opportunity to tackle the returner.
Alternatively, a pooch kick could also be the go-to play. This involves the kicker driving the ball closer to the side in a conjecture that the kick-off team can tackle the returner further away from the starting line. This is a more advanced play but it is a nationality-successful one.
At the same time though, the return team will play a critical role in making plays. Knowing where and how far to return the ball is going to be incredibly important, Avon the new eight-yard rule. They’ll need to have a good idea of how far they can make it and which routes they can use to get around the kick-off team.
Still, no matter what strategy or play a team may choose, the kicking team will always need to remember the rule of thumb – that all members must drop back to five yards from the kick-off line, wait for the ball to be kicked and then block and tackle without ever advancing to the five yard line.
That’s the tricky part right there. The kicking and receiving team will have to think hard so they can get the timing right – which is especially difficult since the timing clock is so short. That means staying in control and staying organized in the midst of chaos is key if a team wants to have success in kickoffs.
Overall, the new NFL kickoff rule is a major change, and it’s going to bring about plenty of adaptions and surprises. Sure, some people might think it’s making the game too soft. But in actuality, I think it’s making the game safer and even more exciting to watch.
Bring it on! Are you as hyped as I am for the new NFL kickoff rule?