1) best strategy is going to be either run straight ahead as fast as possible once getting the ball or running one way with either a lateral back the other way or a hard cut to swing around the group like in rugby.
2) really can’t help but wonder if the kicker returner build might change from a straight speed guy to a big guy. Bigger guys are harder to tackle and can you imagine trying to tackle like Dan Skipper running at full speed as you as a defender are essentially flat footed engaged with a blocker? Skip probably doesn’t take one to the house but I’d wonder if the average field position wouldn’t be 35 or greater.
I don't know if Jake Bates was trying to do a squib kickoff in the game against the Giants. However, if he had gotten about two more yards on his kick, it would have made it to the landing zone. Before the penalty, the Lions have the Giants down inside the 10 yard line. I think we'll see some more kicks like that as the season progresses.
I do have to confess that before this change, I always had time to make a bathroom pit stop and maybe make a sandwich, get a drink, or take my dogs outside after every score. You had commercials after the score, commercials after the extra point, and commercials after the kickoff. You could get a good six or seven minutes there to do stuff and probably not miss anything important. But now, there's a chance that you might miss something on the kickoff. First world problems...
My gut says, due to the impact on onsides kicks, this will make the end of some games less climatic as it will limit hope of a comeback. Hopefully I'm wrong.
This is gonna lead to a philosophy shift amongst some coaches. The kicker is gonna be involved in many more plays in this design than in previous years with the potential for a kicker to get dinged up making a tackle. Baltimore gonna take that chance?
Starting to see a lot of online chatter about potential updates to the rules as ST coordinators are finding potential issues. The biggest one I see is too many long returns where the receiving team starts past the 30. The kicking team will just start blasting it into the end zone for the touchback at the 30.
A lesser concern is the opposite. What if the return teams are only getting short returns? Will they start trying to let the ball bounce into the end zone and take it at the 20 to reduce the chances of a short return or fumble?
If return teams are only having short returns, their blocking is bad and they deserve it. It's designed to be a favorable play for the returning team, in my opinion. The league wants better starting field position and more points. They said that at the owners meetings. It was not simply implied. I'd be more worried about teams accepting the touchback at the 30. XFL touchback was 35, and the NFL adjusted late in the rule change voting process. Could see that change next offseason, if this formation is adopted full-time.
This article was a great way to explain this new rule change. This is going to be a wildly different play.
I hope the rule change meets its intended reason to increase kickoffs/action and reduce injuries. Will be fun to see how the kickoffs change from the beginning of the season to the end of the season.
Do you have an idea of who will be our returners and gunners? I realize gunner is changing body type and makeup, but, I'm not sure who on the Lions were fitting in.
It will probably rotate. If I were to guess on regular season returners today it would be Raymond and Vaki, unless Alexander earns a roster spot. As for gunners, lot of guys still in the mix. Dorsey at the top of the list if he maintains his roster spot.
I still think two things on this rule:
1) best strategy is going to be either run straight ahead as fast as possible once getting the ball or running one way with either a lateral back the other way or a hard cut to swing around the group like in rugby.
2) really can’t help but wonder if the kicker returner build might change from a straight speed guy to a big guy. Bigger guys are harder to tackle and can you imagine trying to tackle like Dan Skipper running at full speed as you as a defender are essentially flat footed engaged with a blocker? Skip probably doesn’t take one to the house but I’d wonder if the average field position wouldn’t be 35 or greater.
I don't know if Jake Bates was trying to do a squib kickoff in the game against the Giants. However, if he had gotten about two more yards on his kick, it would have made it to the landing zone. Before the penalty, the Lions have the Giants down inside the 10 yard line. I think we'll see some more kicks like that as the season progresses.
I do have to confess that before this change, I always had time to make a bathroom pit stop and maybe make a sandwich, get a drink, or take my dogs outside after every score. You had commercials after the score, commercials after the extra point, and commercials after the kickoff. You could get a good six or seven minutes there to do stuff and probably not miss anything important. But now, there's a chance that you might miss something on the kickoff. First world problems...
I have been wondering about these new rules. Thanks for this article
My gut says, due to the impact on onsides kicks, this will make the end of some games less climatic as it will limit hope of a comeback. Hopefully I'm wrong.
This is gonna lead to a philosophy shift amongst some coaches. The kicker is gonna be involved in many more plays in this design than in previous years with the potential for a kicker to get dinged up making a tackle. Baltimore gonna take that chance?
I love this new method! Adds a new element of excitement!
Starting to see a lot of online chatter about potential updates to the rules as ST coordinators are finding potential issues. The biggest one I see is too many long returns where the receiving team starts past the 30. The kicking team will just start blasting it into the end zone for the touchback at the 30.
A lesser concern is the opposite. What if the return teams are only getting short returns? Will they start trying to let the ball bounce into the end zone and take it at the 20 to reduce the chances of a short return or fumble?
If return teams are only having short returns, their blocking is bad and they deserve it. It's designed to be a favorable play for the returning team, in my opinion. The league wants better starting field position and more points. They said that at the owners meetings. It was not simply implied. I'd be more worried about teams accepting the touchback at the 30. XFL touchback was 35, and the NFL adjusted late in the rule change voting process. Could see that change next offseason, if this formation is adopted full-time.
Welp, the last viable onside kick in the NFL proved to be the one the lions could not convert in the NFC championship game.
This article was a great way to explain this new rule change. This is going to be a wildly different play.
I hope the rule change meets its intended reason to increase kickoffs/action and reduce injuries. Will be fun to see how the kickoffs change from the beginning of the season to the end of the season.
Thanks Justin. Best explanation so far. Now I have a better understanding of the kick offs.
Absolutely needed this, Justin! Last week's Hall of Fame game looked like the players thought they were at a dance-off instead of a football game.
Do you have an idea of who will be our returners and gunners? I realize gunner is changing body type and makeup, but, I'm not sure who on the Lions were fitting in.
It will probably rotate. If I were to guess on regular season returners today it would be Raymond and Vaki, unless Alexander earns a roster spot. As for gunners, lot of guys still in the mix. Dorsey at the top of the list if he maintains his roster spot.
Hope Drosey stays, but I really like Vakis abilities. Watching his college tape was eye openening.
When you go on Macaffe later, shout out Foxy and I'm sure he's gonna wanna talk about Bates and the new rules.
You called it on Bates.