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| I watched, charted, and broke down 400+ XFL kickoffs to see what the NFL's new kickoff rule will look like. Here's what I learned. |
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| Basics *The new kickoff will require the kicking team to have 10 players lined up with their lead foot on the receiving team’s 40-yard line (the restraining line). *The receiving team’s setup zone will have at least nine players and will require seven of those players to have their lead foot on their own 35-yard line with alignment requirements based on the field’s landmarks (i.e., numbers and hashes). *Two of the nine players in the return team’s setup zone can be off the 35-yard line within a five-yard range but must remain outside the hashmarks. *The kickoff team and all return team players in the setup zone cannot move until the ball is either caught or hits the ground. The returner or returners may move around freely before the ball is live. *The kicker cannot cross the 50-yard line until the ball hits the ground or a returner. *If a kick falls into the landing zone, the ball must be returned; there are no fair catches. *A kick that lands short of the landing zone or is kicked out of bounds before the goal line will be placed on the receiving team’s 40-yard line. *A kick that hits the landing zone and then goes into the end zone must be returned or downed by the receiving team. If the ball is downed, it will be placed on the receiving team’s 20-yard line. *A ball kicked through the back of the end zone, or one that bounces in the landing zone and through the back of the end zone will be placed on the receiving team’s 30-yard line. *Onside kicks are only allowed in the 4th quarter as declared by the trailing team. |
Agree. Why would you F around and risk a huge play (in most cases after a score so huge momentum shift)? ... it's just 5 extra yards.
Interesting at the least. Does D. Hestor have any kids playing? Ouch!
The 15 Best Kick and Punt Returners in NFL History - ( New Window )
Some, but how many kickers can consistently put it out of the back of the end zone? I’d guess league wide, only 70 or so % of kickoffs resulted in a TB, with the majority of those being fielded but not returned.
Since the new rules freeze coversge at the 40 until the ball is touched, I think we’ll see a lot more returns.
A liner that hits outside the numbers makes the returner run laterally to field the ball, with all his momentum going into the sideline. Good chance to pin the return well short of the 30. And if the ball bounces to the end zone and returner can’t bring it out, the ball is spotted at the 20.