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https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/398 ... ckoff-play

Boy, this is a huge change. My initial response is favorable as it should ensure more action on kickoffs as opposed to routine fair catches.

Turns it into more of a line of scrimmage scrum where the KR is more like a running back. Like you said, keeps the kick return action going.

I miss exciting kickoffs.

They have to make these changes. Today's players are so massive by comparison to players back in the day and can hit top speeds of almost a wide receiver or running back. Remember Georgia
DT Jordan Davis a few combines back

6'6" 341 LBS and ran a 4.78 40 yard dash.

https://www.espn.co.uk/nfl/story/_/id/3 ... ng-combine

That much size and speed coming at you can paralyze someone no matter how much padding you have. We have already seen many players paralyzed and had career ending injuries on kick offs / returns, but it would be a matter of time if someone takes an impact from a player of such great size and gets killed on the field.

Return specialists will be more sought after than in the last number of years.
Maybe a spot for Dee Eskridge?

Eskridge hasn’t proved he’s much of a specialist at anything. Would love it if he emerged productive in some fashion though.

Punt returner and KO returner now the same guy.

c_hawkbob wrote:Punt returner and KO returner now the same guy.

It seems there are going to be a lot of similarities but don't the kickoff players have to remain still until the ball is caught?
It's going to be interesting to see how it all works out. I may even watch a pre-season game just to try to understand how it all works.

c_hawkbob wrote:Punt returner and KO returner now the same guy.

NorthHawk wrote:It seems there are going to be a lot of similarities but don't the kickoff players have to remain still until the ball is caught?
It's going to be interesting to see how it all works out. I may even watch a pre-season game just to try to understand how it all works.

No but it's still all going to be returning in tight quarters, no long straightaways to build up speed. Shifty will take precedent over top speed, just like punt returners.

It’s way different than I thought

What about coverage?

No one but the kicker and returner(s) can move until the ball is caught or hits the ground. That will create an admittedly awkward few seconds when 19 or 20 players are standing still while the ball is in the air.

"It looks a little bit strange," Rizzi said. "It's not the football that we all grew up watching."

Full article:

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/398 ... ule-change

Gonna be lots of flags at first.

I think any kickoff change that protects players is going to be unpopular with lots of fans, because the risk, high speed collisions, etc. that we like to see are the exact things that are dangerous.

If I make my peace with that, then this seems like the best option. It makes the kickoff an actual play again, which is actually my #1 concern. I'm so f***ing sick of touchbacks, so any return—even a less exciting one—is better than the crap we've had to deal with the past few years.

Oly wrote:I think any kickoff change that protects players is going to be unpopular with lots of fans, because the risk, high speed collisions, etc. that we like to see are the exact things that are dangerous.

If I make my peace with that, then this seems like the best option. It makes the kickoff an actual play again, which is actually my #1 concern. I'm so f***ing sick of touchbacks, so any return—even a less exciting one—is better than the crap we've had to deal with the past few years.

That's where I am. The high speed, violent collisions are more entertaining, but it's also people with a livelihood and long-term health to consider. Yes, they signed up to get paid to play a violent sport, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't try to curb that violence especially in regard to head injuries.

I'd rather see this than the near complete absence of kickoff returns; I like having the possibility of a game-changing field position or score.

There are reports that we are signing Leviska Shenault. He was a guy that I thought could be special in the right circumstances as a WR and kick returner. He was pretty good in College, so maybe with this new Offense and kickoff rules he
can provide a spark for the team. Eskridge now has some competition so he better step it up.