Lorenzo Alexander doesn’t like it. Graham Gano does – to a point. Both will be impacted by the NFL’s decision to move the kickoff line up to the 35-yard line.
Touchbacks will still leave the ball at the 20-yard line, but there’s no doubt the game will be impacted by moving the kickoffs up five yards.
“It’ll be really good,” Gano said. “It’ll be easier to hit touchbacks. But we were one of the top kickoff coverage teams in the league last year and we had some of the best defensive field position. I can still hang it up in the air and get it a couple yards in the end zone and that still gives us a chance to pin opponents deep.
“But it will be easier to hit touchbacks, which is good especially if you’re playing a team that has Devin Hester.”
Or Brandon Banks, not that he’s as dangerous as Hester. Least not yet.
However, Alexander is not a fan of the move. He is happy that the two-man wedge remains legal. It’s a tactic the Redskins love to use and it also keeps the bigger players in that role. Had they eliminated this strategy, then Alexander said fullbacks and linebackers likely would have lined up in those areas – with speed, not size and strength, at a premium to execute different blocks.
”It was a hard blow from a four-man to a two-man wedge because we were dominating at what we did,” Alexander said. “We had guys back there who loved to blow guys up.”
But kicking off from the 35 will impact what some players do best – if, that is, special teams coach Danny Smith only wants Gano to kick into the end zone, which is unlikely.
“We have a great cover team,” Alexander said. “I love covering kickoffs. It will take opportunities away from us to get tackles inside the 20. It hurts guys from being seen for what they do on special teams and for getting paid for being special teamers.
“And you’re taking guys like Josh Cribbs, Percy Harvin and even Brandon, you’re taking opportunities away from them making big plays and finding their niche in the game. You X out some of the stuff they do from the game; it’s an excitement factor…. I have more opinions on this, but I better keep it to myself.”
