Kickoff modifications expected to help ‘deal with injury numbers’
The NFL didn’t listen when some teams recommended they do away with kickoffs. However, there’s a good chance the league will change several rules on kickoffs, potentially altering returns in a big way.
The league is recommending that kickoffs be moved from the 30- to the 35-yard line — as it was before 1994. Also, kicking team members must line up within five yards of the ball, which would be a big change considering they often lined up 10 or 15 yards behind the ball to get a running start.
| NFL notes |
| » The league also is proposing a modification to instant replay. The first is that every scoring play, including field goals when applicable, automatically would be confirmed by a replay official in the booth in the final two minutes of both halves. That then could lead to a review. The idea is to let coaches save their decisions on replays for other plays in the game. |
| » Along with the replay modification, the league is proposing that teams only receive two challenges a game rather than three. |
| » After fining players for illegal hits last season, the league will propose that repeat offenders — or flagrant violators — be suspended. A player’s two-year history of hits would be considered. “We are going to hold them aggressively accountable,” NFL vice president Ray Anderson said. “Some folks hold the view that suspension is the real messenger in terms of seriousness of enforcement.” |
Another change: no more wedge blocking — a tactic favored by Redskins special teams coach Danny Smith. Also, touchbacks would be placed at the 25-yard line instead of the 20.
NFL competition committee chairman Rich McKay, also the Atlanta Falcons president, said it was a matter of safety.
“The injury rate on kickoffs remains a concern,” he said. “This is a way to deal with the injury numbers. … I know coaches can be sometimes resistant to change. This is a change we think needs to happen.”
McKay said based on their review over the years, players on the kicking team were hurt more often. He also said some teams proposed eliminating kickoffs but added that wasn’t up for discussion at next week’s competition committee meetings.
At first glance, this move would seem to impact teams with excellent returners. Kickoffs were from the 35-yard line from 1974 to 1994 (and were at the 40-yard line before then).
When kickoffs were from the 35-yard line, the respective leader in both conferences averaged 27.5 yards a return 15 times. From 1995 to 2010, there were 21 players who averaged at least that amount.
This change also could result in more touchbacks, hurting a team with potentially explosive returners such as Washington’s Brandon Banks.
“Do I think there’s the potential for fewer returns? Yes,” McKay said. “Do we think it’s a huge magnitude change? No.”
