In quite possibly a massive overreaction thread, I've started to wonder...
Have coaches changed their philosophy on how they treat the "rules" for their return men from the standard rules we've come to know for so long?
For as long as I ever knew football, among other things, the depth of a kickoff would predominantly determine whether or not a returner would bring the ball out. If it was deep in the endzone... it was a "poor decision" if the returner ever brought it out. However, I'm watching lots of returners this weekend bring out kicks that previously would be unthinkable. But I haven't noticed any getting chewed out on the sideline, or replaced when they continue to do it time after time.
Obviously, the NFL has tried to reduce kickoffs by pushing the kicker up to get the ball deeper into the endzone, making that 20 yard line starting point more appealing compared to a more likely starting point of the 15 yard line when bringing it out from that deep.
But what I'm wondering is... have teams weighed the 5 yard or so difference to the possibility of a big play... and instead of taking the touchbacks and free 20 yard starting point, scrapped the old rules of not bringing the ball out when kicked deep and giving their return men a green light?
Am I the only one noticing this?
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maynard likes this.
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Its either try for the big play or accept it at the 20 every time. I can gladly say that Sturgis might lead the league in touchbacks this year.
At a certain point though, why does the play exist anymore? -
PhinFan1968 To 2020, and BEYOND! Club Member
No I've noticed the exact same thing and wondered the exact same. Sturgis kicked a few that should have never EVER been brought out...I even commented on it during the game in the game thread. More devolution of the classic game. -
Well... that is the next level in the whole thing that I've been thinking...
If the league did this hoping to reduce the number of kick returns... and teams respond by not actually reducing the number or returns... then does the league respond by removing the whole play together? -
i think it's accomplished it's goal. More times then not your seeing touchbacks. And a lot of the returns don't make it back to the 20 anyway, so returners rarely take it out on avg. Basically they have to see something that makes them think they can break one or else they probably don't go for it.
Or they're Thigpen and just go anyway. -
Well, ya that's how its always been.
But IMO... this weekend I've seen something different (and again, it could be just a massive overreaction). Its appeared that these returners are being instructed to bring it out... even if it does lower the return average by what I would guess would be 5 yards or so. -
From an offensive perspective, 80 yards is a long way to go. Especially if you have to do it every time. And keeping with that thinking, what's the difference between having to go 85? I'd instruct my guy to go for it. So you're probably right.
Especially if you're going against a great defense. If you take the touchback, go 3 and out, you're losing the field position battle right away. And you'll keep losing it. -
PhinFan1968 To 2020, and BEYOND! Club Member
I suppose...I just keep getting that "look at this dumba**" feeling every time somebody runs one out from 9 yards deep and gets to the 13. -
Ya, it makes sense to say screw it and return it anyways.
I'm interested to see how it plays out over the course of the season. If that's the stance teams decide to take this season, we may see another change to the kickoff, if not the removal of it entirely, quite soon...
At least the rule has flipped the script. Typically it used to be advantageous to bring it out unless it was 9 yards deep b/c you could probably get out to at leas the 22. At least now you have to pay a little (a 5 yard or so loss starting point) to roll the dice on a return. -
I could see a Tom Brady led team maintain possession for an entire half if this were to happenmnfinfan likes this.
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I'm now ready to eliminate kick offs. I think it's a good idea.
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You dread watching Thigpen try to catch kickoffs/punts too? :lol:
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I don't see it changing - they've more or less eliminated kickoffs for "safety" but still get to have commercial breaks just before and after the kickoff. If you get rid of them altogether, they lose 2 minutes of advertising time on every single kickoff.
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You might see more returns pf deep kick-offs during the 1st few weeks of the season as teams try to take advantage of inexperience special team players and poor tackling due to limited hitting during camp.
I've changed my mind and now support eliminating kick-offs. Primary reason is that games are lasting too long and transition from a score until the other offense takes a snap is the most tedious. My guess is that NFL realizes this and will make a rule change so the cameras can maximize their time on the each team's star QB. -
I thought it was strange too this weekend seeing how many returns were brought out from deep in the endzone that normally would have been touchbacks. Cleveland did it themselves quite a bit I thought too.
I don't think we should eliminate them all together though.