subject: Proposed kickoff changes would lessen the excitement [print this page] Proposed kickoff changes would lessen the excitement
Members of the NFL's competition committee have been in Naples, Fla., for a week, and in talking with some of the members, it was clear that safety is still the driving force of most issues they want to address, including one they'll propose at next week's owners meetings in New Orleans: Moving the kickoff up to the 35-yard line and bringing a touchback out to the 25. where to buy cheap NFL Jerseys?ujersy is a good choice.
When I worked with the New York Jets' special teams in the early '90s, teams kicked off from the 35, but they also started on the 20 if there was a touchback. The new proposal, if adopted, will drive special teams coaches to a different decision in many cases.
If the proposal goes into effect, teams will be looking to kick off to the goal line with more height. The coverage units will want a return, and the expectation will be for the tackle to be made inside the 25.
Before 1994, when the NFL moved the kickoff back to the 30-yard line, we expected a return to be stopped before the 20. And now there is no reason to just kick deep for a touchback and surrender 25 yards. The optimum place to kick the ball will be the corner box on the kickoff team's side of the field. The landmark for the kicker should be between the numbers and the sideline. The reason teams will want to kick there is to pin the returner down and invite a sideline return to the opposite side of the field.
Most teams that call for a sideline return want to execute it to their side of the field, and a ball caught in the far zone has to be returned across the field, which will ensure the coverage team will be down the field. Most return teams call off the sideline return when the ball is caught in the opposite box and take it straight up the field, which means the fastest cover guys need to be on the same side the kick is headed. recommend directory: Javon Walker #84 DenverBroncosNFL Jersey.
It will be easy to kick off with the intention of a touchback, and any ball more than three yards deep in the end zone should be touched back and brought out to the 25. Special teams coaches used to be able to tease the returner to come out when the ball went three yards deep into the end zone, but with coverage people five yards closer and the potential end of even the two-man wedge, we'd see more speed players on the coverage unit. It would be be difficult to get a returner to come out of the end zone.
Kick returners are still going to be on teams. Usually it's the third running back. The idea that teams can neglect having a kick return specialist would assume that kickoffs are all landing in the end zone, which they are not. Back in 1993, when the kickoff was at the 35 yard line, not one of the top 20 returners had a 25-yard average. Clarence Verdin had the most returns (50), and he had a 21-yard average. Whenever a player can take a touchback he will, and that makes it imperative the kicker has a four-second hang time and puts the ball right before the goal line.
Last year there were 23 kickoff returns for touchdowns. Back in 1993, when kickoffs went from the 35-yard line, there were four. And in 1992 there were six. Things will be less exciting, but safety on the field should improve. recommend directory: Calvin Johnson #81 Detroit Lions light blue NFL Jersey.
