2010 vs. 2011 Toucbacks

[Hoofbite]

When they announced the rule change I wasn't sure how big of an impact it would have. Most kickers didn't even average enough distance to make it to the endzone from the 35 yard line last year.

Depending on how you want to look at it, the number of kickers who could kick TBs based on last years numbers is pretty varied. If we call a 1-yard deep kick (from the current spot) a chance at a TB, only 8-9 kickers averaged that much (66 yards).

I didn't think TBs would increase all that dramatically because I really thought teams would go for more hangtime and try to pin the opponent deep. Hasn't happened, teams are just booming the ball.

• 2010: 6 Kickers had 20+ TBs.

• 2011: 14 Kickers have 5+ TBs. 3 Kickers 10+.

Janikowski is credited with having a TD for every kickoff. So is Matt Prater.

16 Kickers are above 50% right now. Only Billy Cundiff did that last year, in fact he's the only kicker above 40% for last year.

Clearly, TBs have gone up. But by how much have they gone up?

This much.

At least through 2 weeks.

• 2010: 59 TBs. In all of 2010 there were 409 TBs.

• 2011: 160 TBs, not counting tonights game.

Through 2 weeks,

• 2010: 7 games without a TB. Max # in a game = 6 (Week 1 = 3, Week 2 = 6)

• 2011: 0 games without a TB. Max # in a game = 10 (Both weeks).

I can't guarantee everyone has been accounted for. I copy-pasted some of it and for the weekly totals I went game-by-game.

Some of this is obviously because teams seem to be scoring at a crazy rate right now. Every game seems to be a barn burner. But even if we cut out half of the kicks, we're still talking an pretty big increase.

As it is, 250%+ increase in TBs. And I've seen a handful of kicks brought out from WAY FURTHER back in the endzone than they should have been. This increase probably won't hold steady for very long. Weather and a drop off in crazy scoring will bring it back down a little bit but for the time being, this is unreal.

I can't help but imagine how many big return plays have been cut out of the equation in just these two weeks alone.

 

[theogt]

I figured this would happen, and thought it'd be upsetting. But I just don't seem to care that it's happening for some reason.

 

[Temo]

Cutting down the number of kick offs returned was the reason they made the change in the first place, so far it's working.

 

[Hoofbite]

Cutting down the number of kick offs returned was the reason they made the change in the first place, so far it's working.

Cutting down on injuries from KR is why they did it.

That is something that remains to be seen, and quite frankly, something I don't think anyone even has a baseline for.

 

[Temo]

Cutting down on injuries from KR is why they did it.

By cutting down the number of returns.

There's a ton of studies showing that while the rate of injury on special teams is the same as other plays, the serious injury rate is markedly higher.

 

[rkell87]

one facet people arent looking at though is how easy a big return can be if you get loose. the coverage is starting 5 yards closer so they will be five yards further up field and if the kicker has a big leg and can get more hang time the coverage will be even further up field. I think coaches have realized this and guys with return ability are being told to bring it out anyway because if they can get past the 20 with a step on coverage they will probably be off to the races. something to keep an eye on.