An NFL oops? Dallas had better be ready

[erod]

Hold on tight because it's going to be a bumpy one-year ride.

The NFL made an inexplicable boo-boo. For some unknown reason, touchbacks have been brought to the 25-yard line this season. Not sure why. It completely undermines the league's recent intent to eliminate kickoff returns for supposed safety concerns, which they all but did successfully by moving kickoffs up to the 35-yard line.

I doubt we see many touchbacks this season. Now, teams are going to lollipop balls down inside the 5-yard line to try to tackle guys deep. Makes more sense than just giving up the ball at the 25, which is a pretty decent return.

The Cowboys had better be ready. Teams with good kickoff returners will benefit greatly, so Dallas needs to find a good one in a hurry. On the contrary, the Cowboys had better be good at covering kicks if they, too, want to take advantage of the rule.

Enjoy it in 2016, because I don't think there's any way it will stick. Actually, this might just be a precursor to doing away with kickoffs next season altogether and just spotting the ball at the 25. Vomit.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Actually, this might just be a precursor to doing away with kickoffs next season altogether and just spotting the ball at the 25.

http://img.***BLOCKED***/albums/v628/cowboyszone/thread_stuff/aunt_esther.jpg

 

[Denim Chicken]

I hate that they keep changing rules like this.

 

[superonyx]

Devin Hester was just released.....hmmm
He is old and may be done but I would take a chance that Hester returning kicks would be better than Street not getting open.

 

[CCBoy]

They want excitement...move all field goals and extra points out 55 yards...if they are going away from football.

 

[erod]

Devin Hester was just released.....hmmm
He is old and may be done but I would take a chance that Hester returning kicks would be better than Street not getting open.

It's not going to be Street. Lucky, Jackson, Andy Jones?

Street is done here.

 

[Toro9]

Hold on tight because it's going to be a bumpy one-year ride.

The NFL made an inexplicable boo-boo. For some unknown reason, touchbacks have been brought to the 25-yard line this season. Not sure why. It completely undermines the league's recent intent to eliminate kickoff returns for supposed safety concerns, which they all but did successfully by moving kickoffs up to the 35-yard line.

I doubt we see many touchbacks this season. Now, teams are going to lollipop balls down inside the 5-yard line to try to tackle guys deep. Makes more sense than just giving up the ball at the 25, which is a pretty decent return.

The Cowboys had better be ready. Teams with good kickoff returners will benefit greatly, so Dallas needs to find a good one in a hurry. On the contrary, the Cowboys had better be good at covering kicks if they, too, want to take advantage of the rule.

Enjoy it in 2016, because I don't think there's any way it will stick. Actually, this might just be a precursor to doing away with kickoffs next season altogether and just spotting the ball at the 25. Vomit.

Yep, Broaddus was talking about this. But by attempting this, you are running the risk of the ball going out-of-bounds and the ball being placed at the 40. I'm sure the NFL considered this as a possibly and I wonder if they didn't see it as being a negative. Less field to travel means more points scored and casual fans love a high-scoring game. It's always about marketing and when you can disguise marketing with a concern for player safety that's a big win.

But now I'm talking conspiracy and for that I apologize.

 

[AbeBeta]

Hold on tight because it's going to be a bumpy one-year ride.

The NFL made an inexplicable boo-boo. For some unknown reason, touchbacks have been brought to the 25-yard line this season. Not sure why. It completely undermines the league's recent intent to eliminate kickoff returns for supposed safety concerns, which they all but did successfully by moving kickoffs up to the 35-yard line.

I doubt we see many touchbacks this season. Now, teams are going to lollipop balls down inside the 5-yard line to try to tackle guys deep. Makes more sense than just giving up the ball at the 25, which is a pretty decent return.

The Cowboys had better be ready. Teams with good kickoff returners will benefit greatly, so Dallas needs to find a good one in a hurry. On the contrary, the Cowboys had better be good at covering kicks if they, too, want to take advantage of the rule.

Enjoy it in 2016, because I don't think there's any way it will stick. Actually, this might just be a precursor to doing away with kickoffs next season altogether and just spotting the ball at the 25. Vomit.

5 yards isn't changing approaches. Teams didn't lollipop at 20 but 25 is some magical number that makes them change?

More likely, teams realize that a nearly automatic spot at the 25 is a great long-term benefit as they won't need to worry about KO injuries

 

[DogFace]

5 yards isn't changing approaches. Teams didn't lollipop at 20 but 25 is some magical number that makes them change?

More likely, teams realize that a nearly automatic spot at the 25 is a great long-term benefit as they won't need to worry about KO injuries

It may be a magical number. Many numbers or amounts have a breaking point and many teams may not want to let teams start at the 25.

If it was started from the 1-22 or 23 yard line they may just kick it off. You can't keep giving forever saying it's only this much more and so on.

 

[TheCount]

Hold on tight because it's going to be a bumpy one-year ride.

The NFL made an inexplicable boo-boo. For some unknown reason, touchbacks have been brought to the 25-yard line this season. Not sure why. It completely undermines the league's recent intent to eliminate kickoff returns for supposed safety concerns, which they all but did successfully by moving kickoffs up to the 35-yard line.

I doubt we see many touchbacks this season. Now, teams are going to lollipop balls down inside the 5-yard line to try to tackle guys deep. Makes more sense than just giving up the ball at the 25, which is a pretty decent return.

The Cowboys had better be ready. Teams with good kickoff returners will benefit greatly, so Dallas needs to find a good one in a hurry. On the contrary, the Cowboys had better be good at covering kicks if they, too, want to take advantage of the rule.

Enjoy it in 2016, because I don't think there's any way it will stick. Actually, this might just be a precursor to doing away with kickoffs next season altogether and just spotting the ball at the 25. Vomit.

I read this rule completely differently.

The point of the rule is to encourage teams to take a knee or let a ball that's coming down just shy of the endzone go into the endzone for a touchback.

If teams could "lollipop balls down inside the 5" with any sort of regularity, they'd already be doing it.

 

[Toro9]

5 yards isn't changing approaches. Teams didn't lollipop at 20 but 25 is some magical number that makes them change?

More likely, teams realize that a nearly automatic spot at the 25 is a great long-term benefit as they won't need to worry about KO injuries

This rationale does make sense but coaches are greedy.

It may be a magical number. Many numbers or amounts have a breaking point and many teams may not want to let teams start at the 25.

If it was started from the 1-22 or 23 yard line they may just kick it off. You can't keep giving forever saying it's only this much more and so on.

Indeed. Even after moving the KO spot to the 40 there were possessions that started from inside the 20 when returners and ST coaches would return the kickoff despite the coverage team swarming down earlier. This tells you that yardage is precious and teams will take risks to get any edge they can.

 

[erod]

5 yards isn't changing approaches. Teams didn't lollipop at 20 but 25 is some magical number that makes them change?

More likely, teams realize that a nearly automatic spot at the 25 is a great long-term benefit as they won't need to worry about KO injuries

That five yards means EVERYTHING.

When you start on the 20 and take a sack, you're pinned back near your 10. And you often end up punting out of your end zone.

From the 25, you have a lot more breathing room.

 

[DandyDon52]

the team to look at is NE, they will analyze it and determine what is best to do on O and D of kicks.

I think on O they will take the touchbacks, to be at 25, not sure on D of a kick though.

 

[StarBoyz83]

Didn't know about this. Kickoffs and punts will for sure be gone soon. Well kickoffs are pretty much gone already.

 

[Seven]

http://img.***BLOCKED***/albums/v628/cowboyszone/thread_stuff/aunt_esther.jpg

"You fish-eyed fool."

 

[Denim Chicken]

the team to look at is NE, they will analyze it and determine what is best to do on O and D of kicks.

I think on O they will take the touchbacks, to be at 25, not sure on D of a kick though.

NE will probably try to repaint the hashmarks or something.

 

[CATCH17]

I hate that they keep changing rules like this.

Yep.. These guys know what they are getting into and I think they would rather have their million dollar contracts then see their position go extinct.

 

[aikemirv]

2 effects of this.

Returners are more likely to down it in the endzone.

Good coverage teams are likely to kick short and play coverage.

It may all even out......

 

[erod]

Didn't know about this. Kickoffs and punts will for sure be gone soon. Well kickoffs are pretty much gone already.

They're back for this year.

 

[erod]

Yep.. These guys know what they are getting into and I think they would rather have their million dollar contracts then see their position go extinct.

Special team guys would disagree.