An NFL oops? Dallas had better be ready

[Reality]

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.

They should have consulted with kickers to see what they would do if that rule were put in place. Most would tell you they would kick it high and target the 5-10 yard line which would increase chances of hard hits and fumbles.

 

[StarBoyz83]

They're back for this year.

I don't think teams will care about 5 yards. I expect most kickoffs to sail into the end zone as normal.

 

[KJJ]

Moving touchbacks up to the 25 yard line does give the receiving team more incentive to down a kick in the end zone rather than return it. The league and the coaches want to reduce injuries so I still think you're going to see a lot of teams kick deep to avoid returns.

If you can avoid a return you can avoid a serious injury and a long kickoff return. Naturally some teams will attempt shorter kickoffs to try and pin the opponent deep but you'll still see a lot of teams kick the ball out of the end zone.

 

[DeaconMoss]

I hope bailey kicks every one into the end zone. I don't want a team to return kicks. One more chance to score.

 

[KJJ]

The league is trying to get away from kickoff returns but they can't eliminate them because the onside kick is an important part of the game.

 

[KJJ]

I hope bailey kicks every one into the end zone. I don't want a team to return kicks. One more chance to score.

Anytime you allow an opponent to return a kickoff you're giving them an opportunity to make a big play and score. It's not that easy to keep a returner from reaching at least the 20 yard line. It's not worth the risk of injury or a big play to try and pin an opponent deep on a kickoff. All it takes is one decent offensive play and they're past the 25 yard line anyway.

 

[KJJ]

One player you don't want to lose on a kickoff return is your kicker especially when you're talking about the Cowboys and Bailey. No need to give an opponent an opportunity to take him out. He's one of the players on the team we can't afford to lose.

 

[HoosierCowboy]

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 figure out how to tap into the headsets to know what the other team is doing

 

[DandyDon52]

I hope bailey kicks every one into the end zone. I don't want a team to return kicks. One more chance to score.

He kicked it into the endzone and harris returned it 100+ for a td anyway !!!

 

[DandyDon52]

NE will figure out how to tap into the headsets to know what the other team is doing

NE is always thinking, lol they will figure something out, that is why I say look at what they do.

 

[conner01]

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.

Letting in go into the end zone is dangerous considering it's a live ball. Some kickers will land it with hang time around the goal line but most are not changing I don't think. Trying to get too cute can cost you

 

[conner01]

NE is always thinking, lol they will figure something out, that is why I say look at what they do.

I hear they are going to let some air out so ball falls at the one yard line. May just be a rumor though

 

[Richmond Cowboy]

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.

If they must do away with kickoffs at least it would be nice if they kept the opening kickoff of each half but eliminate the post-scoring kickoff. That would maintain the excitement of the game starting (and the second half) while still somewhat reducing injuries in between.

 

[Zekeats]

If they want to fix the kickoff problem stop giving the kicking team 5-10 yards running head start. Have them start right on the 30 where the ball is lined up.

 

[DallasCowboys2080]

So what I got from this thread is that the NFL is changing a rule designed to help protect players but is hiding it in marketing the game for maximum profit. But no worries because the super Patriots will figure out a loop hole in the system and exploit it so they can keep winning and we need to look to them for answers in the art of deception?

 

[viman96]

I do not see this as a big deal. Every team has to deal with it.

 

[jazzcat22]

Brad & Mickey asked this of ST's coach Bisaccia [SP?] on Inside Cowboys Camp a few nights ago.
He said it depends on the game situation as to how they will handle when kicking off. As to where they will try to kick it.

IMO most teams may kick it to around the goal line to a few yards deep. This will make the returner to make more of an at the moment decision, hoping to get them to make a bad decision. Place the ball where they have to catch it, then take a knee or try the return. Most will try the return, but if they get to the 20, it is still the same results as before the rule change. It will be interesting to see how this effects games, if it effects games.

 

[cheftjpeck]

The league is trying to get away from kickoff returns but they can't eliminate them because the onside kick is an important part of the game.

Oh I heard they were going to switch the onside kick to a spirited match of Rock , paper , scissors at the 50 yard line .. Best 2 out of 3

 

[DandyDon52]

Brad & Mickey asked this of ST's coach Bisaccia [SP?] on Inside Cowboys Camp a few nights ago.
He said it depends on the game situation as to how they will handle when kicking off. As to where they will try to kick it.

IMO most teams may kick it to around the goal line to a few yards deep. This will make the returner to make more of an at the moment decision, hoping to get them to make a bad decision. Place the ball where they have to catch it, then take a knee or try the return. Most will try the return, but if they get to the 20, it is still the same results as before the rule change. It will be interesting to see how this effects games, if it effects games.

in the PS games so far that I saw, players are still running the ball out from 5 yards deep.
The ones I noticed did not get to the 25.

I think I would have my players take a knee, unless the ball was on goal line, or short of it.
Or if I felt a team had a ST we could get good returns on then I would run some out.

Last year we lost dunbar, on a ko, and I think he was about 5 yards deep, and was hit at the 10, so not too smart .
Wound up losing a player we needed for other things, and had the ball inside the 10 or it was a fumble, cant remember.
Dunbar has always been a little fragile, so to have him on KO returns was just dumb imho.
you should use a player that isnt a regular or important on offense to return kicks. That way if they get hurt,
it doesnt affect your offense.

This year I would use darius jackson as kick and punt returner. he is big and used to running with the ball.

 

[RJ_MacReady]

We've got Jeff Heath. R.E.L.A.X.