After many consecutive years of problems with kickoffs, including more injuries and a completely boring lack of returns, the NFL rules committee decided to add some spice to the kickoff again.
In an effort to make the excitement of kick returns a real possibility again, the new rules should make kickoffs both more fun if not mysterious as to how teams learn to both defend it and set up effective returns. With electric returner KeVontae Turpin the Cowboys may have a secret weapon that could come into play this year.
HERE ARE THE BASIC NEW RULES:
There are three new “zones”. 1. The kicking zone where KO team lines up. 2. Set up zone where receiving team blockers line up, and 3. Landing zone where up to two receivers can set up to receive the ball.
KICKING TEAM
- The ball is kicked by the kicker from the 35 yard line (same as current rule)
- All kicking team players other than the kicker will line up with one foot on the receiving team’s 40 yard line.
- Kicker cannot cross the 50-yard line until ball touches the ground or player in landing zone or end zone.
- The 10 kicking team players cannot move until the ball hits the ground or player in the landing zone or the end zone.
RECEIVING TEAM
- Setup Zone – a 5-yard area from the 35 yard line to the 30 yard line where at least 9 receiving team players must line up.
- At least 7 players with foot on the 35 yard line (restraining line) with alignment requirements (outside numbers, numbers to hashes, and inside hashes)
- All players in the setup zone cannot move until the kick has hit the ground or a player in the landing zone or the end zone.
- A maximum of 2 returners may line up in the landing zone and can move at any time prior to, or during, the kick.
- Landing zone is the area between the receiving team’s goal line and its 20-yard line. Any kick that hits short of the landing zone – treated like kickoff out of bounds and ball spotted at 40 yard line; play would be blown dead as soon as kick lands short of the landing zone
- Any kick that hits in the landing zone - must be returned.
- Any kick that hits in the landing zone and then goes into the end zone – must be returned or downed by receiving team – if downed then touchback to 20 yard line
- Kick hits in end zone, stays inbounds - returned or downed – if downed then touchback to 30 yard line.
- Any kick that goes out of the back of the end zone (in the air or bounces) – touchback to 30 yard line
WHAT WILL THIS MEAN?
I recommend watching the videos contained within the link from the NFL.com article I used for this:
https://operations.nfl.com/the-rules/rules-changes/new-dynamic-kickoff-rule-explainer/
This should make what has been a boring part of the game come alive again. Should be fun!
