RustyBourneHorse
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After a couple of weeks, I kinda like the new kickoff rule. I wasn't a fan of it in the preseason, but it's growing on me I suppose. Plus, I'd prefer this to no kickoffs, especially having played kicker and enjoying kicking off. However, I also understand that some may want more returns. So, let's take a look at an interesting rule in the CFL in Canada. I will then expound on it, and, between that and another idea I had as a safety net, can help increase returns.
Rouge or a single rule
Okay, so here's the rule. If a kick of any kind except for a converted field goal or an extra point made or missed (so, a kickoff, missed field goal, or a punt) that goes into the end zone and is not returned awards the kicking team one point (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single_(football). There is an exception, but this, along with the rule itself, will be expounded upon in the below explanation. So, it is possible for a CFL game to end 1-0, which happened in 1966 per the link in a game between the Montreal Allouettes and the Ottawa Rough Riders.
Expounded explanation
So, let's say in Canada, a team kicks off, and the ball goes into the end zone. If the returner chooses not to return the kick or if it bounces anywhere but the touch line behind the end zone and bounces through the end zone, the kicking team receives one point. However, if a team kicks the ball through the endzone or if it goes out of the sideline part of the endzone without bouncing, then it's treated like a touchback for the NFL. It is highly unlikely for the ball to go from the kickoff spot to the behind touchline spot to take place in CFL because the fields are larger and wider than the NFL. However, it is more likely that the ball would go out of the sideline part of the endzone. So, below, let's see how this rule could be applied to the NFL. Bear in mind, points are a premium in the NFL, especially with how badly most QBs have been playing around the NFL.
How I think the rule can be applied in the NFL
First of all, I think the rule should only apply to kickoffs. I am not suggesting they do this with punts or missed field goals. The CFL field is larger than an NFL field. Your midfield in the CFL is the 55. The endzone is longer and wider than the NFL. So, this is partly why the punts are included in the CFL rule. In the CFL, you should be able to return the kick given the length and width of a CFL field. I wouldn't expect a returner to always return every punt into the endzone, especially with how fast players are. But, I think the rule can be useful for kickoffs in the NFL.
As for kickoffs, here's what I think the rule should be.
So, here's what I'm thinking. If a kickoff goes through the endzone without touching the ground, then the ball goes to the 33 yard line. I say this because the 30 is only a 5 yard difference from the 25 spot from last year, and the 35 (which the Pat McAfee Show has suggested) is only 5 yards less from the consequence of kicking the ball out of bounds (40). So, with McAfee's suggestion, you may as well kick it out of bounds instead of for a touchback. So, I'm splitting the difference basically down the middle at the 33 yard line (obviously, barring a penalty).
If, however, the ball is playable, like the kickoff that Brandon Aubrey had that landed in the field of play against New Orleans and bounced into the end zone without a return or if the ball is caught in the endzone and is not returned (unless inside 2 minutes), then the kicking team receives one point and the ball is placed at the 30. I say unless 2 minutes because the clock does not start until the returner begins to return the ball. However, in this situation, the ball would go to the 33 yard line (barring a penalty , obviously) so this actually creates an interesting scenario (especially since the league basically neutered the onside kick, but I think a 4th and 18 is a good option for a coach to choose instead of an onside kick, or just allow the ball to travel 10 yards beyond the kickoff line and it becomes a live ball). Also, as with the days prior to 2017, I think the ball in the endzone should be live unless downed by the returner or out of the touchline or sidelines. So, the kicking team can score a touchdown of the returner lets it sit in the endzone.
So, let me give you some examples of how these ideas would work.
Ball through endzone without bouncing
In this scenario, Brandon Aubrey kicks off to an opponent (for the sake of the explanation, let's call that team then Saints). It's the start of the game, and, as expected, Aubrey kicks it out the endzone without the ball bouncing. So, because the ball never bounced, the Saints would begin at the 33 yard line (barring a penalty obviously).
Two scenarios for how a single would apply
So, now for three scenarios where the single or rouge would apply. For both scenarios, let's assume it's the start of the game again and the Cowboys are kicking off to the Saints.
Scenario 1. Aubrey kicks off, and the returner catches it. The returned then chooses not to return it because he doesn't like how the kick coverage looks. Well, because of this, the Cowboys receive one point because the returner had the ball and chose not to return it. So the Cowboys then lead 1-0, and the Saints have the ball at the 30.
Scenario 2. Aubrey kicks off, and the ball bounces in the endzone and bounces out of bounds (because, remember, in my scenario, if it stays in the endzone without being in the returner's hands and properly downed, it's a touchdown if the other team recovers it), then it's a rouge, and it's 1-0 Cowboys.
Scenario 3, as what happened at one point during the game, Aubrey kicks it, it lands within the landing zone (and this one, the NFL may go for) of the dynamic kickoff around the 8 yard line (which happened) and the Saints choose to let it bounce through the endzone. This would also be a rouge, meaning the Cowboys score a point making it 1-0 Cowboys.
Just for fun, what happens if the ball sits in the endzone
Let's assume now, for fun and just to complete the scenarios, that the old rule is still in play. Let's use this classic () but pretend it's the Cowboys kicking off.
Let's say the Cowboys kickoff. It lands at the 8 like scenario 3 above. The Saints, not wanting to return it and thinking it's going to just harmlessly bounce out of the endzone, let it go. It bounces into the endzone. In option one, the Cowboys fall on it and score a touchdown, or it sits on the star in the endzone, and the Cowboys pick it up. It would be a touchdown, meaning the Cowboys now start the game up 7-0 (assuming Aubrey makes the XP). Now all the scenarios are covered lol.
I think this may be a more dynamic way to force more returns. I think it would force more returns. The kicking team has incentives for keeping the ball in play because, if it goes out without bouncing, the other team has it at the 33 or, if they keep it in bounds, they can earn a point. Additionally, it's possible for the kicking team to . Conversely, the returning team would like to return it because they probably would want to avoid starting a game behind 1-0. I think this would make the game more exciting because the kickoffs would now be a possibility for points (even if it's just one point) to be scored or conceded. I think this could make the kickoff more exciting, and it adds another layer of intrigue to the game.
Rouge or a single rule
Okay, so here's the rule. If a kick of any kind except for a converted field goal or an extra point made or missed (so, a kickoff, missed field goal, or a punt) that goes into the end zone and is not returned awards the kicking team one point (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single_(football). There is an exception, but this, along with the rule itself, will be expounded upon in the below explanation. So, it is possible for a CFL game to end 1-0, which happened in 1966 per the link in a game between the Montreal Allouettes and the Ottawa Rough Riders.
Expounded explanation
So, let's say in Canada, a team kicks off, and the ball goes into the end zone. If the returner chooses not to return the kick or if it bounces anywhere but the touch line behind the end zone and bounces through the end zone, the kicking team receives one point. However, if a team kicks the ball through the endzone or if it goes out of the sideline part of the endzone without bouncing, then it's treated like a touchback for the NFL. It is highly unlikely for the ball to go from the kickoff spot to the behind touchline spot to take place in CFL because the fields are larger and wider than the NFL. However, it is more likely that the ball would go out of the sideline part of the endzone. So, below, let's see how this rule could be applied to the NFL. Bear in mind, points are a premium in the NFL, especially with how badly most QBs have been playing around the NFL.
How I think the rule can be applied in the NFL
First of all, I think the rule should only apply to kickoffs. I am not suggesting they do this with punts or missed field goals. The CFL field is larger than an NFL field. Your midfield in the CFL is the 55. The endzone is longer and wider than the NFL. So, this is partly why the punts are included in the CFL rule. In the CFL, you should be able to return the kick given the length and width of a CFL field. I wouldn't expect a returner to always return every punt into the endzone, especially with how fast players are. But, I think the rule can be useful for kickoffs in the NFL.
As for kickoffs, here's what I think the rule should be.
So, here's what I'm thinking. If a kickoff goes through the endzone without touching the ground, then the ball goes to the 33 yard line. I say this because the 30 is only a 5 yard difference from the 25 spot from last year, and the 35 (which the Pat McAfee Show has suggested) is only 5 yards less from the consequence of kicking the ball out of bounds (40). So, with McAfee's suggestion, you may as well kick it out of bounds instead of for a touchback. So, I'm splitting the difference basically down the middle at the 33 yard line (obviously, barring a penalty).
If, however, the ball is playable, like the kickoff that Brandon Aubrey had that landed in the field of play against New Orleans and bounced into the end zone without a return or if the ball is caught in the endzone and is not returned (unless inside 2 minutes), then the kicking team receives one point and the ball is placed at the 30. I say unless 2 minutes because the clock does not start until the returner begins to return the ball. However, in this situation, the ball would go to the 33 yard line (barring a penalty , obviously) so this actually creates an interesting scenario (especially since the league basically neutered the onside kick, but I think a 4th and 18 is a good option for a coach to choose instead of an onside kick, or just allow the ball to travel 10 yards beyond the kickoff line and it becomes a live ball). Also, as with the days prior to 2017, I think the ball in the endzone should be live unless downed by the returner or out of the touchline or sidelines. So, the kicking team can score a touchdown of the returner lets it sit in the endzone.
So, let me give you some examples of how these ideas would work.
Ball through endzone without bouncing
In this scenario, Brandon Aubrey kicks off to an opponent (for the sake of the explanation, let's call that team then Saints). It's the start of the game, and, as expected, Aubrey kicks it out the endzone without the ball bouncing. So, because the ball never bounced, the Saints would begin at the 33 yard line (barring a penalty obviously).
Two scenarios for how a single would apply
So, now for three scenarios where the single or rouge would apply. For both scenarios, let's assume it's the start of the game again and the Cowboys are kicking off to the Saints.
Scenario 1. Aubrey kicks off, and the returner catches it. The returned then chooses not to return it because he doesn't like how the kick coverage looks. Well, because of this, the Cowboys receive one point because the returner had the ball and chose not to return it. So the Cowboys then lead 1-0, and the Saints have the ball at the 30.
Scenario 2. Aubrey kicks off, and the ball bounces in the endzone and bounces out of bounds (because, remember, in my scenario, if it stays in the endzone without being in the returner's hands and properly downed, it's a touchdown if the other team recovers it), then it's a rouge, and it's 1-0 Cowboys.
Scenario 3, as what happened at one point during the game, Aubrey kicks it, it lands within the landing zone (and this one, the NFL may go for) of the dynamic kickoff around the 8 yard line (which happened) and the Saints choose to let it bounce through the endzone. This would also be a rouge, meaning the Cowboys score a point making it 1-0 Cowboys.
Just for fun, what happens if the ball sits in the endzone
Let's assume now, for fun and just to complete the scenarios, that the old rule is still in play. Let's use this classic () but pretend it's the Cowboys kicking off.
Let's say the Cowboys kickoff. It lands at the 8 like scenario 3 above. The Saints, not wanting to return it and thinking it's going to just harmlessly bounce out of the endzone, let it go. It bounces into the endzone. In option one, the Cowboys fall on it and score a touchdown, or it sits on the star in the endzone, and the Cowboys pick it up. It would be a touchdown, meaning the Cowboys now start the game up 7-0 (assuming Aubrey makes the XP). Now all the scenarios are covered lol.
I think this may be a more dynamic way to force more returns. I think it would force more returns. The kicking team has incentives for keeping the ball in play because, if it goes out without bouncing, the other team has it at the 33 or, if they keep it in bounds, they can earn a point. Additionally, it's possible for the kicking team to . Conversely, the returning team would like to return it because they probably would want to avoid starting a game behind 1-0. I think this would make the game more exciting because the kickoffs would now be a possibility for points (even if it's just one point) to be scored or conceded. I think this could make the kickoff more exciting, and it adds another layer of intrigue to the game.
