The Greg Schiano Proposal to Eliminate Kickoffs

[cml750]

I do not like the new rule or the "punt" suggestion. I wish they would leave the game alone. These are grown men making a ton of money. LET THEM PLAY!!!!!

 

[Deep_Freeze]

Can't speak for soccer, but Hockey, Basketball and Baseball have all major changes in rules, interpretations of existing rules and how the game itself is played over the past 20, 40, 60 years.

Hockey: Don't even get me started, what didn't they change in the past 20 years. The game hardly resembles the one I was introduced to in the 70s and grew to love in the 80's.

Basketball: I think the 3 point line and legal zone defense were huge changes.

Baseball: Pitching inside and actually hitting the batter with a pitch. You had to intentionally hit at least two batters before a warning. Now get heaved after one obvious hit batter.
Closer? Set up Guy? Left handed specialist? Bullpens of today didn't exist in the first half of the 20th century.
Designated hitter?

Guess my people will add another definition to that, rugby.

They think we are punks.......and its a girl.

 

[viman96]

I returned punts and kickoffs and returning punts made me more nervous. You have less time to react and seem more vulnerable to taking a big hit.

 

[Eskimo]

I returned punts and kickoffs and returning punts made me more nervous. You have less time to react and seem more vulnerable to taking a big hit.

Returning punts will make the returner more nervous because the defense can be very close to him by the time he catches the ball. When the kickoff returner fields the ball, the defense is usually nowhere near him.

The dangerous part is that when contact is made during a punt return, both sides are not at near full speed and headed in opposite directions but this is exactly what happens during kickoff returns at around the 15-20 yard line.

I actually like this proposal about changing kickoffs into a 4th and 15. I would only argue that since the league wants the average field position after a kickoff return to be around the 25 and the average net on a punt is around 35-40 yards, they should spot the ball at the 35 instead.

 

[StanleySpadowski]

Anyone want to guess the % of touchbacks so far this preseason?

A 90%

B 80%

C 70%

D 38%



This is getting the same overkill that the Jonesatron got when it was intentionally hit with a punt. Kickoffs were from the 35 for decades and believe it or not, kickers aren't kicking much further today than they were 20 years ago.



and the answer is obviously D for all those who are looking for life vests since they've jumped off a perfectly fine ship over one person whispering "sinking".

 

[gimmesix]

This is getting the same overkill that the Jonesatron got when it was intentionally hit with a punt. Kickoffs were from the 35 for decades and believe it or not, kickers aren't kicking much further today than they were 20 years ago.

I was going to say something similar.

Right now, I think the kickers are trying to show that they can get touchbacks if needed. During the regular season, I don't think the number of touchbacks will be much different than last year.

Most of the teams are probably going to want to do what Dallas did on the kickoffs Denver returned: Barely put them in the end zone or get them inside the 5 and try to stop the return before it reaches the 20. It's going to be all about strategy instead of whether the kicker can actually kick a touchback.

Obviously, the more dangerous return men are going to see a lot of touchbacks, though.

 

[rcaldw]

I won't say whether I think it is better or worse, right or wrong, I will simply say that I enjoyed football more when:

a. There were less rules favoring the offense
b. There were not the stupid application of rules... such as the tuck
c. You didn't get penalized for hitting a guy too hard (and I don't care what anyone says, I saw it with my own eyes last year. Clean hit, knocked the crud out of the receiver... flag.)
d. QB's didn't wear dresses. Even in the 90's Aikman was hit late regularly. I'm not for late hits, I'm simply saying that you can't even breathe on a QB anymore without a flag.
e. ESPECIALLY when there was less player movement.

Right now, in many cases, it feels like we are rooting for the uniform.

 

[JonJon]

That has to be the dumbest idea ever in the history of mankind coming up with ideas. Has to be.

 

[bbgun]

Sucks to be Hester or Cribbs. Before this rule was implemented, I was worried about our KO return game. Now it's more or less moot.

 

[Cajuncowboy]

I didn't read the whole thread but i surely hope someone dug out a facepalm pic.

Sheesh!

 

[MarionBarberThe4th]

I returned punts and kickoffs and returning punts made me more nervous. You have less time to react and seem more vulnerable to taking a big hit.

The problem is the nasty collisions from the small wedges. The proposal cones from schiano, who had a player become paralyzed on a KR.

Right now, I think the kickers are trying to show that they can get touchbacks if needed. During the regular season, I don't think the number of touchbacks will be much different than last year.

Most of the teams are probably going to want to do what Dallas did on the kickoffs Denver returned: Barely put them in the end zone or get them inside the 5 and try to stop the return before it reaches the 20. It's going to be all
about strategy instead of whether the kicker can actually kick a touchback.
Obviously, the more dangerous return men are going to see a lot of touchbacks, though.

Good post. Congrats on Participating in a discussion.

I think I read where the average KO is fielded at the 1. So w/ the new kickoff rules the average kick is going 4 yards deep. Good for a TB on most occasions. Having kickers float kicks to elicit a minimal return to the 12 yard line area we've been seeing has been way more ugly than anything.

Not to mention I wouldn't be surpised If they are instructed to do this by the coaches so they could get a look at their coverage.

 

[fan62]

Ah heck, let's get rid of all plays that might cause injuries at high speeds.
Get rid of special teams.
No more passing.
No running between the tackles.
RB QB or anyone else running the ball can not advance more than 10 yards, because after that it is at high speed and someone might get hurt. Whistle blows at ten yards beyond the LOS.
No contact at all below the belly button, or above the shoulders, on blocking or tackling.
yep, that it! I am turning my TV off on Sunday's at that point.

 

[Tusan_Homichi]

Am I on crack or didn't kickoffs used to be from the 35 anyway and it was changed to make the game more "exciting"?

So, we just reverted back to an older rule, right?

 

[Tusan_Homichi]

It would seem I'm not on crack.

http://espn.go.com/blog/statsinfo/post/_/id/17417/historical-statistical-look-at-kickoffs

Moving kickoffs to the 35-yard line would most likely make touchbacks even more prevalent than they were in 2010, when 16.4 percent resulted in touchbacks.

In 1993, the last year kickoffs were at the 35-yard line, touchbacks occurred 27.0 percent of the time.

 

[MarionBarberThe4th]

http://twitter.com/#!/richeisen/status/102647236227371008

MikePereira : injury to Rutgers kid last season drove point home to NFL Execs they wanted less KO returns.
Rich Eisen: Heard same thing




Jason Garrett talking about teams trying to intentionally get a look at their coverage units. And the regular season decision to kick a touch back or try and pin them inside the 20.

http://www.dallascowboys.com/multimedia/multimedia_center.cfm?id=CB4606E7-B39F-DE88-753F9882D6C51E7A


Stanleys touchback percentage of 38% would most likely be higher in the regular season, probably over 50%. And the ones that arent will probably be ugly quagmires at the 15.