We Should Down Every Kickoff

[ThreeandOut]

And our returners should say they're taking a knee for Zeke.

 

[JD_KaPow]

What's our average starting field position after a KO return?

Turns out that's a complicated question.

If you look at all returned kickoffs last year, our starting position was the 24.273 yard line. So you might conclude that yeah, we shouldn't return kicks, but not much harm done.

However, most of those kicks didn't reach the end zone, so we didn't really have any choice. When we returned kicks that fell short of the end zone, our average starting position was the 25.75 yard line.

As it turns out, we only returned 6 kickoffs from inside the end zone (according to Football Reference: I find it hard to believe too). On those kickoffs, our average starting position was the 20.33 yard line. So that part of the perception is accurate: please just take a knee. But we already do take a knee the vast majority of the time.

Note: I ignored a couple of pooch kicks that were used to run down the last few seconds of the half or game.

 

[Verdict]

Kickoff returns...hmmm.

They are becoming less common league-wide. Last season, only 41.1 percent of kickoffs were returned.

I'd be perfectly happy if the Cowboys attempt to return fewer than that--even none at all, if possible. If I'm having a chat with special teams coach Bisaccia and Jason Garrett I make this one request. Can we aim for touchbacks as much as possible....order our returners to never return from beyond the goal line?

Kickoff returns inevitably seem to result in penalties, injuries and worse-fumbles. How many times do we find ourselves starting a drive deep in our territory after a return play penalty? The risk-reward makes little sense as its uncommon to get a return much past the 25.

On top of it all...we don't have gifted returners. Lance Lenoir inspires no confidence in this corner.

I would be totally shocked if Lenoir makes the team. Shocked.

 

[JW82]

Kickoff returns...hmmm.

They are becoming less common league-wide. Last season, only 41.1 percent of kickoffs were returned.

I'd be perfectly happy if the Cowboys attempt to return fewer than that--even none at all, if possible. If I'm having a chat with special teams coach Bisaccia and Jason Garrett I make this one request. Can we aim for touchbacks as much as possible....order our returners to never return from beyond the goal line?

Kickoff returns inevitably seem to result in penalties, injuries and worse-fumbles. How many times do we find ourselves starting a drive deep in our territory after a return play penalty? The risk-reward makes little sense as its uncommon to get a return much past the 25.

On top of it all...we don't have gifted returners. Lance Lenoir inspires no confidence in this corner.

Problem with that is teams seem to be getting better at dropping it inside the 10 because they think they can stop you before you get to the 25.

 

[TheCoolFan]

The last time they scored a TD on a kickoff return was 2008 and I'm pretty sure that won't change. It might be another decade before we ever see one again

 

[MRV52]

Can Kellen Moore return kicks?

 

[Verdict]

Can Kellen Moore return kicks?

Can he fetch water? Can he hold Rush's jock? Oh the questions we must ponder!!!

 

[CrownCowboy]

And what about the risks that the league could get shut down forever because of concussions...or more likely...that owners could face billions in litigation/medical care.

The owners have no choice but to try to mitigate some risks wherever they can. Kickoff returns often feature the most violent collisions.

Think about trying to block a 240 pound man running at full speed.

Lol the league makes billions of dollars a year. If you think it'll ever get shut down by a bunch of retired players trying to get paid then I have some beach front property in Wyoming to sell you. These owners didn't get rich by being idiots. They can and will take care of players that are permanently injured and it will be nothing more than a drop in the bucket to them. They'll still make billions with this league regardless.

The owners don't care about the risk these players take. If they really did they'd make flags and get rid of tackling altogether.

Although I still enjoy watching the game, it's nowhere near what it used to be. The game has changed drastically in my opinion and for the worse. And believe me, once they get rid of the kickoffs, it'll be something else that will be harped on in the game that will need to be changed. It'll never end.

These players are grown men. They know the risks of playing professional football and they know the lucrative rewards. If these players think it's too risky for their health to play then they can make big boy decisions and come join the rest of us in the real world and work for a fraction of what they'd make in the NFL and perhaps keep their health.

 

[DFWJC]

Many believe the league safety concerns are forging rules that discourage kickoffs as it is related to so many injuries and concussions.

Giving the returning team the ball on a 25 on touchbacks discourages returns.

Oh yeah. That is exactly why they did it.

 

[Idgit]

Turns out that's a complicated question.

If you look at all returned kickoffs last year, our starting position was the 24.273 yard line. So you might conclude that yeah, we shouldn't return kicks, but not much harm done.

However, most of those kicks didn't reach the end zone, so we didn't really have any choice. When we returned kicks that fell short of the end zone, our average starting position was the 25.75 yard line.

As it turns out, we only returned 6 kickoffs from inside the end zone (according to Football Reference: I find it hard to believe too). On those kickoffs, our average starting position was the 20.33 yard line. So that part of the perception is accurate: please just take a knee. But we already do take a knee the vast majority of the time.

Note: I ignored a couple of pooch kicks that were used to run down the last few seconds of the half or game.

That's great info, man.

Yeah, it's fairly obvious when you look at the math. It'll be interesting to see if Switzer can impact that equation.

 

[JD_KaPow]

One thing to keep in mind when you look at the numbers on this is that when it's late in the game and you're behind a couple scores, it makes perfect sense to use high-risk, high-reward strategies like, say, returning a kickoff from deep in the end zone. You're probably going to lose, and starting at the 20 vs. the 25 won't change those odds much, but breaking off a big return could sure turn things around.

But the Cowboys didn't have any returns in those situations last year.

 

[MagicMan]

I have said this for the last couple years, especially with no legit KR on the roster. Just take a touchback and start clean at the 25 yard line. No injuries, no penalties and no turnovers. More times than not, we wind up inside our 20 if we are lucky. Don't get me started on punt returns. but I would go for blocking it every time and let the PR guy fair catch or just get as much as he can on his own.

 

[T-RO]

Lol the league makes billions of dollars a year. If you think it'll ever get shut down by a bunch of retired players trying to get paid then I have some beach front property in Wyoming to sell you. These owners didn't get rich by being idiots. They can and will take care of players that are permanently injured and it will be nothing more than a drop in the bucket to them. They'll still make billions with this league regardless.

The owners don't care about the risk these players take. If they really did they'd make flags and get rid of tackling altogether.

Although I still enjoy watching the game, it's nowhere near what it used to be. The game has changed drastically in my opinion and for the worse. And believe me, once they get rid of the kickoffs, it'll be something else that will be harped on in the game that will need to be changed. It'll never end.

These players are grown men. They know the risks of playing professional football and they know the lucrative rewards. If these players think it's too risky for their health to play then they can make big boy decisions and come join the rest of us in the real world and work for a fraction of what they'd make in the NFL and perhaps keep their health.

Health concerns and monetary concerns are in total alignment to make football as safe as it can be. There is enough material evidence right now on brain trauma to shutdown football forever, but there is enough political will (both GOP/DEM) to overlook it...and permit the sport to continue, certainly for the foreseeable future.

We all love it too much and yes, players are willing to take risks to play the sport.

Perhaps we employ a few measures to at least lower the risks, eh?

 

[CrownCowboy]

Health concerns and monetary concerns are in total alignment to make football as safe as it can be. There is enough material evidence right now on brain trauma to shutdown football forever, but there is enough political will (both GOP/DEM) to overlook it...and permit the sport to continue, certainly for the foreseeable future.

We all love it too much and yes, players are willing to take risks to play the sport.

Perhaps we employ a few measures to at least lower the risks, eh?

I disagree with the notion that health concerns and monetary concerns are in total alignment to make the game as safe as it can be. To me, the issue is too subjective in that regard to ever come to a consensus as to what is appropriate measures of safety and what are appropriate results to gauge those measures.

You are always going to have injuries from playing football. To change the game drastically means that the final product will be damaged. Again, you can take a whole element out of the game such as kickoffs and you are still going to have a 51 year old retired NFL player with his hand out for more money. It'll never stop.

Players are indeed taking risks, but most don't realize that there are negative consequences associated with those risk.

I think we all want people to be safe in whatever they do, but putting it in context instead of burying heads in the sand is more constructive in my opinion. Not saying that you are one of those people. Just a general comment.

 

[T-RO]

One thing to keep in mind when you look at the numbers on this is that when it's late in the game and you're behind a couple scores, it makes perfect sense to use high-risk, high-reward strategies like, say, returning a kickoff from deep in the end zone. You're probably going to lose, and starting at the 20 vs. the 25 won't change those odds much, but breaking off a big return could sure turn things around.

But the Cowboys didn't have any returns in those situations last year.

Most of the time late i the game...I'd prefer downing it. Save 5-7 seconds of clock and get setup on sound footing at the 25. Our offense can get the job done.

 

[T-RO]

I disagree with the notion that health concerns and monetary concerns are in total alignment to make the game as safe as it can be. To me, the issue is too subjective in that regard to ever come to a consensus as to what is appropriate measures of safety and what are appropriate results to gauge those measures.

You are always going to have injuries from playing football. To change the game drastically means that the final product will be damaged. Again, you can take a whole element out of the game such as kickoffs and you are still going to have a 51 year old retired NFL player with his hand out for more money. It'll never stop.

Players are indeed taking risks, but most don't realize that there are negative consequences associated with those risk.

I think we all want people to be safe in whatever they do, but putting it in context instead of burying heads in the sand is more constructive in my opinion. Not saying that you are one of those people. Just a general comment.

Health issues with longterm concussion-related consequences are well-studied and well known.

Some of the players you love and recollect Randy White, Bob Lilly, and Rayfield Wright--have already sued the NFL regarding safety and concussions. Litigation and long term medical treatment are very, very expensive and the NFL would like to avoid that as much as possible. Anyway...I appreciate your perspective and do agree that some aspects of the game might not be as fun. (Still crazy-fun, IMO)

 

[CrownCowboy]

Health issues with longterm concussion-related consequences are well-studied and well known.

Some of the players you love and recollect Randy White, Bob Lilly, and Rayfield Wright--have already sued the NFL regarding safety and concussions. Litigation and long term medical treatment are very, very expensive and the NFL would like to avoid that as much as possible. Anyway...I appreciate your perspective and do agree that some aspects of the game might not be as fun. (Still crazy-fun, IMO)

No debate about the facts surrounding concussions. You are right.

I just believe the problem is unavoidable for a person that chooses that profession and changing the game dramatically is not helpful.

I appreciate your stance as well my friend.

 

[Hardline]

A lot of kickoffs are sailing out of the back of the end zone. Returning or downing it is not an option.