NFL considering adopting XFL’s wild kickoff rules
The NFL has been trying for years to find a balance on kickoffs to no avail. The traditional model caused too many injuries, and on review the switch to kickoffs from the 35 yard line resulted in far too many dead balls in 2023, rendering the kickoff process pointless.
Now the league is looking at another change to kickoffs, and plan to take page out of the XFL’s playbook. Team owners are expected to vote on a rule change in March which would switch the kickoff process to the XFL’s model, which seemed to find a balance between players getting to advance the ball, but without the devastating injuries we’ve seen in the past.
Under the proposed rule the kickoff would move back to the 30 yard line. The receiving team would line up at the 30, with the remainder of the kickoff team on the 35. Only the kicker and returner are able to move prior to the ball being fielded. This would ensure we wouldn’t see players colliding at full speed in both directions, with the majority of gunners and blockers making contact before reaching their top speed — more akin to a normal play.
If you’re wondering what this looks like it practice here’s how it’s looked in the XFL, and it’s a little jarring if you haven’t watched before.
Now, the kneejerk reaction might be to say that this looks like much too big an advantage for the kicking team. If we look at the first clip above, ignoring the trick play, we see the defender make first contact at the 18-yard line. NFL-caliber tacklers would make that play more often than not, and If that becomes the norm then it’s a tremendous yardage advantage for kicking team.
However, it’s also a very fair way of doing it. If anything it would reward teams for having more skilled place kickers, rather than simply those who could boom it off the tee on every attempt. Teams with great kickers who are able to accurately place the ball in the field of play would lead to more long drives for offenses — which partially counteracts the prevalence of rules which benefit the offense.
Head of the NFL competition committee Rich McKay told CBS Sports that the league is exploring every option.
“We have to be open-minded enough to say ‘can we bring plays back in the game that have gone out of the game.’”
There’s little doubt that the lack of kick returns takes an exciting element out of the game. Devin Hester is entering the 2024 Hall of Fame class based on his skill as a returner, and it’s a shame that we might never see another specialist like that enshrined in Canton again if kickoffs are removed from the game entirely.
It’s an innovative move that’s sure to ruffle feathers, but it seems the NFL is willing to think outside the box — even if that means borrowing from another league.
News Related
-
-
-
FILE PHOTO: A man walks in the Central Business District on a rainy day, in Beijing, China, July 12, 2023. REUTERS/Thomas Peter/File Photo By Joe Cash, Ellen Zhang and Kane Wu BEIJING/HONG KONG (Reuters) – U.S. furniture company head Jordan England thinks his firm’s Chinese suppliers are among the best ...
See Details:
Analysis-West's de-risking starts to bite China's prospects
-
Independent senators are trying a parliamentary tactic last successful 90 years ago to give first responders PTSD protections and end domestic violence discrimination in the workplace. Senators Jacqui Lambie and David Pocock took four elements of Labor’s larger workplace law reform bill and it passed the Senate against the government’s ...
See Details:
'Beyond a joke' Labor won't ensure PTSD protections: MP
-
-
-
-
Photograph: Rod McGuirk/AP The stateless Rohingyan refugee who successfully overturned the legality of indefinite immigration detention was accidentally named in documents published by the high court. The man was identified by his surname in a home affairs department email providing an internal update about the case, which was among documents ...
See Details:
Rohingyan refugee NZYQ accidentally named in documents published by high court
-
Photograph: Rod McGuirk/AP The stateless Rohingyan refugee who successfully overturned the legality of indefinite immigration detention was accidentally named in documents published by the high court. The man was identified by his surname in a home affairs department email providing an internal update about the case, which was among documents ...
See Details:
Colorado loses commitments of 2 more high school recruits
-
Photograph: Rod McGuirk/AP The stateless Rohingyan refugee who successfully overturned the legality of indefinite immigration detention was accidentally named in documents published by the high court. The man was identified by his surname in a home affairs department email providing an internal update about the case, which was among documents ...
See Details:
Queensland Health issues urgent patient safety alert over national bacteria outbreak
-
Photograph: Rod McGuirk/AP The stateless Rohingyan refugee who successfully overturned the legality of indefinite immigration detention was accidentally named in documents published by the high court. The man was identified by his surname in a home affairs department email providing an internal update about the case, which was among documents ...
See Details:
Townsville Community Pantry 'distressed' by fruit, vegetable waste at Aldi supermarket
-
Photograph: Rod McGuirk/AP The stateless Rohingyan refugee who successfully overturned the legality of indefinite immigration detention was accidentally named in documents published by the high court. The man was identified by his surname in a home affairs department email providing an internal update about the case, which was among documents ...
See Details:
What Is The Beaver Moon And What Does It Mean For You?
-
Photograph: Rod McGuirk/AP The stateless Rohingyan refugee who successfully overturned the legality of indefinite immigration detention was accidentally named in documents published by the high court. The man was identified by his surname in a home affairs department email providing an internal update about the case, which was among documents ...
See Details:
Labor senator Pat Dodson to resign from politics due to health issues
-
Photograph: Rod McGuirk/AP The stateless Rohingyan refugee who successfully overturned the legality of indefinite immigration detention was accidentally named in documents published by the high court. The man was identified by his surname in a home affairs department email providing an internal update about the case, which was among documents ...
See Details:
Hamas releases 11 more hostages, as Israel agrees to extend ceasefire
OTHER NEWS
Disrupt Burrup Hub group say police have issued move-on notices prohibiting access to the WA site. A group of climate activists and filmmakers say their phones have been seized during ...
Read more »
As individuals, we have unique experiences that affect our mental health and wellbeing, but what about the collective experiences that influence each generation? The mental health of Australians has been ...
Read more »
Syed Ghazaly wants to see the Geraldton abattoir reopen early next year to process 1,000 sheep a day. (ABC Mid West Wheatbelt: Chris Lewis) The new owners of a mothballed ...
Read more »
Carlton coach Michael Voss says he and his players understand there are heightened expectations on them, but insists the Blues are ready to develop individually and in their game plan. ...
Read more »
The Bulldogs’ off-season signing frenzy is set to continue with the club reportedly set to land Cronnor Tracey in a swap deal. The Sydney Morning Herald reports Tracey is expected ...
Read more »
Consumers and impacted businesses are being urged to have their say on the Optus outage, with the federal government laying out the terms of reference for its review into the ...
Read more »
It has been revealed a released immigration detainee is unable to be contacted by authorities. Border Force has referred the matter to the Federal Police as authorities are attempting to ...
Read more »