rzb+ 367 Posted August 12, 2011 So many touchbacks last night (and probably even more over the weekend). Many of the kicks could have been field goals. There was a return but of the average so far is absolute shit. I hate the new rule. Thoughts? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AllYouNeedIsLovie 377 Posted August 12, 2011 Yea, I'm not too big of a fan of the new rule. There is going to be a touchback pretty much every time now. Kind of takes the return game away which I don't like at all. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Put_The_Team_On_My_Back 1 Posted August 12, 2011 Yea it takes a lot of fun out of the game. Kickoff Returns have always been one of the most exciting parts of the game to watch. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KeVo 176 Posted August 12, 2011 This shit needs fixed. Returns were a potential game changer, now we aren't going to have that much now. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
westbrookforsix 28 Posted August 12, 2011 This needs immediate fixing before the season starts. The No Fun League continues it's reign. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shotgun 442 Posted August 12, 2011 It will be a lot more common for certain. They may not do it as much in the regular season though. It's possible they are just trying to prevent some injuries on ST right now before the regular season. I think certain guys will still be worth watching though. Good kick returners will still try to make a play. And if not, then I have some extra time to piss or get a drink/more food while watching. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BwareDWare94 723 Posted August 12, 2011 yeah, I think there will be enough backlash that they have to change this. Imagine what guys like Billy Cundiff and David Beuhler are going to do on kickoffs now? There's potential for those two to boot a touchback EVERY SINGLE TIME. I expect this to be similar to the situation in the NBA 5-6 years back where they tried to use a basketball that wasn't made of leather. The players hated it. It affected jump shots and everything, so the NBA switched back mid season. I think this will be a similar situation, but they might change it before the start of the season. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vin+ 3,121 Posted August 12, 2011 So, I'm going to assume that I'm the only one that cares nothing about kickoff returns. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tridentdawgpound 1,043 Posted August 13, 2011 lol, they're not gonna change the rule back. Nothing but touchbacks is exactly what they wanted. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Romo's Girl 0 Posted August 13, 2011 I dont like it either and hope they get rid of it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zack_of_Steel+ 3,014 Posted August 13, 2011 It's boring and retarded, but will cut down on injuries. Oh well. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KiLaSix9+ 398 Posted August 13, 2011 It's bullshit and has taken out one of the funnest plays to watch. A guy breaking a 50 yard run is tight. A receiver catching a 70 yard bomb is awesome. But how fucking sick is it to watch a dude take that shit 90 yards and beat an entire squad to the house, in one electrifying play. Fuck them for getting rid of that. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WindyCitySports 407 Posted August 13, 2011 Been against the rule from the beginning, still am. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NFLStatsBlog 6 Posted August 14, 2011 I did some numbers on this and found that the average starting position dropped about 3-ish yards. In 2010, the average starting field position off a kickoff was the 26-yard-line, but so far this week it has been the 22.7-yard-line. This isn't a huge drop, but nonetheless that means that the only point of the kickoff return is adding 2.7 yards to what would be achieved by kneeling. What's more, it looks like touchbacks are clumped. Some games were loaded with touchbacks and some games had hardly any. It seems that there are kickers who can easily smash the ball into the end zone, and some kickers that are on the fringe. And within that fringe, there are teams that are conservative (running it out) and aggressive (kneeling it). To make a long story short, I think it's too early to tell what effect that new rule will have on the game. It's been annoying in some games so far, and not a big deal in others. There was 1 TD return, so those kind of plays are theoretically still in the mix. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Patriots2994 43 Posted August 15, 2011 What makes fans go crazy? The first things that come to mind are a successful Hail Mary, an overtime touchdown, a huge passing or rushing touchdown (50+ yards), a punt return for a touchdown, and....a kickoff return for a touchdown! Everybody stands up and starts cheering or screaming depending on who is returning the ball every single time someone makes it to the 40 yard line. Those next 60 yards either can make you jump for joy or tear your hair out. There doesn't go a week during the NFL season where a kickoff return doesn't make the top 10 plays on ESPN. Us fans understand that the NFL is trying to improve player safety, but at the expense of the game and at the expense of losing a lot of opportunities at one of the most exciting things to happen in a game, change the rule back and don't let egos get involved. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sarge+ 3,436 Posted August 15, 2011 It's bullshit and has taken out one of the funnest plays to watch. A guy breaking a 50 yard run is tight. A receiver catching a 70 yard bomb is awesome. But how fucking sick is it to watch a dude take that shit 90 yards and beat an entire squad to the house, in one electrifying play. Fuck them for getting rid of that. ^ That. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rzb+ 367 Posted August 15, 2011 (edited) CHICAGO -- NFL owners voted in the offseason to move kickoffs from the 30 to the 35-yard line. The Chicago Bears, however, continued to kickoff from the 30-yard line twice in the first half of Saturday night's preseason opener against the Buffalo Bills. According to an NFL official seated in the press box, the Bears informed the officiating crew prior to the game they intended to kickoff from the 30-yard line at some point in the contest. Believing the spirit of the rule wasn't meant to prohibit teams from kicking off from a deeper spot on the field if they so desired, the crew granted the Bears permission to kickoff from the 30-yard line. However, once NFL's vice president of officiating Carl Johnson was informed of the development, he placed a call to Soldier Field and told officials the Bears must kickoff from the 35-yard line. Johnson cited safety concerns as the reason behind the decision, according to the press box official. There may be some validity to Johnson's claim; Bears defensive lineman Corey Wootton suffered a knee injury on the game's opening kickoff from the 30-yard line. The Bears are believed to be one of the six teams that voted against the rule change at the NFL owners meetings in March. SOURCE: ESPN Chicago Love it. Stick it to the man, Chicago. Edited August 15, 2011 by rzb Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WindyCitySports 407 Posted August 15, 2011 It's ridiculous. They change the rules for less returns so that there would be less injuries. Basically, they are willing to take away a part of the game to decrease injuries. I'm all for getting rid of injuries, but the best way to do that is restrict dirty play, not take away a part of the game. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Glanvilles Grits 142 Posted August 16, 2011 I think it's a dumb rule. Hate seeing players get hurt after being creamed, but you can't take away one of the most exciting plays in the game. Whats more exciting when the game is closing out, and you see a guy like Devin Hester, Josh Cribbs, or DeSean Jackson back getting ready to take a kickoff return? Nothing, thats what. This rule pretty much eliminates return specialist guys. So if this rule sticks, guys like Hester and Cribbs better step up their receiving abilities, because without the returns, theres no point in keeping a specialist on the roster. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Touchdown 1 Posted August 16, 2011 It's a terrible rule-change, they should just have left the Kickoff at the 30-yard line. More touchbacks is about the last thing the game needs, there's too many to begin with. Before the season starts, I'd like it changed back, but I don't hold out much hope. No Fun League are pussies for making this rule. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rzb+ 367 Posted September 7, 2011 A few tweaks would create a happier medium than the lopsided advantage the kickoff team has enjoyed during the first two weeks of the preseason. Let's start with three of them: Eliminate the running start of the coverage unit. Move the kickoff spot itself from the 35-yard line back to the 32 And place touchbacks on the 17-yard line rather than the 20. SOURCE: Fox Sports Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SteVo+ 3,702 Posted September 7, 2011 (edited) It'd be a lot easier for the NFL to just man up and realize they made a dumb mistake. I understand their justification being in the name of player safety, but that's a slippery slope. Football is a dangerous sport. You either need to admit that or just take away the game entirely. Like KiLa said a few posts back, seeing a kick returner run the length of the football field for a 90+ yard touchdown return is one of the most exciting plays in football, and they've taken it away. Edited September 7, 2011 by SteVo Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
westbrookforsix 28 Posted September 8, 2011 And what's really funny... I saw a string of commercials advertising that football is back, and it was saying how we get to see returners score again. Did anyone score a KR all preseason? I saw someone get to the 35 once... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rzb+ 367 Posted September 8, 2011 Did anyone score a KR all preseason? I saw someone get to the 35 once... San Diego ran one back from out of the endzone. First week of preseason I think. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
