Time to get rid of the kickoff

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

First of all, they start at the 25, not the 20. If you think they start at the 20, that would indicate that you don't even watch kickoffs and thus your opinion is irrelevant. Second of all, plenty of harm can be done even during a touchback with players being injured. The other 40% of returns do not even reach the 25 on average so they are essentially costing their team yards. As noted in the first post, only 7 teams average a return past 25 yards.

There is plenty of logic behind getting rid of it.

Yup 60% of the time it’s just a waste of the viewers time.

 

[BritCard]

First of all, they start at the 25, not the 20. If you think they start at the 20, that would indicate that you don't even watch kickoffs and thus your opinion is irrelevant. Second of all, plenty of harm can be done even during a touchback with players being injured. The other 40% of returns do not even reach the 25 on average so they are essentially costing their team yards. As noted in the first post, only 7 teams average a return past 25 yards.

There is plenty of logic behind getting rid of it.

Yeah just ignore all the other things I mentioned. It's not just returns its muffs, fumbles etc. They change games. They can be especially important in changing games late.

Lions made an onside kick last week to make the game interesting. One of the most dramatic games of last year was the Cowboys - Falcons game due to an onside kick.

Taking them away makes the game duller and more predictable.

 

[daves]

It's certainly more interesting than automatically starting at the 20. This thread seems like a huge over reaction for one freak collision.

You've stated this and implied it multiple times already. Yet surely you are aware that giving the other team the ball at the 20 is not the only alternative to a kickoff. Multiple alternatives have been proposed, explored, and implemented in other leagues - which are just as exciting as kickoffs, allow a small possibility of the scoring team to retain possession, have all of the other "dramatic" possibilities you mention, and yep, even involve football skills which we all enjoy watching.

AAF’s substitute for kickoff, onside kick should attract NFL’s attention
NFL tables proposed fourth-and-15 onside kick alternative

...dave

 

[SissyBoyFloyd]

I have an answer to the dilemma. Like I said in previous post, IF I were a coach, I would never try to run a kick off back, with one exception. That being, when your opponent just scored to take the lead and there is no time left except to run 1 play from the 25 or return the kick. I would return the kick in this case. I don't think anyone can score from the 25 with no time left for a second play.

Every team has just way to many penalties on the kick off to risk having the start off from the 10 or 12 yard line. You have lost field position immediately. Just a very bad bet in trying to run the kick back.

Now, you don't have to get rid of the kick off, it is a play lots of fans like and at least gives a team a last gasp effort to salvage a game with a return.

What you could do instead is change the thinking of what a kickoff actually is. ie: It's a play which is started with the ball in the hands of the kicking team who either just scored or is starting a half or OT. So, until the KT (kicking team) kicks it, they are actually in possession of the ball. You give them the choice from now on to run that 1 play, whether they choose to kick it, or they choose to lineup and hike the ball and run a different play.

What does this accomplish? Well, it does away with the need for onside kicks. If a team is behind with little time left, they can use their kick off play as a hail mary or whatever 1 play they want. They can't earn a first down. They have to give the ball to the other team if they kick it to them, or run a play that does not score. IF they don't score on the play, their opponent would get the ball where it would be when the play is over. Just like a 4th down play that failed.

This preserves the kickoff, and the kickoff return for those coaches who stubbornly continue to run back kicks so unsuccessfully. Gives the losing team the option of having one desperate play at the end of the game (or even at the end of first half). It would also preserve even the onside kick, for times coaches want to gamble or catch a team napping on a kickoff.

No rules have changed, you are just giving the team holding the ball the choice of kicking off (including an onside kicks) or lining up and running 1 play to score. This isn't really much than what we do after every TD scored. That team always has the choice placing the ball on the 15 and kicking an extra point, or placing it at the 3 and running a play for 2 points. Same principle, just takes a change in the way we think of who is actually in possession of the ball, and them having the choice of what they want to do with it.

 

[outcent13]

Any excitement that may come out of a good return is almost always negated by a penalty.

 

[BritCard]

You've stated this and implied it multiple times already. Yet surely you are aware that giving the other team the ball at the 20 is not the only alternative to a kickoff. Multiple alternatives have been proposed, explored, and implemented in other leagues - which are just as exciting as kickoffs, allow a small possibility of the scoring team to retain possession, have all of the other "dramatic" possibilities you mention, and yep, even involve football skills which we all enjoy watching.

AAF’s substitute for kickoff, onside kick should attract NFL’s attention
NFL tables proposed fourth-and-15 onside kick alternative

...dave

All the alternatives are poor in my opinion. The 4th and 15 plays takes ST's out of the equation in favor of offense.

ST's are important for player development. I'm not in favour of anything that lessens the importance of ST's.

 

[Son of RedRage]

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Here's a good video on it. I think the writer lays out a good alternative method.

 

[CardLogic]

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Here's a good video on it. I think the writer lays out a good alternative method.

Very thorough! I like it.

But paraphrasing from the video, "Makes perfect sense, so will the NFL ever adopt it? NO!"

 

[jf-08]

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Here's a good video on it. I think the writer lays out a good alternative method.

I love the 4th and 15 option. IT makes sense as there still gives the opportunity for a return but eliminates the collision between the front lines of the teams.

 

[AZman5103]

I agree, but they would have to have a good, well thought out alternative...not some convoluted hard to understand new thing.

Right now my #1 change is a simple one. Defensive holding is a 5 yard penalty with an AUTOMATIC 1st down. That is the stupidest thing Ive ever seen. It's not DPI...its holding, and I have seen too many 4th and 21 get bailed out. Keep it a 5 yard penalty but make them replay the down.

2nd would be an overtime change to modified college rules.

 

[Son of RedRage]

I love the 4th and 15 option. IT makes sense as there still gives the opportunity for a return but eliminates the collision between the front lines of the teams.

I think the only conceivable reason the NFL would be against it is that kickoffs feel like a big spectacle.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I think the only conceivable reason the NFL would be against it is that kickoffs feel like a big spectacle.

And they get to squeeze in a few commercials right after it.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Specific to punts - what ever happened to putting your feet on the 10, and anything over your head you didn't touch?

In almost every case, fielding the ball inside the 10 is a mistake.