ctpatsfan77

Note that the only significant part of the proposal that passed is that kickoffs now originate at the 35 rather than the 30. The two-man wedge remains in place, and the touchback on kickoffs remains at the 20.

So—do you think this helps the Pats or hurts the Pats?

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neuronet

Helps us--A LOT. Our coverage is atrocious, and our returns are not all that great. So it helps us against Jets,other teams with good return games.

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Sciz

I think it helps a lot. As a team with a very good offense but questionable defense, the Pats benefit from making the field longer, which is basically what this does.

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memento

It hurts a bit. We've always paid extra attention to special teams. Brandon Tate was in the top half of the league in kick returns last season, Ghostowski gets touchbacks consistently; Hell, even Dan Connolly can be a threat on kick return. This takes away one more edge the Pats have had over opposition.

Triumph

Doesnt this rule change actually help Gost since he is gaining 5 yards?

convertedpatsfan

The coverage was pretty bad but come on, give Tate some credit. He finished 7th in average amongst returners with at least 10 returns, tied for 3rd for most return TDs, and provided the spark to start the second half against Miami.

I think what he meant was that Gost doesn't need the extra 5 yards, so other kickers will benefit tremendously compared to him. Whether you kick it 3 yards in or 8 yards in makes no difference in terms of touchbacks. He'll probably pick up a few extra, but not as many as some kickers.

PatsFanSince74

I'll admit I haven't studied the stats relative to other teams, but it did seem last year that we gave up a lot of good field position on KO's and missed Gostkowski booming 'em deeply into or out of the End Zone.

So, while we clearly have some return weapons of our own, I'm going to say that, net net, it helps us a little.

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PatsDeb

Since they didn't give the opposing team an extra 5 yards on touchbacks, I think this rule helps the Pats slightly. With Gost's leg and the extra yards on his side of the ball, pretty much nobody will be able to mount a big return against the Pats. We won't be able to get many returns either, but except for a couple at the beginning of last year, we weren't seeing too many anyway.

RayClay

Helps us a lot. If gost is healthy, we should be able to lay off our return defenders and save some money.

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ctpatsfan77

(A) Even with the extra 5 yards, about half the teams in the league have kickers whose average KO in 2010 still wouldn't be in the EZ.

(B) OTOH, it'll be easier for teams to outkick their coverage if they do kick a returnable ball, because now they can only line up 5 yards behind the ball, and can't be in front of the ball before the ball is kicked. . . .

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"Momentum was quickly snatched away by New England, who once again proved that any Patriot, at any moment, can make a play." —Inside the NFL, Packers v. Patriots

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