Competition Committee is expected to propose moving kickoff touchbacks to the 35

[FortressX]

The NFL’s Competition Committee is likely to propose moving the spot of the touchback on kickoffs from the 30- to the 35-yard line, Mark Maske of the Washington Post reports.

The decision was expected in an attempt to further boost the rate of returns.

Competition Committee is expected to propose moving kickoff touchbacks to the 35

The NFL's Competition Committee is likely to propose moving the spot of the touchback on kickoffs from the 30- to the 35-yard line, Mark Maske of the Washington Post reports.

www.nbcsports.com

 

[jmt57]

So first the NFL wanted fewer returns, in an attempt to show the public/courts that they were concerned with player saftey.

But now they want the opposite.

New strategy will be to have a non-kicker kickoff, to insure the ball doesn't reach the end zone.

 

[cmasspatsfan]

Why not skip the kickoff and just spot the ball at the 50, this is getting silly.

 

[TheRainMaker]

They need to just stop it!

 

[Tunescribe]

Damn rules tinkering. They never should have messed with kickoffs to begin with, now they want to make it an even BIGGER problem. Hell, might as well put it at the 50. Better yet, just pick a couple random fans from the crowd to do kickoffs with Madden on the big board. Idiots.

 

[UGAPatsfan]

Damn rules tinkering. They never should have messed with kickoffs to begin with, now they want to make it an even BIGGER problem. Hell, might as well put it at the 50. Better yet, just pick a couple random fans from the crowd to do kickoffs with Madden on the big board. Idiots.

I do miss the old rule BUT objectively the data says injuries have been reduced

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Agree with you guys, that is too much.

 

[jmt57]

Let's just get rid of the kickoff, extra point and punt.

That will reduce the high speed collisions.


A touchdown equals seven points.

Opponent takes over 1st and ten on their 25 (or whatever yard line people can agree on).


Field goals have to be drop kicks.

Outlaw punts. All teams have to go for it on fourth down.


NFL can then reduce the roster to 45 or fewer players, and spread the cap/salaries among those players.

Keep another 10-20 as developmental/practice squad players for a limited time frame.

No more kickers, punters, long snappers, gunners or other special team specialists.

 

[XLIX]

So first the NFL wanted fewer returns, in an attempt to show the public/courts that they were concerned with player saftey.

But now they want the opposite.

They want more returns, but they want more safe returns. I give them credit for doing the best they can to cover both bases.

 

[jmt57]

They want more returns, but they want more safe returns. I give them credit for doing the best they can to cover both bases.

Just being sarcastic.

Or maybe not.

 

[XLIX]

Just being sarcastic.

Or maybe not.

Overall I like the new rule but I don't like what it does to onside kicks. They should shift that to a 4th-and-15 from the 35 play.

 

[Tunescribe]

I do miss the old rule BUT objectively the data says injuries have been reduced

I'd like to see that data. Trying to make football "safe" can become a slippery slope.

 

[JohnJH]

STOP RUINING PRO FOOTBALL. At this rate, it'll be Flag Football like the Pro Bowl Game in about 10 years from now. In the meantime, stop insulting our intelligence. Just do away with Kick Offs altogether (teams start on the 20 yard line). And, no Punts. You have to go for it on 4th Down. Stop ruining the game one rule at a time.

 

[turkeyneck]

Let's just get rid of the kickoff, extra point and punt.

That will reduce the high speed collisions.

Or have both teams line up on the same side of the 50 and race to get possession of the kicked ball - everyone going in the same direction should cut down on those hard collisions...

... or, eliminate the rules committee; that would be better.

 

[Grogan14]

Having a kicker who can accurately put it in play just short of the goal line could be a very useful weapon

 

[FortressX]

Buried in the Competition Committee’s proposed rewrite of the kickoff rule is an important nugget: The trailing team may attempt an onside kick at ANY time during the game. Of course, the onside kick must be declared in advance. And the Competition Committee has proposed no alternative to the 2024 procedure, such as a fourth-down play by the trailing team.

New kickoff proposal permits onside kick at any time — if team is trailing

Arbitrary limitation to fourth-quarter could be ditched.

www.nbcsports.com

 

[festy1986]

Before long kickoff touchbacks will be placed at the kicking teams 30 yard line.

Christ. I hate the NFL sometimes.

 

[Ross12]

Starting at the 35 means a field goal is 78 yards from that spot. So if your kicker can reliably hit from 53, you're only about 25 yards of offense away from field goal range. In a sense, this actually makes defense more important, as every yard given up is more valuable.

 

[Brotherblues]

Overall I like the new rule but I don't like what it does to onside kicks. They should shift that to a 4th-and-15 from the 35 play.

That would be amazing. I think the biggest argument against it is there are too many dumb "automatic first down" penalties in the rulebook. The whole thing would come under too much heat the moment a team got an onside conversion with a questionable PI or defensive holding.

 

[Hammer of Thor]

Starting at the 35 means a field goal is 78 yards from that spot. So if your kicker can reliably hit from 53, you're only about 25 yards of offense away from field goal range. In a sense, this actually makes defense more important, as every yard given up is more valuable.

So the NFL’s goal was to eliminate high speed collisions, but also bring the kickoff back as a play.

The rule changes last year did eliminate the high speed collisions by changing where players lined up. But there were still too many touchbacks.

My moving touchbacks to the 35 yard line, they’re treating kicks that reach the end zone similarly to how they treat kickoffs that go out of bounds. They’re trying to have the kickers kick them to the 5 or 10 yard line, and think this would be a way to incentivize that. I support this proposed change. And being an outdoor cold weather team, we’re most likely going to be the least impacted as it’s tough for kicks to reach the end zone later in the season as it is.