What’s with all the touchbacks?

[captain stone]

I bet you would if the returner was a Desmond Howard clone.

With the rules in place now compared to Howard’s time? I’d still kick it in-bounds.

 

[Force Zero Boomer]

Yes that was almost 30 years ago. Since then, we've discovered a little thing called CTE.

I swear.... people complain that the League doesn't care about their own players, then when the League does something to make the game safer, people complain about that too....

If you read my comment carefully, there was no call to return to original style of kickoff. I was just pointing out how it used to be an electric, exciting play, especially when a top returner was receiving. The hilariously named "dynamic kickoff" is so boring they might as well just place the ball at the 25 and avoid wasting everyone's time. Then there will be zero injuries on kickoffs. See, it's not that I'm complaining that they "did something to make the game safer", it's that what they did sucked, and I am justified in complaining about that. It would be safer not to play NFL football at all. Will you complain if the NFL closes it doors to save all these poor young men from a miserable middle age and beyond? See? What they do to address player safety can and should be challenged. There might be another way to restore excitement to the play with the same injury benefits.

 

[captain stone]

Yes that was almost 30 years ago. Since then, we've discovered a little thing called CTE.

I swear.... people complain that the League doesn't care about their own players, then when the League does something to make the game safer, people complain about that too....

But the league really doesn’t care about its own players, unless one feels that an 18-game regular-season schedule (coming soon to a stadium near you) that includes games in Mexico, South America & Europe are no big deal…

 

[Gumby]

The one I didn’t get was the Rams w 2 sec left.

They kickedit touchback; guaranteeing a hook-ladder play by SF. If they had kicked it inbound time would have expired -game over.

 

[XLIX]

I'd counter that, while it wasn't edge-of-your-seat excitement, day in and day out, you could count on seeing guys like Devin Hester, Dante Hall, or Josh Cribbs providing some exciting moments.

Of the 30 players all-time who have score 4+ TDs on kickoff returns, 17 of them played in the 2000s, and 10 of those into the 2010s. There's a really sharp drop off in outstanding KO return talent after 2016. The all-time leader, Cordarelle Patterson scored five of his nine during and prior to the 2016 season.

What's wild is that, prior to this sentence, I hadn't researched exactly when the kickoff rules were being tampered with, but as it turns out, 2016 was the year that the touchback line was moved to the 25.

From 1994 to 2010 (the year prior to moving the kickoff to the 35 yard line), there was never less an 87 yard per game average for kickoff returns. Since then, the highest average is from 2013 (64.2 yards a game). Since 2016, the highest is 44.9 yards a game. That's about half the return yards as prior to the tampering.

Seasonal kickoff TD return leaders from 1994-2010 had at least two touchdowns in a given season. Since 2016, only two players have surpassed more than 1 in a season.

People may not have like them for whatever reason, but statistically, kickoffs were more exciting before.

Kickoffs were definitely more exciting in the 90's and the 00's but you are leaving out the important part. The "whatever reason" you casually gloss over is that the League doesn't like them is because kickoffs have statistically proven to be extremely dangerous plays.

This new rule this year is a good faith attempt to return the excitement to kickoffs without bringing back the injuries. It doesn't seem to be working and it appears there's really no way for all of us to have our cake and eat it too.

 

[XLIX]

If you read my comment carefully, there was no call to return to original style of kickoff.

No, you just heavily implied it and when I called you out, you ran away from your own statement.

 

[farn]

I’d def blast it through the end zone. 30 yard line is ‘cost certainty’. I don’t like the risk.

 

[Force Zero Boomer]

No, you just heavily implied it and when I called you out, you ran away from your own statement.

I did nothing of the sort and you are being unfair to me, but I know that's your modus operandi on this forum. I'll be sure never to reply to your posts again. You aren't worthy of engagement.

 

[XLIX]

I did nothing of the sort and you are being unfair to me, but I know that's your modus operandi on this forum. I'll be sure never to reply to your posts again. You aren't worthy of engagement.

Direct quote, your words: "Dynamic kickoff my ass. Remember how exciting kickoffs were when Desmond Howard was in his prime? Every one was electric. It's a zero play now and just lengthens the game with no potential excitement. In-season rule change: just place the ball at the 25."

Yeah, you kinda really did imply exactly what I said you did.

And now, for some reason, you've turned tail and are sprinting in the other direction away from what you said. At least be a man and own your own statement.

 

[Force Zero Boomer]

You are putting words in my mouth, scoundrel. Begone! I have no more time for you and your lies. Be a man? A man doesn't put words into another man's mouth: a weasel does that. A rat does that. Vermin. Do not reply to me again. I won't read it. I won't even see it.

 

[Force Zero Boomer]

I’d def blast it through the end zone. 30 yard line is ‘cost certainty’. I don’t like the risk.

I think many teams agree with you.

 

[Nikolai]

Kickoffs were definitely more exciting in the 90's and the 00's but you are leaving out the important part. The "whatever reason" you casually gloss over is that the League doesn't like them is because kickoffs have statistically proven to be extremely dangerous plays.

This new rule this year is a good faith attempt to return the excitement to kickoffs without bringing back the injuries. It doesn't seem to be working and it appears there's really no way for all of us to have our cake and eat it too.

I made no statement on the league's intent, nor casually glossed over anything. I addressed your comment on the excitement of kickoffs and the implication that not much of that has been lost due to the new rules.

The "danger aspect" of the play was not the intent of my post. We can certainly discuss the league's intent or even get into player safety, but that goes far beyond kickoffs. In fact, by my estimation, kickoffs and kickoff coverage is probably not even a top 3 factor in player safety.

 

[SammyBlueCat]

Kick off = time to go outside for a minute

 

[GaryfromTO]

The best answer I can give is it's because Roger Goodell is an *******.

 

[XLIX]

I made no statement on the league's intent, nor casually glossed over anything.

Yeah you kinda really did. You wrote "People may not have like (kickoffs) for whatever reason, but statistically, kickoffs were more exciting before."

When you say "whatever reason", you are 100% glossing over the fact that the reason is that kickoffs are the most dangerous play in the game. The lack of player safety, which you ignored, is the entire reason they made the change in the first place (and continue to tinker with it). It isn't some commissioner/owner fueled conspiracy to arbitrarily make the game more boring.

All the arguments I have seen on this thread do nothing to subtract from my original statement: People criticize the NFL for not caring about player safety. Then when the League does something to improve player safety, people criticize them for that. "We had a good thing going ... Goodell's an ******* ... " etc.

 

[signbabybrady]

The one I didn’t get was the Rams w 2 sec left.

They kickedit touchback; guaranteeing a hook-ladder play by SF. If they had kicked it inbound time would have expired -game over.

I think the hook and ladder stuff can be just as tough if not tougher on STs.

 

[IcyPatriot]

New rule 2025

 

[signbabybrady]

New rule 2025

Bring back Ebner

 

[Gumby]

I think the hook and ladder stuff can be just as tough if not tougher on STs.

Yeah could POTENTIALLY be. but
A. they weren’t prepared for pitch backs on this kickoff.
B. Structurally the new formation doesn’t really support it. All the blockers (& potential pitch receivers) are upfront 10 yards off from kick team.

 

[Gumby]

…
All the arguments I have seen on this thread do nothing to subtract from my original statement: People criticize the NFL for not caring about player safety. Then when the League does something to improve player safety, people criticize them for that. "We had a good thing going ... Goodell's an ******* ... " etc.

Don’t know about rest of your ‚argument‘ (haven’t thought so much about it); but closing it by arguing against something that is a law of nature was a bad tactic.