I get to MHR almost every day, but even on the rare days I can't get in quality time at the site, I always read Horse Tracks (then come back later to read everything else).

You're doing a terrific job!

Your work is very well appreciated.

While the diaries and comments are the soul of MHR right now, they'll look more like the soul of MHR in the new set up.

First, I like the rule because (as a defense guy) I feel that so many rules in the NFL in the past few years have been designed to increase scoring and to strip the game of its roots.  The reason I can't stand arena football is because it is just a "score at will" game and the defense need not even bother to show up.  For once the Leaugue seems to be giving the defense some help.

On a macro/strategy level the rule is going to have a major impact on two-minute drives.  Many of the passes designed to go to the edges of the field will still stop the clock (incomplete or out of bounds), but many less of those passes will be completed.  QBs will have to throw the same passes but an extra yard or two away from the sideline (shrinking the width as you point out).  The receiving player will then have to fight his way out of bounds.

On a micro-tactical level the change will also be major.  First, CBs won't have to be as tall to be effective (at least on the sideline).  I imagine that CBs will adjust man coverage so that they take the inside (side facing the QB) in certain situations where they didn't previously, and this will also lead to a few more INTs.

In the endzone I expect to see a lot of change.  The corners of the zone are popular in large part because so much of the defense is dedicated to stopping a run in the center.  The force out rule also gave receivers a little bit of an edge in the corners, as well as the back of the zone.  I would expect that CBs and LBs will now be coached to play inside (as normal) but to hit the receiving player more (as opposed to batting the ball).  Receivers are typicaly better at fighting for the ball, so defenders near an edge can now avoid touching the ball at all and drive the opponent out when the ball is coming.  This will also lead to more hits on receivers, which may have a small impact (literal and figurative) on how receivers "carry" themselves when running a route.

As far as the deep sideline passes go, a greater emphasis on speed receivers over possession receivers should be the trend.  Being a great possession receiver won't help if a small, zone type CB can just push you out while you're in mid air.  Receivers will have to put space between them and the defenders.

How does this rule affect Denver?  It's a mix.

Cutler is going to be disadvantaged.  As it stands now we are a possession receiver team, so sideline passes will be more difficult.  We run a lot of pass plays that go to the sides that are opened up by pounding the ball up the middle on one cut runs.  On the other hand, Cutler has a rocket arm and some of our routes will probably be adjusted to account for the rule.  The disadvantage for Denver on offense will be there, but I expect it will be easily adjusted for.

On defense we will be heavily advantaged.  As I always point out, I am of the opinion that only having one deep SAF is a travesty.  It's only an opinion, but I strongly feel that when you have two elite CBs, you give them two deep SAFs to allow them (the CBs) the ability to take more risks.  Bly catches a lot of grief from fans because he is a risk taker, but his risks would pay off in spades if he had the support behind him to play his style.  With the new rule "protecting" the sideline, we can more easily have one deep SAF covering a zone in the deep center.  While I am no fan of box safeties, the concept will be more effective with the new rule in place.

Denver should even see a very slight improvement in run defense.  Why?  Because zones should be moves slightly inward towards the center of the field to account for the rule, and this means more bodies closer to the standard run area of the field.

The rule change is so big in my opinion, that even this old defensive coach thinks that the offense should probably be compensated by allowing only one foot to have to be inbounds for a reception.

As a purist, I like the new rule.

After reporting my "heroics" to the other editors I learned quickly that the blogger was indeed a great friend of the site, and that I had just "killed a friendly".

I very much regret the error, and your cred is well established.  : )

Mea Culpa,

HT