What really ticks me off about the new kick off rules

by bonaire on Aug 16, 2011 12:27 PM MDT

It's a slow day around here so I thought I would share what I am stewing about. I hate the new kick off rule for 2 reasons. The first one is obvious and it seems that pretty much everyone agrees. It is that the kick off is an exciting play to watch and removing it seems so weird, so stale. But what really has me steamed is that we are now forced to watch 2 sets of advertisements divided by this now senseless touch back. I hate it. I have always hated having two sets of commercials divided only by a single play, but now, that single play isn't even a play. And if anybody believes they will just eventually remove the kickoff altogether, I say no chance. There is no way the networks will lose the revenue by those extra commercials. Sorry for the rant. I just hate it.

This is a Fan-Created Comment on MileHighReport.com. The opinion here is not necessarily shared by the editorial staff of MHR

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in 1994 the NFL moved the kickoff position back to the 30 yd line from the original 35 yd line

The thought back then was that kickoff returns were exciting and the game needed more excitement.
I guess football was boring before 1994?

Everything old is new again. :-)

Ding Dong the lockout's dead

by DE_BroncoFan on Aug 16, 2011 1:37 PM MDT reply actions

DE, but the game improved when they made this move

The number of kickoffs returned to TD increased from 6 to 14 in 1 year (i’m not sure about the number, but I think it was it).

The game was YES less exciting to watch because we had a lot of touchbacks… that’s why they changed the rule and moved the spot to 30y. And it worked!!!

Now they are moving back, and it sux a lot imo. I agree with bonaire about this “new” rule.

I bleed Orange & Blue.

by Fabio Broncos on Aug 16, 2011 4:18 PM MDT up reply actions

I actually don't like the rule change. I was merely pointing out the history.

I think this will help the Broncos in the short term, but I think it will hurt the league in the long-term.

Ding Dong the lockout's dead

by DE_BroncoFan on Aug 17, 2011 6:38 AM MDT up reply actions

Now we agree, DE

The most affected teams will be the Bears and the Eagles for now (desean jackson and devin hester), but in a long-term it will hurt the entire league indeed.

I bleed Orange & Blue.

by Fabio Broncos on Aug 17, 2011 7:01 AM MDT up reply actions

I got myself thinking again today about this matter...

…and I just realized something sad.

The chargers had top offense AND defense last year, with a lot of turnovers and poor special team plays that resulted on them missing the postseason.

Now, the special team plays won’t make all that difference for a while. Only the punt plays, so they tend to be helped with this new rule in short-term even more than the Broncos. And this is very sad because I don’t like to see them or any other division rival getting better or helped with anything.

I bleed Orange & Blue.

by Fabio Broncos on Aug 17, 2011 12:16 PM MDT up reply actions

Actually,

You said this same thing when I expressed a worry about too frequent of touchbacks with the new rule. I will give you my same answer which I gave then; the kickoff specialists are much better (in distance) than in 1994.
I would now ask you a variation on your question. After the first preseason games this year, to you think there is a greater percentage of KO for touchbacks than in the first preseason game of 1994. I have no stats, but my eyes tell me “yes”.

by idahobronc on Aug 16, 2011 10:32 PM MDT up reply actions

Yeah it is just wrong

This makes it too easy for teams to just kick it for a touchback, though smart teams may have their kickers practice kicking higher and shorter to gain an advantage and create turnovers.

"Bombs dropping down overhead. Underground. It's instilled to want to live." -EV

by sadaraine on Aug 16, 2011 1:55 PM MDT reply actions

I agree sad and if a kicker can get a 4-5 second hang-time where the ball comes down at the 1-5 and with the extra 5 yd start...Bam! Boom! Bang!

by bfree2bronc on Aug 16, 2011 2:07 PM MDT up reply actions

I guess the Bears sorta kinda challenged the rule in their first game with the first 2 kickoffs (The refs didn't notice?)

Oh really? I noticed the refs didn’t notice alot of things and one in particular was when Jarvis Moss hit the ‘9er quarterback 2 steps after the ball was thrown. Seems like rules are made to either ignor or enforce. Now I guess if a team does kick from anywhere behind the 35 yard line then a penalty will be charged. From what I’ve read, they don’t even know what the penalty will be? `My thinking is that these kickers have to adjust and learn how to squibble kick form the hash marks to the sideline if they want to make plays on the returner. It’s not impossible to kick a ball where you want it when it is learned. I hope we will see a lot more of it when kickers get more proficient at doing it.

by bfree2bronc on Aug 16, 2011 2:04 PM MDT reply actions

yeah, wait... we're still playing football, right?

back when the lockout agreement had almost been reached, i remember one “source” being asked if the players or owners won and he said,“the only thing the players didn’t get was someone to play for them on sundays.”

don’t want to argue the finer points of that quote, but the player safety issue seems like it will really be changing the DNA of the game more and more. i’m not in favor of it but as usual the NFL doesn’t solicit many of my opinions. they should though. imo.

by oxmouth on Aug 16, 2011 3:16 PM MDT reply actions

at first glance it does take away from the game.

but if this can prevent just one incident like the one a lot of us watched unfold in Buffalo with Kevin Everret then it will be worth it. This is still a game and no one should suffer the way he did.

I am a fan of a team in the NBA, MLB, NHL, and NFL. I haven't seen the playoffs since April 28th, 2008 (1st round exit by raps). I haven't seen playoffs past the 1st round since January 26th, 2006. Stop and think about how insane it is. And depressing.

by Eddie.Teach on Aug 16, 2011 3:16 PM MDT reply actions

your sig...

it’s cause you’re a toronto fan (at least, judging by your raptor love). I thought, for you guys, the pga was sort of like the playoffs…?
(go habs go)

by mast on Aug 16, 2011 3:44 PM MDT up reply actions

this is one of those things

we could all go around in circles arguing, but i’d actually say no, it’s not worth it. not because i’m cruel and cold blooded but because it doesn’t guarantee anything of the sort (if it did, we’d all be for it 100%) and it’s one of the most exciting parts of the game. just like a lot of people will have head injuries in car accidents this year—and i might possibly be one of them—i still don’t want to be required to wear a helmet when i drive to the grocery store.

remember the whole thing about the possibility of players being safer if they actually had LESS pads? that one kind of does intrigue me still…

by oxmouth on Aug 16, 2011 3:50 PM MDT up reply actions

the rule is for the safety of the players

by broncos242088 on Aug 16, 2011 3:34 PM MDT reply actions

Thanks for the insight.

Truth shall be known.

by Agent Jerry Fletcher on Aug 16, 2011 3:46 PM MDT up reply actions 1 recs

lol the league really cares about safety of the players

by Bustafluff on Aug 16, 2011 4:11 PM MDT up reply actions

um

it should also be noted that the guys playing this ‘game’ are paid… a lot.
It is their job.. their job to entertain… and we are not entertained.
You could also compare it to Alaskan crab fisherman, or better yet fireman and policemen.
They risk death, but its their job, they get paid. end of story.
in the NFL:
They risk injury (not even death), but its their job (to play a game), they get paid (a lot more)
Maybe thats cruel… idk. I mean, of course i dont want people to get hurt. but fact is fact, they sign contracts for obscene amounts of money, to entertain people. and IF they get hurt, they get the absolute best medical care possible.

It is quite irritating to see this happen. My first reaction also was to just do away with kick-offs, but bonaire mentioned, sponsors wont allow it.

by Teboner on Aug 16, 2011 3:38 PM MDT reply actions

I also hate the all-scoring-plays-are-reviewed

Talk about a buzzkill.

Truth shall be known.

by Agent Jerry Fletcher on Aug 16, 2011 3:47 PM MDT reply actions

ehh. goes both ways for me.

sometimes your team gets screwed by a bad touchdown call, and you are pissed
sometimes your team gets lucky because of a bad touchdown call, and you are happy

by Teboner on Aug 16, 2011 3:50 PM MDT up reply actions

Is now a bad time...

To bring up Ed Hochuli?

"You’re only great if you win something. I mean, Alexander wasn’t Alexander the Mediocre or Alexander the Average. He was Alexander the Great, and there’s a reason for it."-Shannon Sharpe

by CH74 on Aug 16, 2011 3:56 PM MDT up reply actions

hahaha

he BLEW IT, but i wasnt complaining that game…

by Teboner on Aug 16, 2011 4:09 PM MDT up reply actions

i'm with you, agent.

i’ve heard people say that the refs need a break and that this will help take some pressure off. i think if i was a ref though, i’d be tempted to be mildly insulted. i mean, you already can review controversial scores. why review everything? do they really need to review a 50 yard wide open touchdown run? dang. i’m getting irritated. i blame bonaire.

by oxmouth on Aug 16, 2011 4:22 PM MDT up reply actions

Eliminating Kickoffs

Would seriously take away from the game. No more onside kicks in tight games? No more return game to alter field position? Where do we stop after kickoffs? Punts? It would be a travesty of bilblical proportions eliminate the kickoff.

The new rule is definitely hurting the game right now, but as the season progresses, you are going to see teams adapting their game to the new rule. We are probably going to see more return men taking it out from 8 yards deep trying to make something happen. This rule is going to change the face of the game and only time will tell how significant that change will be.

"You’re only great if you win something. I mean, Alexander wasn’t Alexander the Mediocre or Alexander the Average. He was Alexander the Great, and there’s a reason for it."-Shannon Sharpe

by CH74 on Aug 16, 2011 4:25 PM MDT reply actions

Touchbacks

I think they should move touchbacks up to the 25 or 30 yard line so that the kickers must use some technique rather than just crushing the kick.

Also, around week 10, the touchbacks will go way down due to leg fatigue and colder weather.

by captain80 on Aug 16, 2011 5:30 PM MDT reply actions 1 recs

If they did what you are suggsting

The players would get killed from the new techniques .

by cboyinlittled on Aug 17, 2011 12:31 AM MDT up reply actions

Directional kicking

On kickoffs is a huge gamble for the simple fact that if you put one out of bounds, the opposing team gets the ball at the 40, its not like a punt. I don’t know about you, but I’d take a start at the 30 over a start at the 40 anyday. I think we’ll probably see a lot more squib kicks this year than we have in the recent past. I am curious to see how teams work around the new rule.

"You’re only great if you win something. I mean, Alexander wasn’t Alexander the Mediocre or Alexander the Average. He was Alexander the Great, and there’s a reason for it."-Shannon Sharpe

by CH74 on Aug 17, 2011 12:03 PM MDT up reply actions

Denver Broncos special teams...

We blow coverage all the time and normally have the worst start position in the league. This is great for us on both sides. Plus at mile high there have always been allot of touchbacks. I don’t have stats, but it seems that way. I could be wrong.

by Triz06 on Aug 16, 2011 10:05 PM MDT reply actions