NFL: Kickoff Rule Changes

Much is being made of this topic and the resulting schematic and personnel changes it will bring about in the NFL.  As with all NFL rules changes, the game will adapt and coordinators who can tinker and show creativity will thrive where the guys stuck in the past will soon be without a paycheck.

Let's look at the the facts before we make too many conjectures.

1. Kickoff moved up to the 35 yard line.
2. Coverage Team cannot line up more than 5 yards behind the ball.

Previously the rule changes proposed would extend the touchback to the 25 yard line and get rid of two-man wedges all together.  But neither of these were ultimately provisioned.

So will these rules really devalue return men in the NFL? Will we see less exciting kick returns? The answers are yes and no.

Teams with strong leg kickers will likely kick the ball out of the back of the endzone more often.  Especially because the coverage team will be slightly later than usual due to the 5 yard rule.

But those teams without elite kickers who can consistently kick out of the back of the endzone won't allow for the same strategy.  Also slower teams, i.e.. teams with limited quality special teams depth will require a strong legged kicker otherwise we might see their coverage weaknesses exposed.

In the NFL elite coverage units can get downfield and reach the 20 yardline in 5 seconds flat.  This of course is with the head start that has been removed from the rules.  Now it will take probably a half second longer to reach the twenty due to the rule changes.  This means that the kicker better A) kick the ball out of the back of the endzone, or B) kick the ball high and have it land atleast past the 5.  But it must be high and take almost 3 seconds to land.

Inexperienced kickers attempting a deep kick who line drive the ball short will put their coverage team in a bad position because they're half a second later than usual.  Environmental factors like wind, cold, and barometric pressure (believe it or not) all have an effect on how long the ball flies, so unless your team has Sebastian Janikowski or Rob Bironas, kickoffs won't be such a cinch this season, contrary to popular belief.