Are you enjoying the new and IMPROVED kickoff rule?

[SteelerFanInStl]

I think the rule sucks. Just one more step toward the new flag football league.

[HometownGal]

I'm kind of iffy on it. Though our ST's improved last season on return coverage, I still get the heebie jeebies when we're playing a team with a stellar kick/punt returner.

[Craic]

I think the rule sucks. Just one more step toward the new flag football league.

Really? I thought it was a step back to how they USED to play the game. All they are doing is lifting a rule set in place a few years ago. This is why you don't regulate the game to make it more exciting. Unintended consequences will always come back to bite you.

But remember, this isn't anything knew. It just ends a what... 10 year experiment?

[Count Steeler]

Really? I thought it was a step back to how they USED to play the game. All they are doing is lifting a rule set in place a few years ago. This is why you don't regulate the game to make it more exciting. Unintended consequences will always come back to bite you.

But remember, this isn't anything knew. It just ends a what... 10 year experiment?

As I remember it, the kickoff was put back to the 30 yard line because there were too many touchbacks. The NFL wanted more excitement, more offense. That is why I am surprised that the kickoff got put back to the 35 yard line. It seems the new rules are designed for 1) Player safety and 2) More offense. While our own special teams have left something to be desired for the last couple of years, the kick off was an exciting part of the game. So putting the kickoff at the 35 yard line is definitely not for offensive output.

As for player safety, it did not seem to me that there were more injuries during kick offs as opposed to regular plays. However, I did not study actual results, so perhaps the NFL changed the rule for player safety? Oh well, Goodell knows best.

[SteelerFanInStl]

As I remember it, the kickoff was put back to the 30 yard line because there were too many touchbacks. The NFL wanted more excitement, more offense. That is why I am surprised that the kickoff got put back to the 35 yard line. It seems the new rules are designed for 1) Player safety and 2) More offense. While our own special teams have left something to be desired for the last couple of years, the kick off was an exciting part of the game. So putting the kickoff at the 35 yard line is definitely not for offensive output.

As for player safety, it did not seem to me that there were more injuries during kick offs as opposed to regular plays. However, I did not study actual results, so perhaps the NFL changed the rule for player safety? Oh well, Goodell knows best.

Correct. The rule changes were put into place in the name of 'player safety'. Don't forget that they also changed the player runup so that they can't start back as far. I wouldn't be surprised to see touchbacks as high as 50% this year.