Are you enjoying the new and IMPROVED kickoff rule?

[The Patriot]

I think it's great. Now I can take a nap in between possessions. I think I saw 2 returns the whole night in the Pats/Bucs game.

[suitanim]

Vince Lombardi is rolling over in his grave.

[BnG_Hevn]

For us I like it. I cringe when we're kicking off.

[BnG_Hevn]

Besides, what's new? It's "old-new" maybe but not "new-new".

[KeiselPower99]

When the annoucers are making fun of the rule you know its a joke.

[The Patriot]

When the annoucers are making fun of the rule you know its a joke.

That gives me hope. Maybe we'll actually see this rule get taken back.

I just hope it wasn't part of the NFL labor agreement.

[stillers4me]

I think I've found my new career....NFL kick returner. I'll sign for league minumim.

[Nadroj 20]

This rule is so stupid. Its taking away from a big part of the game.

Some guys make their money from special teams and this is hurting that part of the game.

[The Patriot]

They might as well just get rid of kickoffs altogether now, and just start possessions at the 20.

The NFL shouldn't risk a kicker rolling his ankle on an extraneous play.

[suitanim]

Couple valid points were made last night during the game. This rule could have a lot of wider implications. Since this will almost certainly benefit defenses, might more teams opt to kick when winning the toss like in college? Ever see the percentage break-down of scoring drives starting outside the 20 versus starting at the 20 or in? There is a BIG difference. I still wonder what returns will look like if people chance it. Since it will be more rare to actually defend against a return, will there be a lot more coverage break-downs?

And why on Earth would the networks continue the practice of commercial-kickoff-commercial if there aren't even going to be returns?

[The Patriot]

And why on Earth would the networks continue the practice of commercial-kickoff-commercial if there aren't even going to be returns?

I don't know why they do that to begin with. That's the one thing that makes me wanna stop watching football, and do something around the house.

[Count Steeler]

So far, I am not a fan of this rule change. However, it was interesting to see the Eagles return at least 2 kick offs from the end zone. One of them ended on a tackle by the kicker Waters. Perhaps his best play of the game. It was a solid tackle.

[mark0933]

After watching the Chicago first game when they kicked from the 30, I thought of an interesting twist. Why not add a little more "at stake" to the coin flip. The winner of the flip gets to decide whether the kicks for the entire game are from the 30 or the 35. Puts control back into one team's hands - if you have a solid returner you would pick longer kicks, if you are against one of those guys like Cribbs, then you'd maybe choose to kick it through the end all night...

Thoughts or comments?

[Count Steeler]

After watching the Chicago first game when they kicked from the 30, I thought of an interesting twist. Why not add a little more "at stake" to the coin flip. The winner of the flip gets to decide whether the kicks for the entire game are from the 30 or the 35. Puts control back into one team's hands - if you have a solid returner you would pick longer kicks, if you are against one of those guys like Cribbs, then you'd maybe choose to kick it through the end all night...

Thoughts or comments?

I'm opposed. The game needs to be the consistent, regardless of coin toss.

[fansince'76]

I don't mind it only because our kickoff coverage has been spotty to poor for a number of years now. It's nice not seeing our opponents start drives past the 40 on a regular basis.

[Count Steeler]

I don't mind it only because our kickoff coverage has been spotty to poor for a number of years now. It's nice not seeing our opponents start drives past the 40 on a regular basis.

Yeah but lets not rely on rule changes, let's get a kick ass special teams.

[fansince'76]

Yeah but lets not rely on rule changes, let's get a kick ass special teams.

Our defense has been hamstrung more and more and more by rules changes for literally decades now, so I really don't mind when we actually benefit from one for a change. However, from the standpoint of being a football fan, yes, this change detracts from the game, but then most of the rules changes for the last several years have had pretty much the same effect.

[86WARD]

The rule blows...but it could help
Defenses a lot if you have a good kicker.

[Count Steeler]

It seems that the rationale for moving the kickoff back to the 35 is to limit injuries. I guess the NFL did their research and found that too many injuries occur during kick offs. One source even quoted Billicheat as saying that the NFL was considering removing kick offs altogether.

Are we heading to virtual reality football? No one gets injured.

[fansince'76]

Are we heading to virtual reality football? No one gets injured.

Pretty soon NFL games are going to be relegated to being played by those incredibly lame Fox robots.

[steeldawg]

I dont like the rule, but it really does help us because our kickoff coverage is awful. With the new rule teams are going to have to go 80 yards on our D, i like the sound of that.

[Butch]

Remember the old trading cards with plays on the back, the ones where you would get a run for a couple yards or a sack or a bomb for a touchdown?

The reason I bring it up is because we still have to address the punt after all this will now be the most potential for violence in the game. Maybe it could be changed so that on 4th down a team can either go for it or pick an official card from a deck of cards that will determine the outcome of the punt. Hell if that is successful then the most violent part of the game will be the game itself so we might as well just go to the card system that way nobody gets hurt.

[st33lersguy]

Goodell doesn't want people htting eachother on kckoffs, but he wants these players to play 2 extra games. He also turns a blind eye when Ben repeatedly recieves cheap shots. Does Goodell want player safety or not, he should make up his mind

[Edman]

I don't mind it this year, the Steelers actually benefit from a rule change for once as their coverage team has been spotty for years.

[Count Steeler]

So if the rationale of moving the kickoff is to protect players, will rushing be eliminated from the game. I think more players get injured on rushing plays than on passing plays.

[zulater]

Couple valid points were made last night during the game. This rule could have a lot of wider implications. Since this will almost certainly benefit defenses, might more teams opt to kick when winning the toss like in college? Ever see the percentage break-down of scoring drives starting outside the 20 versus starting at the 20 or in? There is a BIG difference. I still wonder what returns will look like if people chance it. Since it will be more rare to actually defend against a return, will there be a lot more coverage break-downs?

And why on Earth would the networks continue the practice of commercial-kickoff-commercial if there aren't even going to be returns?

Great point, I was wondering the same thing the other night. Hell, rather than just a bathroom break I practically have time to go out and get a six pack and pizza after a score now.

[steelpride12]

This should be how do you feel about the new kickoff rule as a whole for the league not the Steelers or someones team. I am not a fan of the rule one bit and truly takes away a large and exciting chunk of the game as I progressively watch this league falter each year.

[Count Steeler]

The Canadian Football League treats kickoffs and punts much more like offensive plays. In fact, on punts, you are not allowed to encroach a 5 yard circle around the receiver, regardless if he catches the ball in the air or if the ball rolls on the ground. The only person on the kicking team that is allowed to touch the ball is the punter or someone who was behind the punter, before he kicked the ball.

Kick offs are from the 35, but our field is 10 yards longer, so the kickoff rarely makes it into the end zone.

[ALLD]

New rule is good in theory because the Steelers have a history of poor STs and also gives me time to drop a duece and read after scoring.

[suitanim]

I concur that it's ultimately going to benefit us, but at what cost?

It's bad for the game. It's part of the continual pussification of football. That's bad.