New NFL Kickoff Rule Adopted

[Joemailman]

It passed 29-3. Packers were one of 3 teams voting against it.

Kickoffs will remain at the 35-yard line, but the remaining 10 players on the kicking unit will line up at the opposing team's 40-yard line. The receiving team lines up with at least seven players in the "set-up zone," a five-yard area between their own 35- and 30-yard lines, with a maximum of two returners can line up in the landing zone.

After the ball is kicked, the kicker cannot cross the 50-yard line and the 10 kicking team players cannot move until the ball hits the ground or a player in the landing zone or goes into the end zone. The receiving team's players in the set-up zone also cannot move until the kick has hit the ground or a player in the landing zone or the end zone. The returner(s) may move at any time before or during the kickoff.

Kickoff scenarios:

Kickoffs that hit the landing zone must be returned.
Kickoffs that hit the landing zone and then go into the end zone must be returned or downed by the receiving team. If downed, the receiving team would get the ball at its own 20-yard line.
Kickoffs that go into the end zone and stay inbounds that are downed would give the receiving team the ball at their own 30-yard line. Kickoffs that go out of the back of the end zone (in the air or bounces) would also be a touchback at the receiving team's 30-yard line.
Kickoffs short of the landing zone would be treated like a kickoff out of bounds, and the receiving team would get the ball at its own 40-yard line.
The legislation also will lead to a tweak in onside kicks, which can only occur in the fourth quarter and onward when a team trails. The kicking team must declare its intent to onside kick.

The new rule is in place only for 2024 and is subject to renewal in 2025.

[MadScientist]

This sounds like some weird video game influenced skills competition instead of an actual sport. Good for the Packers for voting against this mess.

[MadtownPacker]

Proud the Pack is one of the 3. This is some confusing bullshit. Who are the other two teams that love football?

Also wonder what is the penalty for stepping out of your kickoff area?

[George Cumby]

Proud the Pack is one of the 3. This is some confusing bullshit. Who are the other two teams that love football?

Also wonder what is the penalty for stepping out of your kickoff area?

Raiders and Niners.

[MadtownPacker]

Raiders and Niners.

Raiders I figured. Thought Bears might be the other. Guess with all the WRa they signed they want to help them out.

[Joemailman]

I don't think it's that complicated. People will catch on pretty quickly. The main thing not explained is what happens if a kick goes out of bounds within the landing zone.

[Patler]

so Kiesan Nixon gets a 20 yard free run headstart if receiving a kick on the fly? I suspect all he will see is squib kicks.

There will be a lot of experimentation by kicking teams on where and how to kick, and maybe even some rethinking about the types of blockers receiving teams will use.

[sharpe1027]

Just get rid of the kickoff already.

[red]

well, that complicates the shit out of a kickoff

they need to start making the game LESS complicated, not more

[red]

Just get rid of the kickoff already.

it will be soon enough

nfl needs to look at what happened to nascar. they added all kinds of weird shit to races. the redneck base wasn't smart enough to figure it out anymore, so now the sport is almost dead

nfl is starting to move into that territory imo

[pittstang5]

I listened to NFL radio today and got even more confused when they were trying to explain it.

With the figures posted by JoeMailman, now I understand. It'll be interesting to see it in Pre-season.

[MadScientist]

I listened to NFL radio today and got even more confused when they were trying to explain it.

With the figures posted by JoeMailman, now I understand. It'll be interesting to see it in Pre-season.

They will be describing this rule in every pre-game show for the entire season. By then everyone will finally understand, just in time for the NFL to shit-can the rule.

[Ratatouille]

Sounds like the rules to Calvinball...

"Rules cannot be used twice (except for the rule that rules cannot be used twice), and any plays made in one game may not be made again in any future games. The game may involve wickets, mallets, volleyballs, and additional sports-related equipment."

[texaspackerbacker]

The way I read this, I don't expect much of a difference. An endzone kick puts it on the 30 instead of the 25 - BFD there. Most of the kicks will look like kickoffs with the old rule. The only difference is the D goes from a standing start 25 yards closer than before with a running start. I'm not a big fan of safety crap, but it seems like they've achieved it here without substantially changing the end result or the way the kick return is gonna look.

It didn't say above whether the two returning team players in the 20-30 yardline area can't move. Assuming they can, you've got Keisan and basically three lead blockers to blast a hole in a fairly thin line of defenders since the kicking team will be spread across the whole field and not able to converge until the ball is caught. We might see some big returns. We might also see some teams use RB1s returning kicks.

[George Cumby]

Sounds like the rules to Calvinball...

"Rules cannot be used twice (except for the rule that rules cannot be used twice), and any plays made in one game may not be made again in any future games. The game may involve wickets, mallets, volleyballs, and additional sports-related equipment."

I would pay good money to watch real Calvinball.

[King Friday]

This is far superior to the prior scheme of kickoffs where 80% of them were touchbacks. This format incentivizes returning from the receiving team and not kicking inside the end zone for the kicking team.

[beveaux1]

What happens on an on-side kick?

[MadtownPacker]

What happens on an on-side kick?

You can’t be sneaky.

[Fosco33]

Proud the Pack is one of the 3. This is some confusing bullshit. Who are the other two teams that love football?

Also wonder what is the penalty for stepping out of your kickoff area?

It’s only because we overpaid a kick return specialist…. I said that was a dumb move when it occurred. Oh well.

I like the change but we’ll need clarity on onside rules

[SudsMcBucky]

The more I listen and see from the XFL how this will look, the better it's getting. When I FIRST heard this, I thought, "oh shit, this is fucking stupid." However, this is actually seeming to start make sense.