NFL owners approve massive revamp to kickoff play

[Auggie]

NFL owners approved a massive revamp of the kickoff play Tuesday, opting, after three days of discussions at the league's annual meeting, for a format that originated in the XFL.

SNIP

The new alignment rules represent the most significant on-field rule change for the NFL in years and are designed to reverse more than a decade of declining return rates while also lowering concussion rates. In essence, the format will move the majority of the kicking and return teams downfield to minimize high-speed collisions. It will go into effect for one year only in anticipation of possible tweaks over time.

During the 2024 season, kickers will continue to kick from the 35-yard line, but the other 10 players on the kickoff team will line up at the receiving team's 40-yard line. At least nine members of the return team will line up in a "setup zone" between the 35- and 30-yard lines. Up to two returners can line up in a "landing zone" between the goal line and the 20-yard line.

No one other than the kicker and returner(s) can move until the ball hits the ground or hits a player inside the landing zone. Touchbacks will be marked at the 30-yard line, and no fair catches will be allowed. In the event a team wants to attempt an onside kick, it will have to inform officials of its intent and would then be allowed to use the NFL's traditional formation. No surprise onside kicks will be allowed.

FULL STORY: https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/39812700/nfl-owners-approve-massive-revamp-kickoff-play

[underpants]

1. I don't like to no fair catch part or the onside kick part

Of course it would be impossible to do one with the set up.

[EarlG]

5. I don't mind the no fair catch part if

nobody other than the kicker or returners are allowed to move until the ball is either caught or dropped. There would be no need for a fair catch under those circumstances since the returner would never be in any danger. It would always be in the receiving team's interest to try to return the ball.

Moving the touchback up to 30 yards also provides an additional disincentive for the kicking team to just boot the ball out the back of the end zone every time. You'll probably see a lot more caught kickoffs with run-back attempts under this new rule, but the receiving team will still have to work hard to get an advantage on the return, because the kicking team will be lining up on the receiving team's 40 yard line, which doesn't give them a lot of room to run.

It's almost like kickoffs are now short-field punts with a guaranteed catch. The kicker will try to pin the returner back near the goal line, and it will be up to the returner whether to catch it and go or hope it rolls into the end zone for a touchback.

It's a radical change but I'm kinda curious to see how it plays out.

[underpants]

6. Yeah I guess so. The kicking team will have stagger their distances

I meant depth too.

Otherwise a return could just pop through at one spot and be gone.

Kick returning almost a lost art and a lot of that has to do with how good kickers are now.

[ProfessorGAC]

9. I Have A Feeling...

...that placekickers are already working on high, directional kicks to cut half the field.
That said, I don't think this new play will leave open field lanes. I don't believe it will lead to more long, exciting returns
I guess we'll find out.

[Diamond_Dog]

2. Since I'm not all that astute on football,

What are they trying to accomplish with this?

On edit: what is the purpose of making the kicking team’s players line up on the receiving team’s 40 yard line?

[Auggie]

3. Reduce concussions while adding relevance to kickoffs

Kickoffs had become so routine there was hardly any need to care about them. Shortened field suggests tackles won't be as violent.

[Diamond_Dog]

7. TY Auggie

[MichMan]

4. Make kick returns for yardage mandatory unless the ball is kicked into the end zone

[Diamond_Dog]

8. TY MichMan