Revisiting the Kickoff Rule

by Steven Schweickert on Feb 4, 2012 3:00 PM CST in Notes

Last season, the NFL moved the kickoff line to the 35-yard-line from the 30, and reaction to the move was mixed, from claiming it was the end of the kickoff return to assertions that it would be no big deal.

When Roger Goodell was asked about it in his annual presser on Friday, in addition to his comments regarding the Super Bowl as posted earlier, he also said...

'We knew there would be less kickoff returns, but we thought safety was really a part of the initiative until we come up with a better solution. ... We will evaluate again this offseason. But I don't think we're moving it back."

So how much of an impact did the rule change have, and what can we expect in the future? Hit the jump...

As it turns out, quite a bit of an impact.

In 2010, there were 416 touchbacks (16.4 percent of all kickoffs, according to STATS) and Baltimore Ravens kicker Billy Cundiff led the league with 40.

In 2011, there were 1,120 touchbacks (43.5 percent) and 11 players had more than 40. New Orleans Saints punter Thomas Morstead led the league with 68.

And more related to the Bears...

The Bears' average starting point in 2011 was the 23.6 yard line, which ranked fifth in the league. Their average starting point in 2010 was the 31.5 yard line, which ranked second.

So kickoff touchbacks tripled, and the Bears' starting field position was cut by eight whole yards. As far as injuries are concerned, it seems like this goal was generally accomplished; although I can't find any links confirming this, it seems injuries overall on returns decreased significantly.

Tweet Comment 13 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Fine with the injuries and all, makes sense as a rule

but boy does this rule suck for fans – zzzzzzzzzzzz to watch kickoffs now.

I heard Goodell early on asked about this, sometime in September or October I think, and he tried to claim that it was the warm weather which was producing all the touchbacks along with the new rule. And that as the season got colder, later on, there’d be less touchbacks. I’m not sure whether that happened or not (it didn’t seem like it).

I'm not so mean. I wouldn't ever go out to hurt anybody deliberately - unless it was, you know, important, like a league game or something. - Dick Butkus

by iowaBear on Feb 4, 2012 4:56 PM CST reply actions

Matt Prater went so far as to perfect the art of the touchback:

link pops

by BOBdaBEAR on Feb 4, 2012 5:13 PM CST reply actions

the way to avoid injuries, yet preserve field position...

is to make the kicker stay within 5 yards of the kickoff line. The new rules force the coverage yeam to be within 5 yards of the ball, yet the kicker still gets 10 yards to run up to the kick. Eliminating the huge run-up would place the landing point near where it used to be (near the goal-line), and still limit the momentum of the coverage team, which is what caused all of the injuries.

by kokobear on Feb 4, 2012 6:21 PM CST reply actions 1 recs

To be honest...

At least this year there wasn’t a potential life threatening injury on kickoff. I don’t have data to back it up, but it seemed like kickoffs DID cause more then one life-threatening injury per year at least.

Cacti are prickly.

by crackedcactus on Feb 4, 2012 7:41 PM CST reply actions

One life-threatening injury per year?!

The only one I can think of is Kevin Everett five years ago. I’m sure that’s not the only one of the past decade or so, but one a year seems way too high.

by YaoPau on Feb 5, 2012 7:56 AM CST up reply actions

If a punter led the league in touch back in 2011

how does that relate to the kickoff rule. This is an interesting read and I think you have valid points but when a punter leads the league in touchbacks how does that effect the overall number of kickoff touch backs? I’m confuzzled a bit.

Above all; keep 'em guessing, never let them lose their sense of confusion.

by Just Dave on Feb 4, 2012 7:59 PM CST reply actions

Some teams use the punter as the kicker on kick-offs maybe?

by Digs D-League on Feb 4, 2012 9:04 PM CST up reply actions

Perhaps.

Above all; keep 'em guessing, never let them lose their sense of confusion.

by Just Dave on Feb 4, 2012 9:45 PM CST up reply actions

Just going with the guy who has the stronger leg

Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan
Phoenix Suns, Arizona Diamondbacks, Phoenix Coyotes, Arizona Rattlers fan
[I have always lived in Arizona, dad is from Chicago].

Leading the NFL in swagtangibles

by JoeCB1991 on Feb 4, 2012 11:27 PM CST up reply actions

Morstead is the Saints punter and kickoff specialist.

Kasay is trotted out for Field Goals and the only kickoffs he handles are the onside kicks.

in•san•i•ty \in-ˈsa-nə-tē\ noun
1 : The practice of repeating the same action while expecting different results.

by Timothy Hockemeyer on Feb 4, 2012 11:33 PM CST up reply actions

Ding.

Teams will on occasion use punters as kickoff specialists. Hell, didn’t Dallas employ a kickoff specialist and a field goal specialist last year or two years ago?

Weekend contributor and official editorial lackey/waitstaff at Windy City Gridiron
If a people-avoiding gaming hermit is on Twitter, I should be too. Follow me!

by Steven Schweickert on Feb 5, 2012 8:37 AM CST up reply actions

I heard that they would drop this rule if the touchbacks reached a certain %

Anyone know if they are doing this or what the percentage was?

by Shuggs on Feb 5, 2012 4:16 PM CST reply actions

The league bigwigs are full of bull when they say it's about safety.

Putting the kicking team 5 yards closer is about safety? Uh, I don’t think so. Can somebody tell the truth for 1ce and say it’s about slowing down Devin Hester and Josh Cribbs?

Dick Butkus: Best MLB ever!

by chi-town82 on Feb 17, 2012 9:09 AM CST reply actions