The experimental path is something the National Football League is becoming more and more privy to trying – last year, the owners agreed to move extra point snaps to the 15-yard line for the 2015 season, a rule which was permanently adopted this week.
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I believe the rule change will in fact result in more returns, because I believe that more teams will less often strive to record a touchback in situations other than when they absolutely want to minimize the chance of a long return, believing that they can record a stop in advance of the 25-yard line.
This year they approved nine rule changes, headlined by what is being called “Beckham Rule ” “.
The owners also made all chop blocks illegal, a rule change that former New York Giants offensive lineman Shaun O’Hara weighed in on. This is the same distance as last season but now it’s permanent. This might be to counterbalance the league moving up the spot for a kickoff a few years ago, as it has been overwhelmingly unfair to the receiving team to attempt a return. Several NFL coaches lobbied against the change, competition committee chairman Rich McKay acknowledged to reporters.
Now, here’s some information on the controversial rule changes. Our entire focus this week was what do we do to continue to make our game great, to continue to make it safer for our players?
According to Deadspin, two veteran special teams coordinators told the Chicago Tribune the new rule will lead more teams telling the kickers to get as much hang time as possible while landing the ball near the goal line in an effort to cover a kick and pin the offense inside the 25 or even inside the 20. Mumphery has been an OK returner – although he fumbled against the Jets and Saints – and ranks 18th in the NFL in punt returns (7.6 yards per return) and 12th in the league in kick returns (24.1 yards per return).
Coaches may have to adjust their schemes to the new rule. Well, consider who is one of the league’s top touchback producers – New England’s Stephen Gostkowski, who since “11 has produced the most TBs, 280 in all, with opponents” average drive start after his boomers at their 20.7, tops among qualifying kickers. In spite of that absurdly high ratio, they still managed to allow a starting field position of the 25.4-yard line.
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While I think that’s a reasonable strategy response, I’m dubious of that being the outcome. With a near flawless success rate (99-plus percent) before the rule was modified, the competition committee was seeking a way to make the extra point more, well, competitive.
