In the off season the league rule change committee was seemingly very close to making kick off cover rule changes. It didn't go through (and I'm still not sure about claims that kick cover creates more injuries) but the NFL made the change. With the first week in we can see some of the impact of the changes. 

I'm enjoying the change a lot, and keeping an average kick depth where the ball is in play most of the time would certainly improve the entertainment factor of kick off returns. 70 is about the longest average kick off, but with wind and outliers that actively ranges up to plus/minus 15 yards. Personally, I think giving kickers a better chance to kick singles and putting the return team in a position to decide if they want to return from just inside their end zone or let it go would be interesting and more balanced. 

https://operations.nfl.com/the-rules/rules-changes/new-dynamic-kickoff-rule-explainer/

https://sumersports.com/the-zone/kickoff-corner-nfl-week-1-new-dynamic-kickoff-rule/

www. youtube.com/watch?v=PrPyqtulzEM    < Every kick off return in week 1

 

I actually don't mind the new NFL kick off rule... the only thing I don't like about it is it eliminates the surprise on-side kick

Edited September 18, 20241 yr by bearpants

Don't see this as an issue at all in Canadian football.

1 hour ago, JuranBoldenRules said:

Don't see this as an issue at all in Canadian football.

They were pretty close to making the change for seemingly little reason. I don’t think it’s an injury risk, but I do think you can make the kick off return better, which is always big for the cfl. 
 

 

i hate it