What’s five yards ?

Apparently, the Competition Committee doesn’t think it’s much. Their proposal to adjust kickoff rules with little explanation has moved the ball from the 30 to the 35 yard line. This now affects teams fastest, most explosive players from getting you excellent field position with a great kick return. Devin Hester has returned 19 kicks in the last 32 games for Chicago, and now with a solid boot, return specialists will be forced to take a knee.

The glass half full approach to this kickoff change may not cheer you up if your team has an amazing return specialist, but it does give you something to think about. Kickoffs on the 35 yard-line may increase the number of onside kicks.

An onside kick has to go 10 yards; by moving the ball further away from the end-zone, it allows for a failed onside kick attempt (give or take a few yards for the scramble) to roughly end up closer to the 50 yard line, maybe further. There are many different types of onside kick attempts a kicker uses, but if one could master a high chip-shot that travels around 10-15 yards, the risk is worth the reward. Teams with great defenses may feel this is a gamble worth making, especially in tight or must win games.

The battle of field position is a major part of the game. Taking away more of the things we love for kneels in the end-zone followed by beer commercials and truck ad’s is not a move forward, and makes zero sense.