🏈 How will the new kickoff rules impact college football this fall?

[BAMANEWSBOT]

Take a touchback, or take your chances running the ball out? Live with opposing offenses starting at the 25-yard line, or live on the edge by trying to pin them deeper than that?College football coaches are asking themselves those questions this season thanks to new kickoff rules designed for safety purposes.

Because injuries occur during kickoffs more than any other situation, the NCAA Football Rules Committee moved kickoffs to the 35-yard line instead of the 30. Also, touchbacks will now be brought out to the 25 instead of the 20.

The idea is to cut down on the number of kick returns and reduce injuries. But no one is exactly sure how this change will play out.

"One view was the receiving team will now be a little quicker to say, 'I'll just take a knee and take it to the 25,'" said Steve Shaw, head of SEC officials. "But in talking to some of the special teams coaches in the spring, those that have really good kickers and good coverage will be tempted now to sky kick it and see if they can pin them in. The dynamics of how those rules come together will be intriguing to watch."

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[TerryP]

It's this change I'm most interested in seeing the impact of:

There's another relevant change. Players who field onside/squib kicks are afforded protection on the first bounce. The kickoff team must wait until the second bounce before it can make contact with a player, eliminating the one-hop kick from football.

That would have changed the outcome of a few games last year. One I'd say for sure is Auburn vs Utah State.

 

[252BAMA]

It's this change I'm most interested in seeing the impact of:


That would have changed the outcome of a few games last year. One I'd say for sure is Auburn vs Utah State.

Extending the distance the ball has to travel, in order to be recovered, from 10 yards to 15 or 20 yards would have made more sense.

 

[CrimsonVette]

On sky kicks I don't see how it will be any safer. There will still be gunners running full out to nail the kick returner resulting in the same type of collisions there have always been.

If the sky kicks are fair caught that would negate the hits but a fair catch more than likely puts the receiving team in poor field position so I don't see that happening much.

 

[psychojoe]

Just let Foster keep on doing what he has done. His kickoffs typically came down in the five to ten yard line area. back them up five and they are still not in the end zone. Now cover well and we keep them inside the 25.

 

[TerryP]

On sky kicks I don't see how it will be any safer. There will still be gunners running full out to nail the kick returner resulting in the same type of collisions there have always been.

If the sky kicks are fair caught that would negate the hits but a fair catch more than likely puts the receiving team in poor field position so I don't see that happening much.

I'm waiting on someone of note to step up and mention the real reason behind these career ending injuries; poor tackling technique.

 

[tidentrue]

I'm waiting on someone of note to step up and mention the real reason behind these career ending injuries; poor tackling technique.

are you referring to the "I-hope-I-knock-you-down Shoulder Bump" that is common today??

 

[TerryP]

are you referring to the "I-hope-I-knock-you-down Shoulder Bump" that is common today??

No. I'm talking about the tackles on kickoffs that have led to kids getting hurt. It's been those leading with their helmet with both feet off of the ground—launching themselves like a spear, if you will.

The hits you are talking about don't lead to injuries or bruises for that matter—a tackle now and then.

 

[UAgrad93]

are you referring to the "I-hope-I-knock-you-down Shoulder Bump" that is common today??

I always cringe when I see the 2 types of tackling that you and Terry have noted. To me, these are piss poor techniques that their "park league" coaches showed and encouraged. Junior high coaches that are often only taking up the supplement don't break them from it. Then high school coaches get them and they have so much going on into a practice, they spend a 5 minute period on tackling each day and that is it. I am a former high school coach and I know that we had the problem and it continues. I have an 11 year old son that is chomping at the bit to play at the park this fall. I won't allow it! Too many of those guys, while their intentions are good, have NO STINKING CLUE!!! Both of these "techniques" lead to injuries; guided missle leads you to eating out of a straw for the rest of hyour life, while the other leads to constant shoulder injuries ( dislocations, separations, nerve damage).

 

[alabama mike]

Look for players who are receiving the ball to take the touch back and bring the ball our to the 25 yard line. IMO, most end zpne kicks will be this way bc the coach is going to insist on it being that particular way.

Teams that are kicking off will probably have more swib kicks or the high kicks inside the 10. I think the kicking team is going to do everything possible to keep the ball from going in the end zone.

 

[mhardiman]

Just let Foster keep on doing what he has done. His kickoffs typically came down in the five to ten yard line area. back them up five and they are still not in the end zone. Now cover well and we keep them inside the 25.

Not to mention that the coverage team gets a five yard head start from the previous location.

 

[silvermetalflake]

For punts and kick offs, how about opposing players giving a mandatory 5 yards around the kick off/ punt returner, allowing him to touch the ball before moving in for the tackle.

 

[TerryP]

I always cringe when I see the 2 types of tackling that you and Terry have noted. To me, these are piss poor techniques that their "park league" coaches showed and encouraged. Junior high coaches that are often only taking up the supplement don't break them from it. Then high school coaches get them and they have so much going on into a practice, they spend a 5 minute period on tackling each day and that is it. I am a former high school coach and I know that we had the problem and it continues. I have an 11 year old son that is chomping at the bit to play at the park this fall. I won't allow it! Too many of those guys, while their intentions are good, have NO STINKING CLUE!!! Both of these "techniques" lead to injuries; guided missle leads you to eating out of a straw for the rest of hyour life, while the other leads to constant shoulder injuries ( dislocations, separations, nerve damage).

I came across this video and immediately thought back to this thread. What kills me is this is actually celebrated!

In 10-12 years, this has neck injury written all over it.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/JRvBqwHJo8Q" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[TerryP]

For punts and kick offs, how about opposing players giving a mandatory 5 yards around the kick off/ punt returner, allowing him to touch the ball before moving in for the tackle.

They've made a few adjustments in the "halo" rule this season. A quick google search should explain how much of a change. If memory serves, I want to say it's back to a yard and a half, maybe two yards, allowed to field the ball. Five is simply too much room.