NFL Approval of New Kickoff Rule | Page 2 | FinHeaven - Miami Dolphins Forums

NFL Approval of New Kickoff Rule

Merle13 said:
Kickoffs during NFL games will look different in 2024 after owners voted to approve the hybrid rule change on Tuesday.
CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones reported the vote passed 29-3, with the Green Bay Packers, Las Vegas Raiders and San Francisco 49ers being the only dissenting votes.
The hybrid kickoff rule allows for 10 non-kickers on the kicking team to line up at the opponent's 40-yard line.
The receiving team has to place at least seven of its players between its own 30- and 35-yard lines in the "set up zone." They are permitted to allow a maximum of two players in the "landing zone" between the goal line and 20-yard line.
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The front line of the KO team is the opponent's 40 and the receiving team is the 35. 5 yds difference. If the kicker kicks a line drive immediately covered by the receiving team, the ball is placed somewhere around the 35 - same as kicking it in the EZ. Or, does the ball have to be kicked from a tee? Can a punter kickoff?
 
Ryan1973 said:
They already voted no on the 4th and 20 attempt replacing the onside kick.
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I read this wrong initially and thought you said they had voted it in. Hopefully it eventually gets voted in.
 
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Fin-Loco said:
Sure. However, recently there has been very few if any surprise onside kicks. Has to be an absolute perfect storm to not only pull one off but to do it and then actually GET the ball. So yeah, that Hailey's comet of a play is now gone. Meh.
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Yeah, it’s EXTREMELY rare- as I pointed out in my first post, but it still was something an HC could use in certain situations that carried an element of surprise and is a different play than lining up in an onsides formation which is what you were originally referring to.

I didn’t realize as part of the new rule changes that the 4th and 20 thing had also been approved by owners. That’s a great decision and IMO gives the coaches a much better alternative to the onsides kick all together.
 
Aqua Man said:
Yeah, it’s EXTREMELY rare- as I pointed out in my first post, but it still was something an HC could use in certain situations that carried an element of surprise and is a different play than lining up in an onsides formation which is what you were originally referring to.

I didn’t realize as part of the new rule changes that the 4th and 20 thing had also been approved by owners. That’s a great decision and IMO gives the coaches a much better alternative to the onsides kick all together.
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What is the 4th and 20 part?
 
Fin-Loco said:
What is the 4th and 20 part?
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I just read up on it more and it was actually voted down by teams today, which is a bummer.

Under the proposal, after a team scores, they’d have the opportunity to retain possession of the ball by attempting 1 down from their own 30-35 yard line. They’d need to gain 20 yards to retain possession and if not, the opposing team gets the ball at the spot of the failed down.

Hopefully this rule eventually makes its way to the NFL because it seems like a much better alternative to an onsides attempt and could be much more exciting.
 
Springveldt said:
Does this mean the Dolphins should think about Tyreek or Achane returning kicks now? Beat 1 man and they might be gone.
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You don’t put key starters in the position unless absolutely vital.
 
Springveldt said:
Does this mean the Dolphins should think about Tyreek or Achane returning kicks now? Beat 1 man and they might be gone.
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When I watched some video of XFL kickoffs, the first thing I thought that was Achane or Tyreke could take it to the house 2-3 times per season under these new rules.

Obviously, there will be injury concerns but I think Miami would be stupid not to at least put Achane back there. I think another exciting product of this rule change will be that we start seeing teams draft return specialists just for that role. That’s something that’s gone by the wayside in todays NFL but back in the day, guys like Eric Metcalf and Deion could change the entire complexion of a game with a kick return.
 
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