07-18-2018, 12:43 PM
Quote: @suncoastvike said:
The problems with returns is more related to all the collisions during blocking, rather than with the returner. I think it will encourage returns especially in years 1 and 2 where teams are still figuring out how to execute a kickoff returns. I think it will be more interesting for the fans, because they'll still get explosive returns, but hopefully safer for the players.@JimmyinSD said:
Ok thanks. I'm still fuzzy though because won't this make the returner more likely to see better openings? Thus encouraging more returns. Does it favor the returner?@suncoastvike said:
I'm in agreement with most here. The rules get changed to often before they have chance to really see what the effects will be. I don't get this one though. Isn't this going to make onside kicks impossible? What is the reason behind this new lineup rule? Is it going to make it harder for teams to cover kicks? When they proposed the 25 yard line on touch-backs is was because they wanted to discourage returns. As Jimmy noted teams just kicked high and short more times. That forced returns. I guess I don't understand how returns work well enough to understand the need for this change. It seems to me that it's encouraging the thing they want to discourage...IDK. Their thought is to keep the gunners and blockers in closer proximity to each other at the kick that it will be less violent collisions since the players won't be running full out when they hit...more like punt coverage. Although I've seen more punt returners get killed than KR.
