NFL Owners Approve Kickoff Rule Changes For 2018

SoCalSeahawk":1czakwah said:

"Also, the receiving team can no longer initiate blocks before the ball is caught or hits the ground."

I'm reading this as the kicking team can now sprint unabated to the returner until the catch is made. With a hang time of 4.5 seconds, that puts most of the kick coverage team at the 25 yard line with a full head of steam before the receiving team can initiate contact. That doesn't seem like much of an opportunity for a return. If a kicker can buy more hang time with a shorter kick to the 5-10 yard line, this could mean fair catches on kickoffs. Anyone else seeing it this way?

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SoCalSeahawk":9103j1d8 said:

"Also, the receiving team can no longer initiate blocks before the ball is caught or hits the ground."

I'm reading this as the kicking team can now sprint unabated to the returner until the catch is made. With a hang time of 4.5 seconds, that puts most of the kick coverage team at the 25 yard line with a full head of steam before the receiving team can initiate contact. That doesn't seem like much of an opportunity for a return. If a kicker can buy more hang time with a shorter kick to the 5-10 yard line, this could mean fair catches on kickoffs. Anyone else seeing it this way?

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tooshort":ow329h1f said:

SoCalSeahawk":ow329h1f said:

"Also, the receiving team can no longer initiate blocks before the ball is caught or hits the ground."

I'm reading this as the kicking team can now sprint unabated to the returner until the catch is made. With a hang time of 4.5 seconds, that puts most of the kick coverage team at the 25 yard line with a full head of steam before the receiving team can initiate contact. That doesn't seem like much of an opportunity for a return. If a kicker can buy more hang time with a shorter kick to the 5-10 yard line, this could mean fair catches on kickoffs. Anyone else seeing it this way?

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I'm not sure how to see it, I hope the refs can eliminate the gray area I see, but the way it reads is that (in what equates to a 10 v 10 play) the refs are supposed to ascertain between "blocking" (illegal) and "pushing or pulling" (legal) to stop a player in either direction. On top of this they need to count players in their new legal "zones" pre-snap, and recognize said players various new blocking and movement rules post-snap.

Sounds like a new (maybe even worse) version of the overly complicated catch rule.

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SeatownJay":3t3fldzr said:

SoCalSeahawk":3t3fldzr said:

"Also, the receiving team can no longer initiate blocks before the ball is caught or hits the ground."

I'm reading this as the kicking team can now sprint unabated to the returner until the catch is made. With a hang time of 4.5 seconds, that puts most of the kick coverage team at the 25 yard line with a full head of steam before the receiving team can initiate contact. That doesn't seem like much of an opportunity for a return. If a kicker can buy more hang time with a shorter kick to the 5-10 yard line, this could mean fair catches on kickoffs. Anyone else seeing it this way?

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The article on seahawks.com is poorly written. The actual rule states that there is no blocking in the "setup zone" until the ball hits the ground or is caught. The setup zone is the 15-yard area from the 35 yardline to the 50. This article explains it better and has a video for those who like visual aids: http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/2357 ... -ejections

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Seahawks special teams coach Brian Schneider anticipates there could be more single blocking if the spacing is right. It also means smaller players on each side of the ball.

Last year the Seahawks used backup offensive linemen Matt Tobin and Jordan Roos on the kickoff return teams. No more. You won’t see offensive linemen or defensive linemen on kickoff. They will be replaced by defensive backs, linebackers, receivers or maybe tight ends.

If you are wondering what it will be like on kickoff returns for the Seahawks, it shouldn’t be too bad. Even though he’s now 40 and was hurt last year, Sebastian Janikowski is pretty good on kickoffs. Two years ago, the Raiders were the fourth best for the lowest drive starts after kickoffs. He usually has about 50 percent of his kicks returned.

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"Also, the receiving team can no longer initiate blocks before the ball is caught or hits the ground."

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