Pop Up Kick Off

[Moranis]

Do you think we might see a lot more "pop up" kick offs now that that the kick will occur from the 35?  What I mean is with the extra five yards closer, a kicker can now look for more height and less distance, with the intent of forcing the receiving team to field a kick with a lot of hang time inside the five (they can't let it go because it is a live ball).  Also, the shorter field allows the coverage team to get down the field faster. 

All said the new rule might actually make kick offs more dangerous if the kickers can master the "pop up" style kick off.  Sometimes it is just better to leave things alone.

[Chris]

Nope, I think we are going to see a ton more touchbacks.

Kickers know the stats that they are rated on, and as kickoff men, the number one stat is touchbacks.  Everything else depends on the coverage, but touchbacks are something they can largely control. 

[Donoghus]

The new rule is ridiculous. 

A team like Chicago has every right to be peeved.

[Chris]

The new rule is ridiculous. 

A team like Chicago has every right to be peeved.

I just hate it because it is so clearly a negotiating ploy.  The only reason this was passed was so the owners can say they are passing rules to try to keep the players safe, when in reality, the safety concerns from that are negligible. 

[Roy H.]

Didn't they move the kickoffs from the 35 to the 30 a few years ago, because there were too many touchbacks and the league wanted more offense?

Anyway, if the league wants to cut down on devastating hits, there's one solution:  implement a PFD policy with real teeth, including blood tests for HGH.  It's pretty clear that the vast majority of the league is on illegal substances, which leads to bigger and faster players, and thus, bigger hits.

[Greenbean]

Didn't they move the kickoffs from the 35 to the 30 a few years ago, because there were too many touchbacks and the league wanted more offense?

Anyway, if the league wants to cut down on devastating hits, there's one solution:  implement a PFD policy with real teeth, including blood tests for HGH.  It's pretty clear that the vast majority of the league is on illegal substances, which leads to bigger and faster players, and thus, bigger hits.

I thought the NFL had the most stringent drug testing policies of all the major sports. At least that is what the mainstream media has led me to believe. I do not know the details and have never had the curiosity to look it up.

You are right that these guys are all jacked. Do you think there is a drug problem in the NFL similar to baseball 5 years ago?

[Roy H.]

Didn't they move the kickoffs from the 35 to the 30 a few years ago, because there were too many touchbacks and the league wanted more offense?

Anyway, if the league wants to cut down on devastating hits, there's one solution:  implement a PFD policy with real teeth, including blood tests for HGH.  It's pretty clear that the vast majority of the league is on illegal substances, which leads to bigger and faster players, and thus, bigger hits.

I thought the NFL had the most stringent drug testing policies of all the major sports. At least that is what the mainstream media has led me to believe. I do not know the details and have never had the curiosity to look it up.

You are right that these guys are all jacked. Do you think there is a drug problem in the NFL similar to baseball 5 years ago?

I think the drug problem in the NFL is much greater than it was in baseball, but nobody in the NFL cares about things like "purity of the game".  Instead, fans just want to see big hits and fast action.

Guys on my Class B high school football team in suburban Maine were juiced.  I find it patently absurd to think that less than 1% of the NFL or college players are, but that's what the testing results would have you believe.  Of course, when you're not testing for HGH, it's pretty much pointless.

[Greenbean]

Didn't they move the kickoffs from the 35 to the 30 a few years ago, because there were too many touchbacks and the league wanted more offense?

Anyway, if the league wants to cut down on devastating hits, there's one solution:  implement a PFD policy with real teeth, including blood tests for HGH.  It's pretty clear that the vast majority of the league is on illegal substances, which leads to bigger and faster players, and thus, bigger hits.

I thought the NFL had the most stringent drug testing policies of all the major sports. At least that is what the mainstream media has led me to believe. I do not know the details and have never had the curiosity to look it up.

You are right that these guys are all jacked. Do you think there is a drug problem in the NFL similar to baseball 5 years ago?

I think the drug problem in the NFL is much greater than it was in baseball, but nobody in the NFL cares about things like "purity of the game".  Instead, fans just want to see big hits and fast action.

Guys on my Class B high school football team in suburban Maine were juiced.  I find it patently absurd to think that less than 1% of the NFL or college players are, but that's what the testing results would have you believe.  Of course, when you're not testing for HGH, it's pretty much pointless.

I see your point.

I think another aspect as to why no one is talking about drugs in the NFL is that besides what we can see in regards to player's bodies getting bigger, the game hasnt changed much in favor of offenses or defenses.

In baseball, home run records were being destroyed almost yearly. Guys were having career rebirths well into their 30's and even early 40's. Bonds, Clemens, McGuire all had career years in their late 30's (Clemens 40s) after already posting hall of fame careers.

In football, there is nothing jumping out at us number wise that tells us that, "wow these guys have to be on drugs now".

Even though our eyes tell us, these guys HAVE to be on something.

[Moranis]

Nope, I think we are going to see a ton more touchbacks.

Kickers know the stats that they are rated on, and as kickoff men, the number one stat is touchbacks.  Everything else depends on the coverage, but touchbacks are something they can largely control. 

I can see that, but if everyone is getting kickoffs, you might set yourself apart if you are constantly forcing them to field pop ups where the odds of getting back to the 20 are much smaller.