Together, the Chicago Bears and Houston Texans have eight kickoffs in the annual Hall of Fame Game, which is the NFL 2024 opening preseason contest. A glaring example of the potential efficacy of the league’s new kickoff stance is the fact that seven of them were denied and only one was touched back.
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Nevertheless, with two-thirds of the training gone, a more complex viewpoint on rule modification has emerged. For example, in the Minnesota Vikings’ Week 2 matchup with the Cleveland Browns. Six out of ten kickoff returns resulted in touchbacks. Just three came back.
The standard by which any type of preseason success is measured should always be the coaches’ instincts regarding keeping their strategy a secret until the regular season. In front of a regulation that might add 1,000 more plays to the regular season and drastically alter the average opening position of drives, there has been a good deal of legitimate experimenting.
Together with a few other new regulations and guidelines for the 2024 season. Let’s examine more closely what we’ve learnt thus far about how teams have responded to the new alignment.
The kickoff: Not a dead play anymore
This summer has seen a clear overall pattern, although significant fluctuation from game to game. Here is what has transpired leaguewide in the 2024 training after NFL clubs collectively returned 22% of kickoffs and allowed 73% to end in touchbacks during the 2023 regular season:
78% kickoffs have been made again
19% of touchbacks have resulted from kickoffs
Remember, kickoff returns were usually scored at higher rates during the preseason than they were under the previous rule. Nevertheless, compared to 63% at this point in 2023, this summer’s return rate is noticeably higher. You may also read: Jacksonville Jaguars’ Final implied team for the NFL 2024
NFL Average Kickoff Drives
Kickoffs at the 28.3-yard line have resulted in an average drive start after an average return of 25 yards. There has been an increase in variation along with that rise. Following a kickoff, about 20% of drives have begun inside the 20-yard line, 41% between the 21 and 30 yards, and 36% beyond the 30 yards. The increase in overall returns has resulted in more huge plays.
However, from 30% in Week 1 to 40% in Week 2. There was a noticeable rise in balls hit into the end zone. In the landing zone, which is the space between the goal line and the 20-yard line. About two-thirds of kickoffs have landed. A few miskicks have been made that have resulted in a penalty and the ball being noticed at the 40-yard line. Seven kickoffs have fallen inside the 20-yard line, and one has gone outside the rules.
Dawn Aponte Stated
Coaches may eventually decide to go with the certainty of a touchback over the probable variance of a return. As the new regulation calls for a touchback at the 30-yard line. The chief football executive of the league, Dawn Aponte, stated on Monday that it is doubtful that the touchback will be moved farther up to discourage kickoffs. She also stated that any more possible changes will likely be made in the following seven to ten days rather than during the regular season.
Kickers have engaged in more tackles, as predicted. As opposed to the 2023 regular-season rate of once per 15 games. They have been recognized with an assist or solo tackle around every four games. The kickoff and kickoff return protection, which is now more akin to offence against. Defence play has been discussed by starters. According to Vikings’ dedicated squads coordinator Matt Daniels, who made the announcement last week.
Daniels noted that the amusing thing about it is that you become more aware of your creativity the more you practice this new dynamic kickoff. You become aware of the potential minefield it might create and the extent of the weekly personnel turnover it can cause. You experience extreme excitement. Conversely, though, it is also possible to get a little bit cautious at the same moment.
Daniels grinned and responded, “100% of it,” when asked how much of his inventiveness would be on show during last Saturday’s preseason game versus the Browns. It’s all going to be available. The Vikings kicked seven times that day, and five of them ended up in the end zone. The Browns recovered three of the four that resulted in touchbacks.
Tackle that drops the hips: Nothing to observe here
Former and present players, coaches, and officials were greatly disturbed by the NFL owners’ decision to outlaw the hip-drop tackle. Their concerns ranged from what a legitimate tackle might look like in the future to whether referees would be able to spot infractions in real-time.
Several anticipated mitigating variables, such as strong hints from NFL officials that fouls would probably be found by the league office and result in warning letters or fines via postgame inspections rather than through flags, were overwhelmed by those legitimate concerns.
The helmet rule, which forbade players from making forced contact with their face masks or helmets when they were originally introduced in 2018, has been enforced by the league using the same strategy. That probably explains why, thus far in the preseason, not a single penalty has been called for a hip-drop tackle. If and when a penalty is called, spectators won’t likely notice it because officials will probably announce it with a generic name.
The most Important rule
The rule’s focus on the most obvious method the hip-drop indicator can be seen is another reason it has remained mainly invisible: Player unloads by turning, lowering his hips and/or lower body. Falling on the runner’s leg(s) at or below the knee, and trapping the runner. Put another way, for it to be considered a foul.
The player must not use his feet as leverage to bring down the ball carrier. It will still be considered a legitimate tackle attempt if the player attempts to bring down an opponent player while still on his feet or on the ground using the same method.
Guardian Caps are less common than new helmet styles
The NFL extended its mandate for Guardian Caps foam padding, which fastens to the outside of helmets. To all positions aside from quarterbacks and specialists during training camp, following two years of restricted usage. Additionally, it permitted participants to wear them during plays for the first time.
The NFL and the NFL Players Association decided to remove any players who wear one of six helmet styles that they believe offer protection that is either equivalent to or superior to Guardian Caps as part of that rule adjustment. According to Jeff Miller, the NFL’s executive vice president for communications, public affairs, and policy. About 200 players have made the transition to one of those models this summer.
Throughout the preseason, a few players have donned Guardian Caps. Due to earlier research indicating a disproportionate number of concussions were sustained during training camp and offseason activities in past years. The Guardian Cap responsibility is concentrated on those activities.
Replays had a quiet preseason
The NFL London is rolling out replays bit by bit this year. In particular, it will let replay officials examine two more components of the play. If the game clock has run out before a snap, additionally. If a quarterback is knocked down by a hit or steps out of bounds before a pass.
Though neither option appears to have been employed this summer, in a broader sense. They signify the league’s current replay strategy. The owners have rejected requests to allow reviews of every play. Except for a one-year pass interference trial in 2019. They are gradually expanding penalty flag options and using video assist programs to promptly inform referees of errors. Ensuring clear and unambiguous situations when calls should be overturned.
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