NFL considering changes to free kicks

[Dommer1]

Illegal hits draw more scrutiny; replays, kickoffs under review
The NFL will be more aggressive in suspending players next season for illegal hits, and the league also could make changes to instant replay and kickoffs.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d81ec8fca/article/illegal-hits-draw-more-scrutiny-replays-kickoffs-under-review?module=HP_headlines

I'm not too crazy about making more changes to free kicks. Let's keep special teams as a proper part of the game.

[Dommer1]

NFL moves kickoffs to 35-yard line; touchbacks unchanged

NFL kickoffs will take place at the 35-yard line -- not the 30 -- under a modified kickoff proposal passed by the league's owners at the NFL Annual Meeting on Tuesday, according to a league source. The proposal keeps touchbacks at the 20 and continues to allow the two-man blocking wedge.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d81ee38c1/article/kickoffs-moved-to-35yard-line-touchbacks-to-stay-at-20?module=HP_headlines

[Atlanta Blue]

Byproduct of the rule change:

Kick returners just got less valuable, as fewer kicks will be returned.

Good kickers becmoe less valuable, as most NFL kickers can kick the ball 70 yards (now 5 yards deep), while a lot fewer can consistently kick it 75 (what it used to take to be 5 yards deep).

Less valuable to a team means less salary.

Call me a conspirortist, but is this all about the money?

You want to cut down the speed of the kickoff team and reduce injuries?  Just like a scrimmage play, no one can be moving toward the free kick line until the ball is kicked.  Starting from a standing start as compared to a running start will slow them WAY down.

[Fathead]

I think K might kick it to the GL and try to force a return. They're already 5 yds further downfield. Better chance of pinning them deep in their own territory.

[James]

Starting from a standing start as compared to a running start will slow them WAY down.

Definitely no expert, but I expect (and maybe have seen a documentary referencing it??) that a sprinter is only accelerating for the first maybe 30 yards - same would be for the cover team. From a standing start they would not be as far down field, but the speed they would have accumulated when it comes to impact time would probably be the same.

[Osric Pureheart]

Put the kickoff on the 40 or the halfway line - but, force them to use a drop-kick.

[Mark uk]

Put the kickoff on the 40 or the halfway line - but, force them to use a drop-kick.

Careful you're making it look like rugby. Simpler, kick from the 50 but extend free kick out of bounds penalties to a ball in the end zone.