The NFL’s new “dynamic” kickoff was supposed to promote more returns. And it has. To an extent.
Returns are up, with 32.5 percent of kickoffs now returned, compared to 21.8 percent of kickoffs returned last year. And touchbacks are down to 64.8 percent of kickoffs, from a historic high of 73.0 percent last year.
The NFL has also said there are fewer injuries on the new low-impact return because players aren’t getting a full running start before colliding with each other, another key reason the league wanted to change the kickoff rule.
But the fact remains, this was a major rule change, one of the most significant in-game changes the league has implemented in modern history, and the result has been a bit underwhelming: Last year about three-fourths of kickoffs were touchbacks, this year about two-thirds of kickoffs were touchbacks.
Ultimately, the league’s decision to spot the ball at the 30-yard line after touchbacks — rather than using the original proposal of the 35-yard line — resulted in many teams deciding that the safest bet was to tell their kicker to boot the ball deep into the end zone. There’s been talk that next year, touchbacks will get moved to the 35, and that could result in more teams deciding to prioritize shorter kicks with more hang time. That would result in more returns, and perhaps bring some more excitement to a play that still often feels like the dullest part of the game.
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