With preseason video games already underway within the 2024 NFL season, followers are attending to see what the brand new Dynamic Kickoff seems to be like in motion.
As followers have seen in these early cases, gamers are nonetheless making an attempt to get used to the brand new guidelines, not to mention followers making an attempt to know them at residence.
So, earlier than each play begins to actually rely within the NFL season, let’s break down how the brand new kickoff, “borrowed” from the XFL, will play out.
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New NFL kick-off guidelines are in place throughout the opening kick-off of the Rams sport towards the Dallas Cowboys at SoFi Stadium on Aug. 11, 2024 in Inglewood, California. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Occasions through Getty Pictures)
Setting it up
First, the ball remains to be to be kicked from the team’s own 35-yard line, and kicks following a security can be from the 20-yard line. That a part of the kickoff has not modified, however the alignment is vastly totally different.
As followers might have seen throughout preseason video games, all kicking workforce gamers can be lined up with one foot on the receiving workforce’s 40-yard line. Nonetheless, in contrast to the standard begin of movement after the kicker makes contact with the soccer, the kicking workforce gamers should wait till the ball hits the bottom or the participant within the touchdown zone or finish zone.
The touchdown zone is from the receiving workforce’s 20-yard line till the purpose line.
NFL OWNERS APPROVE MASSIVE OVERHAUL OF KICKOFF RULES
For the receiving workforce, their “setup zone” can be a five-yard space from the 35-yard line to the 30-yard line, the place not less than 9 gamers should line up going through the kicking workforce.
There, not less than seven of these 9 gamers should have a foot on the 35-yard line. These not on the 35-yard line will must be within the setup zone exterior the hash marks. Moreover, just like the kicking workforce, the receiving workforce gamers can not transfer till the kick has hit the bottom or a participant within the touchdown zone or the top zone.
Lastly, there can solely be a most of two returners throughout these kickoffs, and they’re free to maneuver at any level throughout the play.
Touchdown zone, defined
The touchdown zone, once more from the purpose line to the 20-yard line, offers some totally different guidelines that particular groups coordinators will attempt to use to their benefit as an alternative of blasting the ball out of bounds each time.
First, NFL followers know what occurs when the ball is kicked out of the again of the top zone and the identical factor applies right here: touchback. Nonetheless, the ball can be noticed on the 30-yard line – not the 25.
Denver Broncos cornerback Tremon Smith, #1, returns a kickoff throughout the NFL Preseason sport between the Denver Broncos and the Indianapolis Colts on Aug. 11, 2024, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire through Getty Pictures)
For the return workforce, although, any kick that hits inside the touchdown zone should be returned. Nonetheless, if it hits within the touchdown zone and goes again into the top zone, the receiving workforce has the selection to down it and the ball can be positioned on the 20-yard line.
If a kick hits the top zone, stays in bounds and is dominated a touchback, the ball can be positioned on the 30-yard line. The identical counts for the ball flying out the again of the top zone within the air or bouncing.
What’s the purpose for the totally different touchbacks? Selling extra returns.
Additionally, any kick that falls in need of the touchdown zone can be handled just like the kick went out of bounds, that means the ball is noticed on the 40-yard line for the offense to start out its drive. In brief, kickers have to keep away from this in any respect prices.
Due to the touchdown zone, kickers could also be targeted extra on precision than energy with their kickoffs to make sure the receiving workforce runs them again to enhance ball placement.
Followers have already seen particular groups coordinators making an attempt to bend their methods a bit this preseason to see what would possibly work.
What about penalties?
There are numerous cases throughout the NFL season the place penalties are enforced throughout kickoffs.
How does that have an effect on particular groups on this new dynamic format? Effectively, the identical thought course of applies by way of encouraging returns.
The setup zone and touchdown zone is not going to change for kickoffs. As a substitute, solely the spot of the kick can be affected.
Minnesota Vikings and Las Vegas Raiders gamers line up for the kickoff within the second half of the preseason sport at U.S. Financial institution Stadium on Aug. 10, 2024 in Minneapolis. The NFL is debuting a brand new rule on kickoffs this season. (Stephen Maturen/Getty Pictures)
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So, the kicker would be the just one transferring again from the 35-yard line. In flip, it can make it tougher for him to get the ball contained in the touchdown zone, however the different gamers on the sector are of their regular sports activities.
What can be totally different is that penalties on scoring performs is not going to carry over. As a substitute, it will likely be taken on the attempt try for one or two factors.
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