Field Gulls
The goal is to reduce touchbacks, which were still fairly high under the “dynamic” kickoff.
The NFL’s first season of the “dynamic” kickoff (in which players ironically are static until the ball is caught or hits the ground) did increase the rate of returns, but more tweaks could soon be made.
Under the current rules, kickers kick the ball from their 30-yard-line, with touchbacks brought out to the opposing 30 or 20 depending on where the ball lands. According to NFL Competition Committee chairman Rich McKay, we could see the kickoff moved back or the touchback spot moved up.
From Pro Football Talk:
NFL Competition Committee chairman and Falcons CEO Rich McKay told reporters on Sunday that the group is considering changes that they hope would lead to even more returns. McKay said the committee will discuss giving teams possession at the 35-yard-line rather than the 30-yard-line as well as kickoffs being launched from five yards further back. Kickers now deliver kickoffs from their own 30-yard-line.
The return rate for kickoffs was just 21.8% in 2023 before going up to 32.8% in 2024. However, that 2024 number is still an extremely low return rate relative to the rest of the 21st century.
Any proposal would require at least 24 votes out of 32 by the committee in order to gain approval, so there’s no guarantee of adjusting the kickoff some more. Moving the kickoff back or moving the touchback spot up would likely increase the return rate, which is what’s most ideal in terms of bringing excitement back to the kickoff.
Either way, hopefully the Seahawks enter this season with a better set of returners after the disaster we witnessed this past season, in which case touchbacks were much preferred to returns.
