New Kickoff Rule Impact on Saints
 

I'm looking forward to this new rule. We should see more runbacks and creative ones, as well, from what I am hearing. It will also affect how we build our special teams this off-season. Less emphasis on gunner types and more on the big guys.

Re: New Kickoff Rule Impact on Saints
 

Re: New Kickoff Rule Impact on Saints
 

Our own special teams coordinator, Darren Rizzi, helped design this new rule so we should have a bit of a head start on most other franchises, I would imagine.

Re: New Kickoff Rule Impact on Saints
 

Note the use of two returners. I'm hearing that this will result in more returning involving reverses, laterals, etcetera. Much more excitement, but that isn't hard to do given what we have been seeing in recent years.

Re: New Kickoff Rule Impact on Saints
 

Re: New Kickoff Rule Impact on Saints
 

Can't wait to see the full impact of the new kickoff rule, but that won't be until the first game of the regular season. Nobody'd giving anything away until it really counts.

:D

Re: New Kickoff Rule Impact on Saints
 

Any play that allows the football to be advanced without two offensive tackles on the field is to the Saints advantage this year.

Re: New Kickoff Rule Impact on Saints
 

And any play that allows Bako to not ***** about the Saints in an overly negative manner is a positive! Thank God for rule changes.

:D

Who Dat!!

:bng:

Re: New Kickoff Rule Impact on Saints
 

Even though our ST coordinator had a hand in this, I still find it a little irritating that the NFL eliminated the surprise onside kick, which was the key to Saints one and only Super Bowl. If we didn’t have the element of surprise on our side, we (probably) don’t win that game. It was the turning point in SB XLIV.

Re: New Kickoff Rule Impact on Saints
 

I think we need to balance the gain against the loss. I heard there were only three "surprise" onside kicks last season, while with over 4,000 kickoffs less than 20% had a return. Yes, the new rule eliminates the "surprise" onside, but the team can still attempt one using the old configuration by informing the refs. What is gained is that the fair catch is eliminated and with the marking of the ball at the 30 on a kick into or through the end zone, returns will become the norm as opposed to the rare exception that they had become.

Re: New Kickoff Rule Impact on Saints
 

I like this new rule!

Re: New Kickoff Rule Impact on Saints
 

Me too! I can see us using Kamara in this role as returner. It will definitely make the kickoff a watchable play again instead of a downed ball 80% plus of the time.

Re: New Kickoff Rule Impact on Saints
 

I wonder what kind of position players or special teamers will typically be used on this new kickoff play. Since the offense and defense line up directly against each other instead of far apart, I wonder if teams will use starting offensive and defensive linemen like they might on a field goal attempt. It seems like lining up closer together, you might see more size and less speed on the field, with players pushing to open and close holes not covering space, and the returner looking to hit the hole more than having to navigate a maze of speedy tacklers.

Re: New Kickoff Rule Impact on Saints
 

Think Rugby players, maybe? Linebackers and safeties in the middle, WRs and RBs on the edges?

Re: New Kickoff Rule Impact on Saints
 

The surprise onside kick being gone is unfortunate, but this rule change is for the better. This will bring dynamic returning back to the league.

Re: New Kickoff Rule Impact on Saints
 

NFL Network does a good job of breaking it down.

https://sports.yahoo.com/full-breakd...02126668.html?

Re: New Kickoff Rule Impact on Saints
 

Exactly. Maybe not big uglies, but LB's, TE's, DE's, and safeties like Rugs mentioned.

Re: New Kickoff Rule Impact on Saints
 

Re: New Kickoff Rule Impact on Saints
 

Got it. Thanks.