New Kickoff Rule, How Will Rams Implement?

[bubbaramfan]

I've been watching Youtube Vids on the XFL kickoffs and talking heads breaking down scenarios and team schemes all day and I'm still a bit confused. What I did come away with is kickoffs this season is not the time to go get another beer.

Teams did all kinds of shenanigans, like traps, end arounds, laterals and other stunts. Kickers being replaced by LB's who can kick so as to add another good tackler. I even saw where the kicker tried to kick line drives just a few feet off the ground.

Thought I'd start a thread and get ROD thoughts on this new rule and its potential impact.

 

[Merlin]

It's a good question. Teams under McVay have been his worst performing unit. I have never thought it's a priority for him when he's stacking the bottom of the roster. But maybe he's turned a corner in that regard now.

I look forward to having a good kicker at least. If we get more than that even better.

 

[CGI_Ram]

One thing is for sure, with the mass implementation of this change… some teams are going to come out on fire and have some big plays from it… others might be caught more flat footed.

Evans is 230 and has handled kickoffs before… but I’m not sure if booming the kick is the right strategy. A big leg is Evans game.

 

[snackdaddy]

I wonder if teams will use more defensive guys who don't normally play special teams?

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

Jourdan has hinted at the kickoff being an exciting play. She said coaches are going to be very creative with it. She said a few other things that I don’t recall.

She’s mostly a Rams beat reporter, so I’m excited.

 

[snackdaddy]

Hangtime won't matter since they gotta wait till its caught or hits the ground. Kicking from the 35 makes the back of the endzone 75 yards. Imagine if someone has a guy who can consistently kick it 75 yards in the air? From what I read a ball out of the endzone is a touchback to the 20. A ball downed by the receiving team in the endzone is a touchback to the 30. A guy who kicks 75 yards consistently would be a weapon.

 

[JonRam99]

Hangtime won't matter since they gotta wait till its caught or hits the ground. Kicking from the 35 makes the back of the endzone 75 yards. Imagine if someone has a guy who can consistently kick it 75 yards in the air? From what I read a ball out of the endzone is a touchback to the 20. A ball downed by the receiving team in the endzone is a touchback to the 30. A guy who kicks 75 yards consistently would be a weapon.

wwwww www w ww what is this new devilry?? WITCHCRAFT!!

I really, really hope McVay is paying attention to this. This change has the potential to have major impact. It's a sword that will cut both ways, so I hope he's sharpening up our receiving game AND the kicking game. Even on time management -- which is a weakness of his -- if almost any kick-off has the opportunity to go all the way, leaving 4 seconds on the clock after a 3pt field goal at the end of the game (or a half) could be super meaningful. Teams that are just a few points behind in a meaningful game will empty out their ST bag o' tricks, so he has to be ready for this.

 

[RamFan503]

Interesting though that the UFL didn't employ this rule.

That being said, I envision McVay having a very active role in play design for the new rule. I think we're going to see some shit - in a good way.

 

[So Ram]

wwwww www w ww what is this new devilry?? WITCHCRAFT!!

I really, really hope McVay is paying attention to this. This change has the potential to have major impact. It's a sword that will cut both ways, so I hope he's sharpening up our receiving game AND the kicking game. Even on time management -- which is a weakness of his -- if almost any kick-off has the opportunity to go all the way, leaving 4 seconds on the clock after a 3pt field goal at the end of the game (or a half) could be super meaningful. Teams that are just a few points behind in a meaningful game will empty out their ST bag o' tricks, so he has to be ready for this.

That Giants PR almost cost The Rams a playoff game last year. Boston Scott was brought in for special teams.So IMO Sean Mcvay & The Rams are paying attention.

 

[majrleaged]

Now he gets to be the mastermind with ST like he is with offense. ST now has his attention.

 

[snackdaddy]

Can the receiving team all line up with the returner? That would be cool to see all eleven huddle up before the coverage team gets there and someone hides the ball in his jersey when they all scatter. Well, we used to do that when we played football on the street.

 

[Ramhusker]

Hangtime won't matter since they gotta wait till its caught or hits the ground. Kicking from the 35 makes the back of the endzone 75 yards. Imagine if someone has a guy who can consistently kick it 75 yards in the air? From what I read a ball out of the endzone is a touchback to the 20. A ball downed by the receiving team in the endzone is a touchback to the 30. A guy who kicks 75 yards consistently would be a weapon.

I thought it was the opposite. I thought the rule was to have more returns. Plenty of guys kick it out the back sometimes.

 

[XXXIVwin]

I thought it was the opposite. I thought the rule was to have more returns. Plenty of guys kick it out the back sometimes.

From the new rule:

• Landing zone is the area between the receiving team’s goal line and its 20-yard line.
• Any kick that hits short of the landing zone – treated like kickoff out of bounds and ball spotted at B40 yard line; play would be blown dead as soon as kick lands short of the landing zone
• Any kick that hits in the landing zone - must be returned
• Any kick that hits in the landing zone and then goes into the end zone – must be returned or downed by receiving team – if downed then touchback to B20 yard line
• Kick hits in end zone, stays inbounds - returned or downed – if downed then touchback to B30 yard line
• Any kick that goes out of the back of the end zone (in the air or bounces) – touchback to B30 yard line

Sounds to me like the kicker's main job is to make sure the ball lands in the Landing Zone (between the EZ and the 20). If the kicker just booms it through the back of the EZ, the receiving team gets it at the 30.

 

[TheTackle]

If I were the kicking team 90% of the time I would settle for a touchback at the 30 and concentrate on stopping them on down and distance. We have a player in Karty who can press them deep into their end zone so take advantage

 

[Ramhusker]

From the new rule:

• Landing zone is the area between the receiving team’s goal line and its 20-yard line.
• Any kick that hits short of the landing zone – treated like kickoff out of bounds and ball spotted at B40 yard line; play would be blown dead as soon as kick lands short of the landing zone
• Any kick that hits in the landing zone - must be returned
• Any kick that hits in the landing zone and then goes into the end zone – must be returned or downed by receiving team – if downed then touchback to B20 yard line
• Kick hits in end zone, stays inbounds - returned or downed – if downed then touchback to B30 yard line
• Any kick that goes out of the back of the end zone (in the air or bounces) – touchback to B30 yard line

Sounds to me like the kicker's main job is to make sure the ball lands in the Landing Zone (between the EZ and the 20). If the kicker just booms it through the back of the EZ, the receiving team gets it at the 30.

That’s what I thought, 30 instead of 20 for out the back of the EZ

 

[Tano]

From the new rule:

• Landing zone is the area between the receiving team’s goal line and its 20-yard line.
• Any kick that hits short of the landing zone – treated like kickoff out of bounds and ball spotted at B40 yard line; play would be blown dead as soon as kick lands short of the landing zone
• Any kick that hits in the landing zone - must be returned
• Any kick that hits in the landing zone and then goes into the end zone – must be returned or downed by receiving team – if downed then touchback to B20 yard line
• Kick hits in end zone, stays inbounds - returned or downed – if downed then touchback to B30 yard line
• Any kick that goes out of the back of the end zone (in the air or bounces) – touchback to B30 yard line

Sounds to me like the kicker's main job is to make sure the ball lands in the Landing Zone (between the EZ and the 20). If the kicker just booms it through the back of the EZ, the receiving team gets it at the 30.

I would try to do a line drive kick that hits in the landing area and goes into the end zone. I would have the kickers practice that as much as possible.

 

[XXXIVwin]

I would try to do a line drive kick that hits in the landing area and goes into the end zone. I would have the kickers practice that as much as possible.

I kinda think the new rule is designed to discourage kickers from trying that, honestly. If the kicker misjudges it and the ball touches anywhere before the 20, the other team gets it at the 40, which is huge. And even if the kicker hits it just right and a line-drive ball lands in the Landing Zone and then squirts into the EZ, if it then rolls out of the EZ, the other team gets it at the 30. Bottom line: I think this rule incentivizes the kicking team to kick a lofted ball so it lands in the EZ. But a "line drive" kick to the Landing Zone seems pretty risky.

Just my 2 cents, we'll see how it plays out.

I predict that the rule will work as designed, with a ton of exciting returns that will be popular with the fans.

 

[Tano]

I kinda think the new rule is designed to discourage kickers from trying that, honestly. If the kicker misjudges it and the ball touches anywhere before the 20, the other team gets it at the 40, which is huge. And even if the kicker hits it just right and a line-drive ball lands in the Landing Zone and then squirts into the EZ, if it then rolls out of the EZ, the other team gets it at the 30. Bottom line: I think this rule incentivizes the kicking team to kick a lofted ball so it lands in the EZ. But a "line drive" kick to the Landing Zone seems pretty risky.

Just my 2 cents, we'll see how it plays out.

I predict that the rule will work as designed, with a ton of exciting returns that will be popular with the fans.

That's why I would practice it to perfection.

If they can't do it more than 90% of the time during practice, then it would be too risky.

 

[Ramhusker]

One of those obscure rules in football is you can throw a forward pass on a kickoff if you catch it in the air and don’t take any steps. Wonder if these new rules could make it more possible to use this witchcraft?

 

[0311rams]

it's a new wrinkle right up our coach's alley of innovation. he should excel at this new rule. go rams!