Is the NFL’s new kickoff rule good for the game? | The Exempt List

Yahoo Sports NFL writer Charles McDonald is joined by Jordan Reid to discuss the adjustments to kickoffs for the 2024 season and how it will affect both the strategy and health of the players on the field. Hear the full conversation on “The Exempt List with Charles McDonald” – part of the “Zero Blitz” podcast – and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.

Video Transcript

CHARLES MCDONALD: The new kickoff rules have been announced. Receiving team blockers will stand on their own 35 yard line. The kicking team tacklers will stand on the opponent’s 40 yard line. so they will be standing 5 yards apart from each other. Basically, everyone except the kicker and the return men. The return men will stay back, the kicker will stay back. And you have basically 5 yards to just block someone and see if you can get someone out the way.

This is an effort to cut down on what is one of the most dangerous plays in kickoff. You were a quarterback, so I don’t know if you ever got to experience the frontlines of kickoff or playing up back. That stuff is kind of scary. I’m not going to lie to you. Because one, it’s– OK. Someone’s going to be running at me full speed, right? And I have to make this block. And I really have to make a split second decision.

What is worse? The shame of me missing this block, or the shame of me, like, potentially getting decleated if this guy who’s running and I have to turn around and block him is much stronger and much faster than me. Like, there’s a lot of risk for injury on this play. So I think it’s a good idea. And I it’ll be interesting to watch how it plays out. What are your thoughts on just the new kickoff rules that have been approved today?

JORDAN REID: Yeah. And back in our day, there was no crackback blocks or anything like that.

CHARLES MCDONALD: We had wedges, bro.

JORDAN REID: And seeing dudes peel back– yeah, you’re seeing dudes peel back and just decleat people. So it’s really funny to see how far along football…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/nfls-kickoff-rule-good-game-200246202.html

Author : Yahoo Sports Videos

Publish date : 2024-03-26 20:02:46

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