Owners approve changes to kickoff for 2018

[Djgb13 2,338]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000933891/article/owners-approve-changes-to-kickoff-play-for-2018?campaign=fb-nf-sf190130298-sf190130298&sf190130298=1&utm_source=m.facebook.com&utm_medium=referral

 

Some key takeaways:

 

1. Players on the kicking team cannot line up more than one yard from the point of the kickoff. The previous rule allowed players to line up five yards from the restraining line (typically 35-yard line), allowing them to have more of a running start before the kick.

 

2. The wedge block has been eliminated. Only players who line up in the setup zone (between their own 40 and opponents' 45-yard line) can put together double-team blocks.

 

3. Until the ball is touched or hits the ground, no player on the receiving team may cross the restraining line (typically its 45) or initiate a block. This forces blockers on the receiving team to run back and block, which greatly decreases the chance of an "attack" block that can result in a high-speed collision.

 

4. When the ball hits the end zone, it's immediately ruled a touchback. There is no need for a player to down the ball in the end zone to initiate a touchback.

[Baker Boy 1,479]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000933891/article/owners-approve-changes-to-kickoff-play-for-2018?campaign=fb-nf-sf190130298-sf190130298&sf190130298=1&utm_source=m.facebook.com&utm_medium=referral

Some key takeaways:

1. Players on the kicking team cannot line up more than one yard from the point of the kickoff. The previous rule allowed players to line up five yards from the restraining line (typically 35-yard line), allowing them to have more of a running start before the kick.

2. The wedge block has been eliminated. Only players who line up in the setup zone (between their own 40 and opponents' 45-yard line) can put together double-team blocks.

3. Until the ball is touched or hits the ground, no player on the receiving team may cross the restraining line (typically its 45) or initiate a block. This forces blockers on the receiving team to run back and block, which greatly decreases the chance of an "attack" block that can result in a high-speed collision.

4. When the ball hits the end zone, it's immediately ruled a touchback. There is no need for a player to down the ball in the end zone to initiate a touchback.

Slowly but surely they are turning the great game of football into a joke.

[Cdub100 3,367]

Sounds super awesome.