As we reported earlier this offseason, the NFL will be implementing new kickoff rules for next season. League owners approved a new “XFL-style” kickoff method in March that designates a 20-yard “landing zone” in front of the goal line. Kicks must land within this area; failing to do so will give the returning team a significant field position advantage. For example, any kick that lands short of the 20-yard “landing zone” will give the returning team starting field position. Possess the ball at your own 40-yard line.
The rule was designed to promote player safety, reducing the high-speed collisions that are common on kickoffs when kicking team players can sprint 40 yards to initiate a tackle. However, the legendary Kansas City Chiefs According to special teams coach Dave Toub, there could be some pretty interesting side effects.
The need for the kicker, or at least the player kicking off, to tackle.
Taub, speaking at the Chiefs’ overtime activities on Thursday, said the Kansas City coaching staff watched every kickoff in the XFL after the rule was approved and found that kickers were involved in about 20-40 percent of tackles in some way.
That could mean Harrison Butker missing kickoff duty and Justin Reid taking his place.
“Butker can make tackles, but I don’t want him to make tackles all year round. If you watch the XFL, we watch every play, I would say the kicker is involved in at least 25-40 percent of the tackles, either trying to bounce the guy, making the tackle itself or just missing the tackle,” Toub said Thursday.
“So you don’t want to put a backer in that situation. But he’s going to be a kicker and we’re going to use him in certain situations. He’s got a great ability to move the ball and other guys maybe can’t do that as much, so we’re going to use them.” [Butker] We can kick a touchback if we need to.”
Taub also noted that using a player like Reed could pose problems for return teams because they would suddenly have to incorporate the kicker into their blocking strategy.
“Justin can cover. I mean, he can kick and then he can drop back and tackle. He’s another guy that they probably don’t consider. I mean, they know Justin can drop back and tackle, but a guy like Justin is a guy that they have to worry about,” Toub added. “You have to block him and you have to give up blocking somebody else.
“So that’s the whole idea of it.”
You can see Toub’s full comments in this clip:
of #Chiefs They considered not using Harrison Butker on all kickoffs and instead using someone like safety Justin Reed.
Special teams coordinator Dave Toub said the new kickoff rules would require kickers to be more involved in tackling, something he didn’t want Butker to do.
The complete answer is… pic.twitter.com/V10t0QkMFf
— Ali Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) May 30, 2024
One thing is clear: This new rule has the potential to change the NFL.
Perhaps in ways we never expected.
