Eagles Explore Creative Kickoff Tactics

The Philadelphia Eagles are not just relying on their famous Tush Push maneuver to push the boundaries of the NFL rulebook.

In their recent game against the Titans, special teams coordinator Michael Clay instructed punter Braden Mann to hold the ball on the ground during kickoffs instead of using a traditional tee. This strategy leverages a rule that permits a 12th player to act as a holder before quickly leaving the field post-kick.

Clay mentioned that this approach, which they borrowed from the Falcons, provided kicker Jake Elliott with a different launch angle. This enabled him to execute what is referred to as a “dirty ball,” which comes off the foot low and knuckling.

“We picked up something different from Week 1,” Clay explained. “I think Atlanta used this with Nick Folk, and it gave us another opportunity with a different launch angle. Jake and Braden executed it pretty well. We’re always on the lookout for ways to help the team, and it’s a technique we might continue using.”

Elliott expressed that this setup gives him better control and a more consistent kick execution. “I really like how repeatable it is,” he said. “Just the way I can manipulate the ball in the air, it’s been effective for me.”

Meanwhile, the Bears, getting ready to host the Eagles in Chicago on Monday, are not fond of this tactic.

Chicago’s special teams coordinator Richard Hightower raised concerns about whether this method aligns with the rule’s intent. “The rule was meant for the ball to be on a tee when a holder is involved,” Hightower noted. “It shouldn’t be utilized like this, as we’ve been seeing lately.”

The intention behind the original provision was to address weather instances where the ball might be hard to keep steady on a tee due to strong winds.

However, when the NFL refined kickoff rules two years ago, they eased the language to allow a holder during any kickoff, without explicitly stating that the ball must rest on a tee. This shift created some ambiguity that teams are now navigating.

Hightower anticipates that clarification on this rule will come soon. “We’re coordinating to address this shortly and hope to revise the language in the rulebook,” he stated.