Posted on 09/13/2023 6:29:48 AM PDT by Red Badger
The NFL is getting exactly what they want.
League rule-makers perfectly executed their plans in Week 1 of the 2023 campaign, recording a historically low kickoff return rate of 20.5% — exactly what the NFL was looking for in a rule change aimed at encouraging teams to kick un-returnable balls.
In a single week of games, the return rate was the lowest it’s ever been since at least 2000, according to ESPN Stats and Information. This data wasn’t recorded prior to that year; however, the four-letter network also noted the 20.5% tally was the lowest in NFL history based on frequency of returns in prior eras. The Week 1 touchback rate was 77.6% — the highest since 2000 and also likely a league record.
Owners approved a one-year experimental rule back in May that spots the ball at the 25-yard line regardless of whether or not kickoff returners called for a fair catch while being inside the 25. The rule drastically decreased the advantage of “pop-up” kicks that are short of the goal line, which grew in popularity as a strategy to pin teams near their goal line. However, the strategy caused an increase of returns the last two years, causing a rise in concussions, NFL competition committee chairman Rich McKay told NFL Network.
Less concussions for the league to deal with, so I can’t blame ’em for the move. Carry on, NFL.
That only works because football and soccer share one of the dumbest rules in any sport:
The clock keeps running even after the whistle is blown and the play is dead.
Play football in four 5-minute quarters, and stop the clock EVERY TIME the whistle blows at the end of a play.
Do it like soccer. Don’t let them know how much time is left in a half, I think the CFL used to do that at one time.
I’m not sure what purpose that serves. Soccer is the dumbest sport of all in that regard. Only the referee knows how much time is left on the clock.
I could see it being useful in that if a team doesn’t know how much time is left, they won’t take a knee and actually will have to try to be aggressive and get a first down.
You could make it so several people know the time, as a check and balance, to make sure not only one person is aware of the time.
Haha, so, back when my daughter was in high school, they had the annual powder-puff football game. The senior girls vs. the junior girls in flag football, proceeds to who knows what. But it was a fun evening.
The game ended in a tie and tie-breaker kicks is basically what they did. They first teed up the ball on the 20-yard line and each team chose a girl to kick. Just so happens each class had very talented and quite athletic girls from the soccer team. Each hit from 20. They moved them back 5 yards. Each drilled one from there. They took turns up to 50 yards where, finally, the senior girl nailed her kick, the junior missed, dinging it off the left upright.
When we were filing out, the varsity football coach had both of them pulled aside for a little chat.
I never understood the stupidity of pro footbal in that regard. The QB hands the ball off, the runner is tackled, the whistle blows, and nobody can do anything but huddle up for the next play while the official places the ball ... and the clock keeps running while all this sh!t is going on.
On the other hand, games are way too long. I can’t sit down through a game that lasts four hours.
And it’s really bad when you go to the games because of all the commercial breaks, it’s basically five minutes where nothing is going on.
See Post #61. Play football in four 5-minute quarters, and stop the clock EVERY TIME the whistle blows at the end of a play.
A concussion in 2023 is the the equivalent of a PCR test for Covid. The game thrives ONLY because of gambling now.
I was a hardcore fan and watched Jim Brown play, Johnny Unitas and more. The announcers slandered Jim Brown on the broadcast the other night, showing a run of his, adding he “may have been one of the best players ever” but “he had a problem with domestic violence against women”. The man is dead, and I don’t recall them talking about others who had colorful pasts, of which there were many. A certain LB for the Giants who played high on Cocaine for one.
This league has placed a knife to its own throat and been cutting for decades. Though I try and love it, it just is not possible.
The rule leads to people going to get beer upon cessation of play after a score. They have a lot of time between, as there are commercials, then talking, then a kickoff, then commercials then a snap of the ball. I used to hurry to see the kickoffs. They were literally the most exciting thing in football.
“They” don’t want you to notice the amount of commercials, which run even when people are talking. Music playing in the background to enhance emotions. The broadcasts of this former sport, flat out sucks. They are plays, produced and conducted in an impromptu festival.
Seriously, I cannot watch the mess it has become.
I noticed that, the clock runs after a first down. Where it used to stop until the ball is set.
I agree, like gloves on boxers, it protects the hands not the heads of combatants. Players will not launch with the helmet aimed at tackling. IT HURTS when the big plastic, gel filled helmet is not there, to lead with the head.
NFL games in the 60’s and 70’s were generally about 2.5 hours long. Three hours was a game that ran long. Kickoffs at 1 PM PST were started after the 10 AM game ended about 12:45, talk and commercials.
Go back to the old rules, you can’t fix the damage done without going back to the basics. The era of Pittsburg and Bradshaw, was just about perfection.
They could run commercials in between plays, like baseball now does in between batters.
Most exciting play in the game. RIP.
PC destroys just about everything.
The XFL has an interesting kickoff rule. The kicker kicks from his own 30 yard line, the receiving team lines up at their own 30, and the kicking team lines up at the opponents 35 yard line. And no one can block until the returner catches the ball. It basically turns it into a running play. There’s still the excitement of a return, but your not seeing contact between two players going full speed.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.