Is the kickoff return a thing of the past??

The first week of pre season is complete, all teams have been out on the field once, so what have we learned?  There are QB, and other position, battles going on all over the NFL.  But the biggest story for me from week 1, was to do with a rule change.

Over the offseason, the NFL have being coming up with ways to make the game more 'safe'.  Now don't get me wrong, I'm all in favour of player safety, and I hate to see players getting hurt.  But the change of the kickoff position, from the 30 yard line, to the 35 yard line, will dramatically change the face of the game, in many ways.  A kickoff return, in my view, is one of the most exciting plays in football.  To see Devin Hester or Josh Cribbs catch the ball and go the length of the field, at lightening speed, weaving their way through 11 would be tacklers, is an amazing sight.  This rule change may have just taken that play out of the game. 

The first reason for this is that these NFL kickers have huge legs.  They were able to kick the ball through the endzone with the ball on the 30, so most of them will be able to from the 35.  We did see this as a trend this past week, with kickoff after kickoff going through the endzone for a touchback.  Even if for whatever reason, the kicker doesn't quite manage to clear the endzone, the returner will be receiving the ball 5 - 7 yards deep in the endzone, a position that they would not have dreamed of trying a return from in previous years.  Another factor here is that the coverage teams have also got a 5 yard advantage.  They are going to be on top of the returner alot sooner than before.   So the fact that he is deeper in the endzone, and the fact that the coverage unit is on top of him sooner, make it highly likely, that the returner will take a knee, and accept the touchback.  This is a trend that we saw play out, in most of the games over the weekend.

If I was a fan of the Browns or the Bears, for example, I would be very annoyed at this new rule.  We all know that Hester and Cribbs can turn a game on its head with one of their great returns.  We all remember Hesters opening kickoff return in the Superbowl against the Colts.  But, lets be honest for a second, the Browns in particular, don't have the best offence in the world.  In some games Josh Cribbs on punt and kickoff returns, is their best offensive weapon.  Now the NFL is taking this weapon away from them, as well as de-valuing the player.  Alot of the players that return, are not talented enough to play at other positions on the field.  They are very explosive, but cannot play WR or CB to a high standard.  These players may in time be forced out of the league.  This, in my opinion, is a travesty.

As I said earlier, I know what the NFL are trying to do, and I agree that if the game can be made safer for the players, then it should be.  This rule change though, is a step to far for me.  Let me know what you think on this matter, email - nflgbview@googlemail.com or twitter - http://tinyurl.com/4426k9g or leave a comment.

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