Thursday’s Corridor of Fame Sport between the New York Jets and Cleveland Browns was the primary alternative for NFL followers to get a possible take a look at the league’s new kickoff rule.
They should wait a minimum of one other week to see the way it works, as a result of no one utilized it through the Browns’ 21-16 win.
Beginning this season, groups can honest catch a kickoff throughout the area of play and get an computerized beginning area place on the 25-yard line.Â
The thought is to chop down on the variety of kickoff returns and hopefully scale back accidents. The kickoff return is considered one of the vital harmful performs in soccer. This new rule is just the subsequent step in slicing down on the variety of returns that may occur. Numerous particular groups coaches and gamers have been extremely crucial of the rule over the offseason, however the league appears intent on eliminating that facet of the sport.
However on Thursday there was no actual change, as each kickoff both resulted in a conventional touchback or a return.Â
No one utilized the honest catch.
That truly makes a bit of little bit of sense given the circumstances.Â
That is preseason soccer and no one is actually apprehensive about beginning area place or precise sport technique. The primary factor at play in these video games is a battle for roster spots or beginning spots. Making performs and displaying that you just belong on an NFL area is what’s vital.
And with regards to special-teams play, these are often gamers who’re merely preventing for one of many final spots on the roster. No one goes to get an opportunity to earn that spot by merely signaling for a good catch. There’s extra incentive for the kick returners to make a play and for the teaching employees to encourage them to return kicks.
It will likely be fascinating to see how the rule performs out over the course of the preseason this month and the way that compares to the technique when the video games truly rely within the common season.Â
