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Should we call it Specialized Teams in 2024?


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with the new kickoff rule in effect for 2024 games, the roles and responsibilities of our ST players will have to adapt. our coaches will have to strategize more than before for different situations.

what are the player skills needed to succeed? who on the roster has the skills we need?

 

What is the new NFL kickoff rule for 2024?

  • The kicking team will kick off from its own 35-yard line.
  • 10 members of the kicking team will line up on the receiving team's 40-yard line (25 yards in front of their kicker).
  • A minimum of nine members of the receiving team will line up between their own 30- and 35-yard lines (five-to-10 yards in front of the 10 members of the kicking team).
  • The receiving team can have zero, one or two players inside their own 30-yard line to receive the kickoff.
  • The play begins when the ball is either caught, hits the ground in the landing zone (inside the 20-yard line before the goal line) or is returned from the end zone. That's when players can begin moving.
  • Any kick that hits the landing zone must be returned.
  • Any kick that bounces from the landing zone into the end zone must be returned or kneeled for a touchback (with possession going out to the 20-yard line).
  • If a kick doesn't reach the landing zone, the receiving team gets possession at its 40-yard line.
  • If the ball enters the end zone in the air, the receiving team can return it or kneel it for possession at its 30-yard line.
  • If the ball is kicked out of bounds, the receiving team gets possession at its 40-yard line.
  • There are no fair catches.
  • Onside kicks are only permitted in the fourth quarter and must be declared to officials.
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13 minutes ago, SteelKing728 said:

They killed the surprise onside kick. I don't like it.

that, and there would have to be a further rule change regarding onside kicks. because it used to be the ball only had to travel 10 yards before it was live, but now the other 21 players on the field are more than 25 yards away from the kicker.

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1 hour ago, vike daddy said:

with the new kickoff rule in effect for 2024 games, the roles and responsibilities of our ST players will have to adapt. our coaches will have to strategize more than before for different situations.

what are the player skills needed to succeed? who on the roster has the skills we need?

 

What is the new NFL kickoff rule for 2024?

  • The kicking team will kick off from its own 35-yard line.
  • 10 members of the kicking team will line up on the receiving team's 40-yard line (25 yards in front of their kicker).
  • A minimum of nine members of the receiving team will line up between their own 30- and 35-yard lines (five-to-10 yards in front of the 10 members of the kicking team).
  • The receiving team can have zero, one or two players inside their own 30-yard line to receive the kickoff.
  • The play begins when the ball is either caught, hits the ground in the landing zone (inside the 20-yard line before the goal line) or is returned from the end zone. That's when players can begin moving.
  • Any kick that hits the landing zone must be returned.
  • Any kick that bounces from the landing zone into the end zone must be returned or kneeled for a touchback (with possession going out to the 20-yard line).
  • If a kick doesn't reach the landing zone, the receiving team gets possession at its 40-yard line.
  • If the ball enters the end zone in the air, the receiving team can return it or kneel it for possession at its 30-yard line.
  • If the ball is kicked out of bounds, the receiving team gets possession at its 40-yard line.
  • There are no fair catches.
  • Onside kicks are only permitted in the fourth quarter and must be declared to officials.

These rules make organic chemistry sound easy.

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For the kicking team, I think you'd want to prioritize guys who can get off blocks quikly. Defensive End/Edge/OLB types. Speed getting down the field will be deemphasized, but a quick get-off will be important. For the receiving team, you want guys to open up holes and who can latch on to guys on the kicking team. Tight Ends and Fullbacks, athletic O-linemen, and big bodied-RBs and WR's. As for returners, I think you'll need guys who have typical punt returner skills, as the kickoff is going to be coming from a different trajectory.

TL;DR - This is a chance for Josh Oliver to earn that monstrosity of a contract!!! 

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2 minutes ago, wcblack34 said:

As for returners, I think you'll need guys who have typical punt returner skills, as the kickoff is going to be coming from a different trajectory.

since it's required to have two returners in the catch zone, they'll have passing skills too. we'll see plenty of plays where one guys catches the kick, runs a round a bit, but passes to the other returner.

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Just now, vike daddy said:

since it's required to have two returners in the catch zone, they'll have passing skills too. we'll see plenty of plays where one guys catches the kick, runs a round a bit, but passes to the other returner.

Actually, if two guys have to line up in the drop zone, I'd have CJ Ham back there every kickoff. 

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UFL Michigan Panthers kicker Jake Bates, who made a 64-yarder earlier this year and prompted complaints that NFL teams were contacting him improperly, went five-for-five in field goals for Michigan — including another 60-yarder. He capped the day with a 42-yard game winner that gave the Panthers the 28-27 victory.

https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/jake-bates-goes-five-for-five-with-game-winner-for-michigan

 

some NFL team is going to nab this guy...

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On 5/4/2024 at 1:53 PM, SteelKing728 said:

They killed the surprise onside kick. I don't like it.

It happened so infrequently after other rules changes, it hadn't really been a thing for a decade, so I won't miss it at all.

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14 minutes ago, vikesfan89 said:

What happens if the players move to early? It seems like that will be tough for the officials to see if someone moves before the ball is caught

I'd have to assume that it would be one official's sole responsibility to watch the players to make sure they don't move before the ball is caught...and I'd have to think that official will be standing behind the group, so he or she will have the ability to see the returner catch the ball as well.

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