Sports The NFL’s recent kickoff rule will execute its debut when the preseason opens Thursday night with the Chicago Bears coping with the Houston Texans.
While both teams are anticipated to sit down down down starters, all eyes could be on the overhauled kickoffs for the length of the annual Corridor of Popularity sport at Tom Benson Stadium.
NFL householders current a radical replace to kickoffs in uncover to revive a “slow play” that seen a file-low different of returns this past season.
For a ragged kickoff, the ball could be kicked from the 35-yard line with the ten kick protection gamers lined up on the opposing 40, five on either side of the discipline.
The return crew will haven’t any not as much as 9 blockers lined up in the “field-up zone” between the 30- and 35-yard line, with out a not as much as seven of those gamers touching the 35. There could be as much as 2 returners allowed internal the 20-yard line.
Only the kicker and two returners are allowed to pass until the ball hits the bottom or is touched by a returner internal the 20.
Any kick that reaches the discontinue zone in the air is also returned, or the receiving crew can decide for a touchback and possession on the 30-yard line. Any kick that reaches the discontinue zone in the air and goes out of bounds or out of the discontinue zone also will consequence in a touchback on the 30.
If a ball hits a returner or the bottom earlier than the discontinue zone and goes into the discontinue zone, a touchback could be on the 20 or the ball would possibly possibly perchance moreover possibly be returned.
If a kick goes out of bounds earlier than the discontinue zone, or hits the bottom or is touched by the receiving crew earlier than reaching the landing zone, the return crew will get the ball on the 40.
Owners agreed to a one-Three hundred and sixty five days trial of the recent device that modified into as soon as heavily influenced by the kickoffs ragged in the XFL spring league.
Only 21.8% of all kickoffs had been returned final season as both kicking and receiving teams too typically selected to care for a ways flung from the possibility of a probably return.
The NFL estimates that extra than half of all kickoffs could be returned this season. The just is to amplify the different of returns without making it extra unhealthy.
Reporting by The Linked Press.
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