Quote:
Originally Posted by FlyersFan
At least one coach suggested three-times as many kickoffs will be returned than were last season, and there is no question that better field position enhances scoring opportunities.
"I asked coach (Tony) Ball, our kick return coach, about how many kicks were we returning percentage-wise last year," Georgia coach Mark Richt said. "He said we only really returned about 25 percent of the kicks. Now, we predict we'll be returning 75 to 90 percent of the kicks. That's going to be at least two, maybe three times as many kicks we're returning this year than we did a year ago.
"You think if you move the ball back 5 yards, you're probably going to get five more yards of field position. My guess is it will be more like 10 to 15 yards of field position because that kickoff return is going to create a lot more space."
"It's going to be one of the most significant rule changes to come about in recent years – maybe a decade – in college football," Kentucky coach Rich Brooks said. "Very few teams will have a guy who can kick it into the touchback area or out of the end zone. You're going to see offenses starting with a lot better field position. You're going to see scoring averages go up because of this rule change. You're going to see a lot more gimmicks on kickoff coverage – pooch kicking, possible squib kicking.
no offense but i am going to go with the coaches here on this one BB........how can you not think it is going to affect scoring??? (1) The kickoff team has 5 yards further to run to cover kicks, (2) there will be very few if any touchbacks (3) even if you squib the ball or kick it out of bounds the other team starts about the freeking 35 yard line. That wasn't happening last year. Im not saying it is going to add 40 points per game, but i think that teams will have better field position. |
I guess football coaches are geniuses when it comes to stats.... that is why they need a sheet to tell them when to go for 2....
Only 20% of kickoffs were touchbacks in Div 1A last year so it is IMPOSSIBLE to double the returns. Big 12 led the nation with about 40% touchbacks.
They went from the 40 to the 35 in '86 and the return rate went from 60% to 77%. The average return however has always been about 20 yards. So unless your guy really sucks at kickoffs or your coverage sucks, I still dont see how it is going to be a really big deal. Sure your chance of starting past the 35 has increased but from a small percentage to a slightly higher one..... Thus, as I said before, ON AVERAGE field position will change by 5 yds.
I guarantee there will be more pooch kicks, OB kicks and squibs.... particularly vs. dangerous return teams.