Proposed kickoff rule bad for Stanford? - Printable Version
+- The CardBoard (https://thecardboard.org/board)
+-- Forum: C-House! (https://thecardboard.org/board/forum-4.html)
+--- Forum: The CardBoard (https://thecardboard.org/board/forum-5.html)
+--- Thread: Proposed kickoff rule bad for Stanford? (/thread-15896.html)
+- The CardBoard (https://thecardboard.org/board)
+-- Forum: C-House! (https://thecardboard.org/board/forum-4.html)
+--- Forum: The CardBoard (https://thecardboard.org/board/forum-5.html)
+--- Thread: Proposed kickoff rule bad for Stanford? (/thread-15896.html)
Proposed kickoff rule bad for Stanford? - SemperCard - 04-20-2018
Maybe someone better with stats and rule knowledge can help me out:  I feel like the proposed rule to allow the kick returner to fair catch inside the 25 and get the ball at the 25 would hurt us.   I'm too lazy to look it up, but I would bet that Stanford's net kickoff position is an advantage, even if freakish McCaffrey results are scrubbed from the data.  Plus, out propensity for long sustained drives means that we should be risk-seeking on kickoff returns, i.e., not afraid to start drives inside the 20.  Â
I fear once again the rules are being dumbed down, to the detriment of those who play the right way.
Re: Proposed kickoff rule bad for Stanford? - SemperCard - 04-20-2018
In 2013, Stanford ranke #2 in nation in starting field position (38.4 yard line) and #3 in opponent starting position (22.9)Â Â Â Ugh.
Re: Proposed kickoff rule bad for Stanford? - donkey687 - 04-20-2018
From a competition stand point, it hurts Stanford because our special teams and kickers are experts at kicking it inside the 5 yard line near the sideline and tackling the returner before the 25. From a safety and concussion stand point, it makes sense to make the change. If we want to continue watching the game that we love for years to come, the game needs to find ways to make it safer so I am all for it.
Re: Proposed kickoff rule bad for Stanford? - BostonCard - 04-20-2018
I think the impact will be marginal, to be honest. Although we did well under the old rule by kicking it just in front of the goal line to force returners to attempt to return (and then tackle them at the 25 yard line), I think most returners will try to bring back a return that's not deep in the end zone. As it is, many returners try to return kicks from the shallow end zone when they could take a knee. I think a combination of pride, an overestimation of their abilities, and the prospect of a rare but high impact event (long return or touchdown) makes them want to return one even when the numbers might say not to. The cases where I see returners making a fair catch is if we have a bunch of returns stuffed deep.
BC
Re: Proposed kickoff rule bad for Stanford? - Snorlax94 - 04-21-2018
So I could see how at first glance some relative negatives appear, but here are some positives:
1) The game, presumably, will be safer.
2) Although youd think it would penalize Stanfords often-strong kickoff returns, there is the possibility it would help. It could mean instead of strong kickers just booting the ball into the endzone to avoid a Love/Scarlett/Weddington return, maybe theyll pop more around the 10 and actually give return teams a chance to setup and see if somethings there.
3) It will mean fewer drives start off behind the 20, which is helpful for our risk-averse offense which often seems like it has to take the safe route anytime it starts inside the 20. From this perspective, Id actually think the rule change hurts defenses like Alabamas the most. That defense is in an even better position to exert pressure on an offense starting deep in its territory, and now that will happen less.
RE: Proposed kickoff rule bad for Stanford? - Snorlax94 - 05-01-2018
Update: The NFL is considering a similar rule change before the 2018 season.
When they moved up kickoffs 5 years in 2011, kickoff concussions declined 43 percent the following year.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2773603-troy-vincent-nfl-considering-modifying-kickoffs-ahead-of-2018-season
"Back at the NFL owners meeting in March, the league's medical department, via ESPN's Kevin Seifert, provided research that showed concussions are five times more likely to occur on kickoffs than on any other play in football. That has Green Bay Packers president Mark Murphy looking for a change in order to protect the players."