[stupac2]

It is worth noting that I think Pete Alamar's strategy is to try to avoid having the other team take a touchback.  The rule changes instituted last year (kickoff from the 35 yard line instead of the 30) and touchbacks starting at the 25 instead of the 20, mean that the risk/benefit ratio of taking your chances with a return favor the coverage team more than they used to.  Prior to two years ago, if you had a kicker who could routinely put it in the end zone, it was worth it since the opponent got at the 20 and returnable kicks were frequently taken out beyond the 20 (and occasionally busted out for a big play).  Now, with our coverage team starting at the 35, we can usually down a returned inside the 25 and wind up leaving the opponent in a worse position than if they simply took a knee.

The only exception is a kickoff with the lead late in the game, when it makes sense to avoid the possibility of a big return.

BC

This is exactly why I thought that rule change was moronic. (At least if the goal was actually a safer game via more touchbacks, which they always claimed.) It seems like they thought that the kicking team would always just boot it as far as they could, and that the returning team was deciding whether to take the touchback or not. But that's clearly not the case, and touchbacks on kickoffs never should have been moved out to the 25.

[stupac2]

It is worth noting that I think Pete Alamar's strategy is to try to avoid having the other team take a touchback.  The rule changes instituted last year (kickoff from the 35 yard line instead of the 30) and touchbacks starting at the 25 instead of the 20, mean that the risk/benefit ratio of taking your chances with a return favor the coverage team more than they used to.  Prior to two years ago, if you had a kicker who could routinely put it in the end zone, it was worth it since the opponent got at the 20 and returnable kicks were frequently taken out beyond the 20 (and occasionally busted out for a big play).  Now, with our coverage team starting at the 35, we can usually down a returned inside the 25 and wind up leaving the opponent in a worse position than if they simply took a knee.

The only exception is a kickoff with the lead late in the game, when it makes sense to avoid the possibility of a big return.

BC

This is exactly why I thought that rule change was moronic. (At least if the goal was actually a safer game via more touchbacks, which they always claimed.) It seems like they thought that the kicking team would always just boot it as far as they could, and that the returning team was deciding whether to take the touchback or not. But that's clearly not the case, and touchbacks on kickoffs never should have been moved out to the 25.