Analyst questions “weird” decision for NFL to resurrect dead kickoff for 2024 season
The NFL isn't turning itself upside down this offseason. That is, except for the first play of the game and the first play of most possessions. The change has led to plenty of questions to understand the rule, but the decision leading to its very existence still remains a question for one NFL analyst.
Speaking on Monday's edition of "Pro Football Talk," analyst Mike Florio questioned the decision to use the kickoff of a defunct league. Here's how he put it:
Mike Florio: "[00:00:57] It really is weird to think the NFL has adopted a kickoff that the XFL abandoned when it merged with the USFL to make the UFL, and they used the USFL kickoff instead. [00:01:21]," Florio said. [24.3] PFT
It is one of the most constantly changing aspects of the game. Special teams have changed perhaps as much as anything in the last decade. At one point, the extra point was kicked from essentially the goal line. Today, if the Ravens want an extra point from Justin Tucker, he needs to do it from 13 yards farther back.
This has led to more thrills for fans. Before, the play used to serve almost as an additional moment to rush to the refrigerator to get a snack. Now, with a more difficult kick comes more misses regardless of whether it is Tyler Bass or Wil Lutz, which makes it no longer an essentially free play.
Justin Tucker points out potential for increased injury risk under NFL's new kickoff format
Of course, the change to the kickoff in 2024 is not thrills-based. Instead, the reason behind the change is player safety. Before, players used to sprint down the length of the field at full speed before hurdling themselves at each other. In 2024, the players will be only a handful of yards apart, shrinking the risks of injury.
That said, while it might lead to a net positive in safety, one position that could be at risk is the kicker. At least, that is what Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker appears to have indicated in an explanation about why he was spending more time in the weight room this offseason.
According to Tucker, the kicker is much more likely to be involved in the tackle under the new format, per NFL media.
"But after watching a lot of these XFL plays, over the last couple years, the kicker seems to be involved in 20-25 percent of the tackles, so I've mixed it up a couple of times, I've gotten in there. But now I've got to get some more shrugs, get the traps going a little but you know just to make sure I'm prepared for a little more contact."
Will the new kickoff format lead to healthier players and will kickers like Justin Tucker and Jake Elliott be able to take the added punishment?
If any of the above quotes are used, credit "Pro Football Talk," and H/T Sportskeeda.