Texans HC DeMeco Ryans gets candid about new NFL kickoff rule
The new NFL kickoff debuted in last night's Pro Football Hall of Fame Game between the Chicago Bears and the Houston Texans. The Bears won 21-17 after the game was terminated in the third quarter due to bad weather.
The new kickoff didn't result in any touchdowns last night; however, it sure does look like an exciting addition. Texans' head coach DeMeco Ryans recently talked about the new kickoff rule and hinted that it could give rise to big hits. He said:
"I wouldn't say it's weird, we've been practicing it. What I noticed was definitely a lot of big hits, violent hits, it's tough five yard gap to get feet set and get a guy blocked. Saw a lot of guys running free, a lot of collisions."
Teams across the league have been practicing various plays to take advantage of the new kickoff rule. Once the regular season starts, it will be interesting to see whether this decision by the league is a good one or not.
As for DeMeco Ryans' Texans, the goal is clear for them, i.e., make a deep run in the playoffs. After winning the AFC South last season, the Texans added Stefon Diggs, Joe Mixon, and Danielle Hunter.
C.J. Stroud is already considered to be a top-10 quarterback in the league, and if he plays like last season, Houston can give Kansas City and other contenders a run for their money.
New NFL kickoff rule explained
The new NFL kickoff is inspired by the kickoff system used in the XFL. In it, the kicker will still kick from the 35-yard line, but the rest of his teammates will be lined up at the opponent's 40-yard line.
Due to this, the defending team will not be allowed a running start, and the returning team will have opportunities to make explosive plays. The old kickoff rule didn't result in many exciting moments. Sean Payton already believes that the new rule could result in double-digit return touchdowns.
The league is hoping that the new kickoff rule will result in more exciting plays, and last night's game was evident that the teams are not looking for just touchbacks on every kick return. Hopefully, the injuries won't increase with the introduction of the new rules.