The NFL is going to have a new kickoff rule for this season as the league tries to have more players return kickoffs.
For the last several seasons, the kickoff has been seen as a lackluster play since it usually results in touchbacks but that’s hopefully about to change for this season and in future seasons.
In this new kickoff, the 10 coverage members of the kicking team will line up at the receiving team’s 40-yard line, while the receiving team’s blockers will line up five yards away.
Nobody on either side will be allowed to move until the kickoff returner touches the ball or if it hits the ground between the goal line and the 20-yard line.
Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker is a fan of the change and thinks the kickoff is about to be a lot more exciting.
“My initial reaction was you’ve got to be positive about it and think about it in terms of this is going to keep the play in the game,” Tucker said, (first transcribed by ProFootballTalk). “It’s not just going to keep the play in the game; it’s going to be a lot more exciting. I think there’s going to be a lot more action.”
There’s a good chance Tucker will have to make more tackles if this new kickoff leads to more returns but he appears more than ready for it.