Steelers are spending WAY too much time with this new kicking rule

[tbsteel]

So have you heard about this huuuuge change in the NFL: a kicker kicks the ball to a guy on the other team, and the kicker's 10 teammates try to tackle that dude while the 10 teammates of the guy returning the ball try to block for him. Like, whoa Scoobs.

It seems like half of the training camp reports are going on about all the work they're doing on the new kickoff rules. Um.... why exactly? Seems like a huge waste of time.

Meanwhile, there's that whole implementing a new offensive system they're trying to work on, that little quarterback thang where we'd like to know whose going to be our quarterback and what kind of f'n quarterback we're gonna have, not to mention that even smaller thang of who our quarterback will be next year (as it stands now, nobody), figuring out what the hell we're doing at the WR position beyond having arguably the worst group in the NFL, and a lot of other apparent meaningless issues.

But at least Danny Smith, all 4'11" of him, is getting his thrills.

[Orangesteel]

Weighty downs, bruh.

[jebrick]

I disagree.

You have a new kickoff that no one has ever played with ( in the NFL).

[Pabst]

It seems like half of the training camp reports are going on about all the work they're doing on the new kickoff rules. Um.... why exactly? Seems like a huge waste of time.

This is literally the case everywhere. For example:

KCKO.png (539.09 KiB) Viewed 1538 times

[Thrillsseeker]

So have you heard about this huuuuge change in the NFL: a kicker kicks the ball to a guy on the other team, and the kicker's 10 teammates try to tackle that dude while the 10 teammates of the guy returning the ball try to block for him. Like, whoa Scoobs.

It seems like half of the training camp reports are going on about all the work they're doing on the new kickoff rules. Um.... why exactly? Seems like a huge waste of time.

Meanwhile, there's that whole implementing a new offensive system they're trying to work on, that little quarterback thang where we'd like to know whose going to be our quarterback and what kind of f'n quarterback we're gonna have, not to mention that even smaller thang of who our quarterback will be next year (as it stands now, nobody), figuring out what the hell we're doing at the WR position beyond having arguably the worst group in the NFL, and a lot of other apparent meaningless issues.

But at least Danny Smith, all 4'11" of him, is getting his thrills.

Would it help your morning any to know Tomlin played a small part in helping the developers of Madden with the new kick off?

[tbsteel]

Spend a practice or two going over it and move on already.

[tbsteel]

It seems like half of the training camp reports are going on about all the work they're doing on the new kickoff rules. Um.... why exactly? Seems like a huge waste of time.

This is literally the case everywhere. For example:


KCKO.png

When you have Patrick Mahomes you can waste time on silly shit like this. The Steelers are trying to put in a new offense and figure out who the f their QB is going to be and what they can do.

[lifelongsteel]

Can't wait until they botch a couple kickoffs and the narrative becomes "they should have spent more time on this in camp!"

[anpsteel]

I think you are going to see a bunch of kick off returns for a TD, with this rule.

The return man has one wave of defenders to get though and then the kicker to beat.



Wait until the first misdirection return.


imo, this absolutely needs to be a focus. How to kick it, to minimize returns and how to defend returns.


From the return stand point, Speed should be the answer- and the Steelers have a lot of speed in camp.

[Jobu]

Can't wait until they botch a couple kickoffs and the narrative becomes "they should have spent more time on this in camp!"

Is anyone else envisioning the Steelers first kickoff of the season going back the other way for 6?
You know it’s gonna happen!

[Louis Lipps Service]

I think you are going to see a bunch of kick off returns for a TD, with this rule.

The return man has one wave of defenders to get though and then the kicker to beat.



Wait until the first misdirection return.


imo, this absolutely needs to be a focus. How to kick it, to minimize returns and how to defend returns.


From the return stand point, Speed should be the answer- and the Steelers have a lot of speed in camp.

I thought that too while watching last night. Although I suspect teams will come up with some schemes to help create that "layered" approach to prevent long plays.

I do think we're going to see more creativity in the new setup.

Overall, I like it. I do wish though, that if this new rule is meant to make kickoffs safer and more mimic a regular play, that we'd just take the touchback rule away completely, unless the ball goes out of the end zone.

If the new rule is meant to reduce high speed hits, and I think it will, then why not?

[Gonzo]

the steelers arent concerned about your two concerns ...
there is no real QB competition
and they are going to run mostly the same shit they always ran on O ... in fact, I believe its going to get simpler and more conservative

[Pabst]

It seems like half of the training camp reports are going on about all the work they're doing on the new kickoff rules. Um.... why exactly? Seems like a huge waste of time.

This is literally the case everywhere. For example:


KCKO.png

When you have Patrick Mahomes you can waste time on silly shit like this. The Steelers are trying to put in a new offense and figure out who the f their QB is going to be and what they can do.

It's not just the Chiefs. Here's Cleveland:
https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2024/0 ... video.html

Here's Baltimore:
https://www.baltimoresun.com/2024/07/24 ... r-jackson/

This was the top story on ESPN a few days ago:
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/406 ... ers-expect


It's a big topic of conversation around the league. They're not working on the new kickoffs any more or less than anyone else, and the Steelers' media isn't talking about it any more or less than anyone else.

[Thrillsseeker]

This is literally the case everywhere. For example:


KCKO.png

When you have Patrick Mahomes you can waste time on silly shit like this. The Steelers are trying to put in a new offense and figure out who the f their QB is going to be and what they can do.

It's not just the Chiefs. Here's Cleveland:
https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2024/0 ... video.html

Here's Baltimore:
https://www.baltimoresun.com/2024/07/24 ... r-jackson/

This was the top story on ESPN a few days ago:
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/406 ... ers-expect


It's a big topic of conversation around the league. They're not working on the new kickoffs any more or less than anyone else, and the Steelers' media isn't talking about it any more or less than anyone else.

Exactly. It will continue to be discussed and worked on because no one is showing there hand before the regular season starts. It’ll look lame and boring in preseason (my guess) once reg season starts It’ll change and evolve and we’ll see different attempts at returning it and defending the return will also change and evolve. I’m excited for it.

I laughed last night when joe buck(i think it was him ) while talking about why the new KO was put into place etc, on the way to a commercial with his emphasis and enunciation while saying something like: “ hurry back everyone after the break because you know whats coming up? A KICKOFF!”

[tbsteel]

This is literally the case everywhere. For example:


KCKO.png

When you have Patrick Mahomes you can waste time on silly shit like this. The Steelers are trying to put in a new offense and figure out who the f their QB is going to be and what they can do.

It's not just the Chiefs. Here's Cleveland:
https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2024/0 ... video.html

Here's Baltimore:
https://www.baltimoresun.com/2024/07/24 ... r-jackson/

This was the top story on ESPN a few days ago:
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/406 ... ers-expect


It's a big topic of conversation around the league. They're not working on the new kickoffs any more or less than anyone else, and the Steelers' media isn't talking about it any more or less than anyone else.

I get that EVERY team in the NFL is going to spend --some-- amount of time on it. It'd be foolish not to. But literally every training day report out of the Steelers is going on about additional practice time they're devoting to it, and getting Patterson ready for his big role.

Meanwhile it's looking like our dumbass coaching staff is not getting Broderick Jones any work at LT, nor any work at LT for Fautanu, and we're going to go into the season with Dan Moore at LT and probably Herbig at center.

Then six weeks in we'll probably panic when we realize Moore sucks again and throw Fautunu out there even though they're working him at RT, or switch Jones over to LT even though he's not getting any reps there.

Can we can please fire Pat Meyer already? Should have been canned for the Dotson fuckery alone.

[Jobu]

and they are going to run mostly the same shit they always ran on O ... in fact, I believe its going to get simpler and more conservative

Agreed.
It’s amusing to think that an OC with a conservative, outdated philosophy, is going to change what has been one of the leagues most conservative, outdated offenses.

[anpsteel]

the steelers arent concerned about your two concerns ...
there is no real QB competition
and they are going to run mostly the same shit they always ran on O ... in fact, I believe its going to get simpler and more conservative

I think we are going to see a very different offense, than we have the past few seasons.

I am also leaning toward, Smith has full control of play calling... but we'll see how that goes once we get to regular season.

[Pabst]

I get that EVERY team in the NFL is going to spend --some-- amount of time on it. It'd be foolish not to. But literally every training day report out of the Steelers is going on about additional practice time they're devoting to it, and getting Patterson ready for his big role.

I think you're engaging in confirmation bias.

Again, I'm not seeing anything that indicates the Steelers are spending more/less time on this than any other team. Here's the Steelers news feed from the Post Gazette: https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers

Out of their last 50 articles, exactly *one* has specifically been about ST and the new Kickoff rule.

Here's the Trib: https://triblive.com/sports/steelers/

Nothing about kickoffs.

[tbsteel]

I get that EVERY team in the NFL is going to spend --some-- amount of time on it. It'd be foolish not to. But literally every training day report out of the Steelers is going on about additional practice time they're devoting to it, and getting Patterson ready for his big role.

I think you're engaging in confirmation bias.

Again, I'm not seeing anything that indicates the Steelers are spending more/less time on this than any other team. Here's the Steelers news feed from the Post Gazette: https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers

Out of their last 50 articles, exactly *one* has specifically been about ST and the new Kickoff rule.

Here's the Trib: https://triblive.com/sports/steelers/

Nothing about kickoffs.

I'm referring to the the training camp blogs by Kazora and Fairbaugh that really break down everything going on in practice. They've been practicing this kickoff deal seemingly every practice.

hey Pabst, I know I'm probably wrong here and being a bit over-reactionary, but I think I'm just tired of all the talk about this change + a little down about the team going into this year. cheers.

[Pabst]

I hear you.

I actually quit reading Depot over the summer because it was nothing but junk filler articles. Sounds like I should keep away for a bit longer

[R_S]

Jesus Christ. They can get more than one thing accomplished in camp.

[stillthere]

Could this be akin to when the bump and run rule was changed and the following year TB12 exploded all over the NFL passing numbers? I wonder if they practiced the new rules that camp?

[jebrick]

MacAfee on the new kickoff

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6_6gk7ZeKk

[tbsteel]

I'm eagerly looking forward to looking like a clown when this thread gets bumped 6 weeks from now when Patterson houses one.

[jebrick]

I'm eagerly looking forward to looking like a clown when this thread gets bumped 6 weeks from now when Patterson houses one.

The way Pacman and MacAfee make it sound, that will be a weekly event if not every game. Meaning someone, perhaps Patterson, will take it to the house in many many games.

[anpsteel]

I watched a clip re the new kick off rule, and one thing they mentioned is the increased likelihood of fumbles by the receiving team


I think this new rule is going to have a significant impact

It will be interesting to watch

[Jobu]

So out of curiosity, I googled KO return TDs for the UFL this past season. From the best I can tell, there was just one.
That may or may not mean a damn thing!

[jebrick]

So out of curiosity, I googled KO return TDs for the UFL this past season. From the best I can tell, there was just one.
That may or may not mean a damn thing!

In the video, they pointed out that both sides in the HOF game had a bunch of UFL guys on it. Both Pacman and MacAfee said once you get the 4.2-4.3 guys back there, it will be different. They pointed out there were several " one tackle away" moments just in that game.

[Jobu]

So out of curiosity, I googled KO return TDs for the UFL this past season. From the best I can tell, there was just one.
That may or may not mean a damn thing!

In the video, they pointed out that both sides in the HOF game had a bunch of UFL guys on it. Both Pacman and MacAfee said once you get the 4.2-4.3 guys back there, it will be different. They pointed out there were several " one tackle away" moments just in that game.

I think it’ll be interesting to see how this evolves once players and coaches get more accustomed to the nuances of it. Like dropping a few coverage guys back to avoid those “one tackle moments”.
Personally, I hate the new rule. It’s just another bush league move, from a once great league that is becoming more and more bush league each and every year.
No more surprise on side kicks??? C’mon man!

[bradshaw2ben]

I think you are going to see a bunch of kick off returns for a TD, with this rule.

The return man has one wave of defenders to get though and then the kicker to beat.



Wait until the first misdirection return.


imo, this absolutely needs to be a focus. How to kick it, to minimize returns and how to defend returns.


From the return stand point, Speed should be the answer- and the Steelers have a lot of speed in camp.

One of the two XFL returns for TD was a reverse. Definitely helped to have an athletic Kicker.