Bubba Ventrone on Changes to Kick Off: "The Rule is Kind of Silly"

New Browns special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone held a press conference today speaking his mind on the new kickoff rule that will be in effect for the 2023 season.

Cleveland Browns special teams coach Bubba Ventrone spoke to the media after OTAs on Wednesday.

The 40-year-old player turned coach began his press conference telling the media about what it was like being back where he played. Ventrone was on the Browns roster from 2009-2012. 

"It's been a great experience to this point to be back on the field that I played on."

After his playing days in Cleveland, the Villanova graduate went to the San Francisco 49ers for the 2013-2014 season before hanging up his cleats. 

Since then, he has made coaching stops in New England, serving as a special teams assistant for them from 2015-2017 before moving on to the Indianapolis Colts the following year, staying with them until the end of this past season. 

The focal point of the press conference involved the NFL's new rule change regarding kickoffs which says that any kick that is fair caught between the 25-yard line and the goal line will be placed at the 25. This rule has been in place in college football since 2018 but is now being moved to the pros. 

"To me, the rule is kind of silly to be honest, but it is what it is," Ventrone said, resigned. "All the coordinators were against it, the players were against it."

The Pittsburgh native also talked about taking things away from the game and also responded to a question asking if he thinks that the kickoff will be lost at some point in the future. 

"I couldn't imagine a game starting without a kickoff," Ventrone stated. "You get to the Super Bowl, could you imagine the game starting without a kick?" 

Ventrone also added that he said it wouldn't even be football at that point in his mind. 

While Ventrone is not in favor of the rule, he brought up that he's not the only one. 

"I don't think a lot of players want to use a fair catch, neither do coaches, so I feel confident in our group to this point"

Like any special teams coordinator, Ventrone believes his guys will be effective returning kickoffs. They can't make a play with a touchback.

Ventrone thinks the rule changes that have been made to the kickoff have reduced the danger involved,.making this an unnecessary step by the league.

"I don't think that's an unsafe play, I really don't."

"We see a cut up of the concussions that happen during kickoff, me personally, do I agree that all those concussions are a result of how the play is?. No I completely disagree on that." Ventrone added. 

Ventrone was asked about the NFL possibly adopting the rule that the XFL uses, which says that the kicker lines the ball up on the 30-yard line and kicks it to the other team's returner with the rest of the special teams unit waiting still at the other 35-yard line and the receiving team at their own 30-yard line. Once the receiver touches the ball, both teams can move. 

"I've seen it, I've seen it, I think it's kind of gimmicky to be honest, I don't like changing the game." Ventrone said. 

Ventrone was wrapped up his media availability with a question about second-year kicker Cade York, whom the Browns selected last year in the fourth round. Last year, York went 24 for 32 in field goal kicks. 

"Great kid, hard worker, very in tune with his mechanics, ... I think he's done a good job and he's learned from a lot of the mishaps from last year and where he needs to be corrected on." Ventrone said.