NFL to Discuss Altering Kickoff Rule; Rams Impact?

The XFL's innovative kickoff alterations may influence the NFL as officials gather to discuss rules.

During their meeting in Indianapolis ahead of the new league year, the NFL competition committee reportedly discussed potentially mirroring the XFL's kickoff format. 

The proposed rule change would require 24 votes for enactment. Last season, the NFL temporarily implemented a rule allowing fair catches on kickoffs, as reported by the Washington Post.

In the XFL, kickoffs began from the kicking team's 30-yard line, with players from the kicking team lining up at the receiving team's 35-yard line and blockers from the receiving team positioning themselves on their own 30-yard line. 

Movement was restricted until the ball was caught or three seconds after it touched the ground, with only the kicker and the returner allowed to move during this time. Kickoffs that went out of bounds or failed to reach the receiving team's 20-yard line resulted in the ball being moved to the kicking team's 45-yard line.

A touchback occurs when the ball enters the end zone or bounces into it. If the ball sails into the end zone without touching the ground, the receiving team gains possession at the 35-yard line. If the ball bounces into the end zone, the receiving team starts their possession at the 15-yard line. 

Additionally, teams have the option to request an onside kick, which must travel a minimum of 10 yards but cannot exceed 20 yards. Alternatively, teams may choose to attempt the 4th-and-15 option instead of kicking off, retaining possession of the ball if successful.

So why is the NFL bringing this change to the table? To boost kickoff returns while minimizing high-speed collisions. 

In 2023, only 22 percent of kickoffs were returned, with no returns during any of the 13 kickoffs in Super Bowl LVIII. The league's goal is to improve returns without increasing the concussion rate, as recent rule changes were prompted by concussions during kickoffs.

As for the Rams, they struggled in kick returns last season, finishing last in the league with a mere 16.1 kick return average and failing to score any touchdowns in this aspect of the game. 

During the 2023 season, the Rams allowed a game-ending punt return for a touchdown in a 37-31 overtime loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Three weeks later, they surrendered another punt return for a touchdown in a 26-25 victory over the New York Giants.

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However, the potential adoption of a new kickoff rule could offer a silver lining for the team. With the proposed changes aimed at increasing kickoff returns across the league while minimizing high-speed collisions, the Rams may find themselves in a better position to improve their performance in this area.