Killebrew loves new changes to kickoff rule
by Bo Marchionte
Published May 5, 2024, 04:09 PM
Pittsburgh, PA – Over the last few years, the NFL has implemented several new rules aimed at improving player safety, enhancing game flow, and addressing competitive fairness. Some notable changes include targeting and use of the helmet, blindside blocks, and the expansion of automatic replay reviews to name a few.
The biggest rule change of date will impact the kickoff and put to bed the old way of doing things as NFL teams across the country all embark on this new journey to special teams ready to kickoff, no pun intended in 2024.
The kickoff became a routine, devoid of any emotions, like a robot on autopilot. Then the NFL unleashed a landmark set of rule changes to revive part of the game on life support.
“Oh, yeah. I love it,” Steelers special teams ace Miles Killebrew said after OTAs. “Typically, you know where I stand. I like change. You know, I think it keeps it fresh. I feel like kickoff and kickoff returner, we’re just essentially striders, just taking up time and space.”
This upcoming season we will encounter an entirely different way that special teams are played. The NFL has implemented several changes to kickoff rules and will change the way we watch kickoff returns in an enormous way.
Zero players (except the kicker and returners) can move until the ball is received by the returner. In this landmark set of rules changes, that will revolve around the term ‘Setup Zone’ which requires a 5-yard area from the 35 to 30-yard line where at least nine receiving team players must line up.
“Oh, it’s gonna be different. That’s for sure,” Steeler special teams ace Miles Killebrew said after OTAs. “You know, you’ll see probably as early as camp the difference.”
Usually, the special team sessions of OTAs or any practice are times to try and find a place to nap in the behind some tackling dummies, but not now. It’s a curiosity of most to see if any of those new wrinkles to the kickoff are unfolding right before our very eyes.
Unfortunately, the rules about what we can report from OTAs keep that under lock and seal until training camp. Nonetheless it has created a vibe that should carry over to live action once the 2024 season gets started in a few months.
The result according to Killebrew is more big plays, which bodes well for the league and fans.
“More big plays, just by nature of it, you know, the law of averages,” Killebrew said. “You know, you’re gonna have more returns. And so, you’re gonna have more opportunities for big plays.
“You know, I think that touchbacks are going to be way down. I think that actual returnable balls will be up and just by the nature of how it’s set up. It’s really conducive for the big play.”
Killebrew during his explanation on what might be most noticeable mentioned something that has the biggest impact on the game. The safety of the players. He described the new formations modest adjustments but in the bigger scheme of things should limit the speed and impact of hits on kickoffs.
“We’re practicing just because it comes down to just technique,” Killebrew said. “All you’re doing is you’re taking away the space, the distance that that technique occurs, everything’s condensed, it’s less running. It’s less you know about the speed downfield.
“As far as kickoff and kickoff return, punt return is going to be the same. But kickoff and kickoff return, it’ll just be all technique. And so, we’re just honing in on the fundamentals.”
Hooray for a safer and more enjoyable way for us to watch the kickoff return with meaning in 2024.
Photo Credit Frank Hyatt/College2Pro.com
