Implications of 35-yard kickoff

[aztriman]

Will the average book and average better realize the big advantage teams with good defenses have?

Scoring is likely to be down across the league this year due to this seemingly minor rule change. Usually teams make it to the 25 area to start opening game and after half. But now, on those and every other score teams are 65% likely to start at the 20.

Teams with better punt coverage/better return games are poised to benefit too, since we'll see more punts this year than last.

Also, teams with more accurate long FG kickers are a big plus. A made 47-yd FG results in 3 points and the other team starting at the 20. A miss means 0 pts, obviously, and the other team starts in much better than average position.

Thinking unders early in the year might be smart.

[pwherr]

Only problem I have with that is if a team starts on the 20 and has to punt from the 20 then that gives the punt receiving team very good field position canceling out the low score theory IMO.

[cptkirk321]

Originally Posted by pwherr

Only problem I have with that is if a team starts on the 20 and has to punt from the 20 then that gives the punt receiving team very good field position canceling out the low score theory IMO.

I tend to agree with you that this could lead to higher scoring games because alot of teams when backed up at their own 20 sometimes get conservative and that could end leading to shorter fields off of punts. Also I think we will start to see alot more pop up type kickoffs down to the 5-10 yard line with this and actually see more teams starting deeper than the 20 which once again could lead to shorter fields off of the punts.

First couple of weeks will be interesting to see who this benefits, but I personally would much rather see kickoff returns than them simply kneeling in the endzone, takes away a fun part of the game IMO

[aztriman]

Originally Posted by pwherr

Only problem I have with that is if a team starts on the 20 and has to punt from the 20 then that gives the punt receiving team very good field position canceling out the low score theory IMO.

The elimination of big returns, less scoring on 1st drives of game/half and more punts makes the scoring average lower still, though I think.

The good defenses with lesser offenses might score more. Jets, Rams, Bears and maybe even Dolphins (except thier offense is so bad they might not make any first downs.) have a slight advantage, no?

Also, it makes playing from behind harder especially against those with kickers who will touchback every time: Mare, Janikowski, Prater, others?