Rams Fans United - Los Angeles Rams Fan Discussion Forum

2005 season - 90% of kickoffs were returned, there were 8.3 returns per game on average.
2019 season - 37% of kickoffs were returned, there were 3.7 returns per game on average.

as exciting as kickoff return tds are, game changing even, they've always been exceedingly rare - during the 2010 season kickoffs were returned for a td 23 times, a high water mark for kickoff td returns, but that number accounted for less than 1% of all kickoffs and just 1% of all kickoff returns.

punt returns have also decreased, albeit not at the rate of kickoff returns - in 2005 almost 50% of all punts were returned, in 2019 the rate was 41%... as with kickoffs, big plays on punts are exciting as hell, but also exceedingly rare - punts returned for a td and blocked punts occur less than 1% of the time.

Exactly and i don't see the kickoff making a comeback.

If you think like a fan, when the other team punts to us, i want Jojo to fair catch or let it go pretty much every time. And on a kickoff, except in an extreme situation (like our offense can't do anything and we're desperate) i want a touch back...

Elvis wrote:Exactly and i don't see the kickoff making a comeback.

If you think like a fan, when the other team punts to us, i want Jojo to fair catch or let it go pretty much every time. And on a kickoff, except in an extreme situation (like our offense can't do anything and we're desperate) i want a touch back...

kickoff and punt returns have always struck me as more an opportunity to fail than an opportunity to succeed, just leave the fuckin' ball alone and let the offense take care of business unless, as you mentioned, the offense has proven to be completely inept.

On kick off returns, I figure the chances of a fumble cancel out the chances of a huge return. But when you add in the chances of getting a penalty, which backs you up inside your 10 yard line, it’s not close. Unless you have a Devin Hester in his prime, take the touchback and happily start at the 25.

aeneas1 wrote:2005 season - 90% of kickoffs were returned, there were 8.3 returns per game on average.
2019 season - 37% of kickoffs were returned, there were 3.7 returns per game on average.

Correct me if I am wrong ... but I understand that the change was made for player safety.

any word on the stats of player injuries for the before and after the rulz change?

BobCarl wrote:Correct me if I am wrong ... but I understand that the change was made for player safety.

any word on the stats of player injuries for the before and after the rulz change?

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.washin ... utType=amp

“According to league medical officials, there were 13 concussions suffered by players on kickoffs this past season, down from 20 during the 2017 season. That was a reduction of 35 percent.”

Elvis wrote:Exactly and i don't see the kickoff making a comeback.

If you think like a fan, when the other team punts to us, i want Jojo to fair catch or let it go pretty much every time. And on a kickoff, except in an extreme situation (like our offense can't do anything and we're desperate) i want a touch back...

But that is more about your lack of faith in Jojo. If we had a better returner (which hopefully is found for this upcoming season) you would probably feel differently. Its time to get a weapon back there.

The XFL recognizes the injury problem. Heres their solution.

https://www.si.com/.amp/nfl/2020/01/07/ ... -full-list

THE KICKOFF

On the kickoff, 10 players from the receiving team will line up on their own 30-yard line. The kick coverage team lines up five yards away on the 35-yard line. Both teams are required to have three players outside the hashmarks on each side and four between the hashmarks. The close proximity of the two teams is intended to limit the high-speed collisions that contribute the number of concussions that occur on kickoffs.

The kicker kicks the ball from his own 25-yard line. The kick must travel at least as far as the opponent’s 20-yard line. Neither the coverage team nor the blockers may move until either the ball is caught or three seconds after it hits the ground.

A kick that hits the ground between the 20-yard line and the goal line and then bounces out of the end zone or is downed in the end zone will result in the receiving team taking possession at its 15-yard line. A kick that travels into the end zone in the air and is downed will be deemed a “major” touchback and the receiving team will take possession at the 35.

Teams will have to declare ahead of time if they wish to attempt an onside kick, which will be attempted using NFL rules.

If that chart is accurate, the KO might not be dead yet. But is 5 yards worth the risk of fumble, penalty or injury?