Kickoff Change May Make Ryan Longwell More Valuabl
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According to Pro Football Talk, the NFL's Competition Committee is considering making some changes to the way kickoffs are handled in the 2011 season and beyond, and it could give the Minnesota Vikings some added incentive to re-sign kicker Ryan Longwell when they're able to.
Among the proposed changes are the moving of kickoffs up from the 30 to the 35-yard line, and touchbacks giving the receiving team the ball at the 25 rather than the 20. So, as PFT says, there's a greater chance for the kicker to kick the ball into the end zone, and more incentive for the returner to stay in the end zone when that happens.
The other major parts of the rule would be the complete elimination of any sort of "wedge" blocking, and requiring all of the players on the team kicking the ball away to line up between the 30 and the 35 yard line. This would take away the "everybody on the kicking team huddle up at about the 20-yard line, then break out and get a huge running start" method of kickoffs that some teams have adopted.
A few thoughts on this. .
Proposed Kickoff Changes May Make Ryan Longwell Much More Valuable
Re: Kickoff Change May Make Ryan Longwell More Valuabl
Like it.
When I played HS ball, our kicker could kick it clean from the 45 yard line through the endzone on a Canadian field (85 yard kick) That guy chose to go to school for academic reasons and to play soccer. He's not going anywhere in soccer, but he'll have options in the work field. Personally, I just don't like how a guy can get paid like a professional football player just because he can kick the ball inaccuratly a long way. I hope the days of the kickoff specialist are going away.
But more about our boy Longwell, I'll be a fan of this. I like Longwell as a player. He's a damn good kicker, and I don't think his kicks were that much of a problem.
One potential issue though, with Longwell usually only getting to about the 2 yard line, this means now his balls would be going about 3 yards deep into the endzone. Alot of returners, especially a threat like Hester, Cribbs, Harvin, Ginn would gladly take a shot at going for it if it's only a couple yards in.
As for requiring the kicking team to line up on the line, I don't get the point, nor really like it.
The thing with that method is they can incorporate a little bit of surprise into the play (surprise onside, etc) which will take the return team a little bit to react to. However, I don't really see this as a bad thing. In fact, if anything, it requires the team to show their hand. If they're going to onside left, and they want the maximum guys (I believe 7) guys on the left, I don't think there's any limit to how many guys the return team can line up there, but they'll match up. This means the maximum number of bodies flying towards a loose ball, more chance of injury. If the NFL was so concerned about injuries like this, they'd probbly take this into consideration.
Re: Kickoff Change May Make Ryan Longwell More Valuabl
I definitely like this ... it would lead to more drives starting at the 25-yardline and teams having to actually make drives.
I feel like so many drives start at the 35+ these days and they don't have to go very far just to get a field goal.
I would definitely be all for bringing Longwell back if this was the case.
Re: Kickoff Change May Make Ryan Longwell More Valuabl
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Originally Posted by "Marrdro" #1091700
Among the proposed changes are the moving of kickoffs up from the 30 to the 35-yard line, and touchbacks giving the receiving team the ball at the 25 rather than the 20. So, as PFT says, there's a greater chance for the kicker to kick the ball into the end zone, and more incentive for the returner to stay in the end zone when that happens.
Well one less reason for Marr to get on Longwell's case again this season - so one less position of need to be filled eh? :P
Re: Kickoff Change May Make Ryan Longwell More Valuabl
Hate Hate Hate this idea. Kickoffs are exciting, maybe the most exciting plays in football(guys running full speed into each other).
Yes it would help longwell, and allow him to play an extra year or two. However it would hurt Harvin. Harvin is a stud returner.
Harvin
82 kick returns 3td(1 in 27.33), 25.5avg, 1fumble
Hester
113 kick returns 4td(1 in 28.25), 24.1avg, 5fumbles
Yes it would be safer for the players, but they are getting paid to put their bodies on the line(as they point out regularly when asking for more money), let them do what they are getting paid to do.
Re: Kickoff Change May Make Ryan Longwell More Valuabl
If this happens, I wouldn't be apposed to keeping the EX PUKER aka Shortwell either.
Problem is, if this happens, all teams will want a older guy that might not have been on their radar because of decreased lenght in KOffs.
That will drive Shortwells price up and we might not have that to spend on him.
Re: Kickoff Change May Make Ryan Longwell More Valuabl
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Originally Posted by "AngloVike" #1091715
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Originally Posted by "Marrdro" #1091700
Among the proposed changes are the moving of kickoffs up from the 30 to the 35-yard line, and touchbacks giving the receiving team the ball at the 25 rather than the 20. So, as PFT says, there's a greater chance for the kicker to kick the ball into the end zone, and more incentive for the returner to stay in the end zone when that happens.
Well one less reason for Marr to get on Longwell's case again this season - so one less position of need to be filled eh? :P
LOL, it is the only thing I have against him when it comes to on the field production.
Still don't mean he will become a favorite of mine though, you know, becausse of the whole PUKER thing. ;)
Re: Kickoff Change May Make Ryan Longwell More Valuabl
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Originally Posted by "Marrdro" #1091760
If this happens, I wouldn't be apposed to keeping the EX PUKER aka Shortwell either.
Problem is, if this happens, all teams will want a older guy that might not have been on their radar because of decreased lenght in KOffs.
That will drive Shortwells price up and we might not have that to spend on him.
well least it would reduce the need for a KO specialist on the roster, means we can boost another position.. maybe get Tahi's brother on the team ;)
Re: Kickoff Change May Make Ryan Longwell More Valuabl
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Originally Posted by "Marrdro" #1091761
Still don't mean he will become a favorite of mine though, you know, becausse of the whole PUKER thing. ;)
Translation:
"still don't like him, since he entered the NFL and got picked up by a team who claimed him without him consenting, then first chance he got he left to their bitter rivals."
Re: Kickoff Change May Make Ryan Longwell More Valuabl
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Originally Posted by "i_bleed_purple" #1091825
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Originally Posted by "Marrdro" #1091761
Still don't mean he will become a favorite of mine though, you know, becausse of the whole PUKER thing. ;)
Translation:
"still don't like him, since he entered the NFL and got picked up by a team who claimed him without him consenting, then first chance he got he left to their bitter rivals."
Quit fricken translating my fricken posts. You don't understand, ask me a question but don't put shit out there that isn't my shit.
By the way, this is a prime fricken example of one of those articles that I post that don't suite what I think and yet, its on the site.
