New Ncaa Kick-off Rule

[gangrene]

The new NCAA rule will move the kickoff from the 35-yard line to the 30. Anyone know how strong Steven Woodward's leg is? Can he kick the ball 70-80 yards for a touchback?? Will Evyn Roman be our kick-off returner??

I see this rule as somewhat favorable for the mid-major schools when playing the majors. Why? Because it allows for more opportunities to get a quick 7 points and a momentum swing. I feel it sort of "evens the field" athletically (if you have a really speedy k/o return man) and takes out the size mismatches we face on line-of-scrimmage plays.

Apparently, the Big XII coaches are all hot and bothered by this rule change per an article in the DMN: Rule has deep impact on Big 12 coaches

Here's a Mike Gundy quote from that article:

"I think it's the biggest rule change in college football," said Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy. "It will be a huge impact on the game – more than the clock rule changes last year."

The NCAA also changed the rule of starting the clock as soon as the ball was kicked-off back to the way the rule was in '05, in which the clock will start when the receiving team touches the ball.

[the green rokemi]

I don't think they are really that bothered with it. In fact, I think this rule greatly undermines the underdog team. The bigger programs greatest strength is depth and where can that really play out? Special teams, especially blocking. If we score against OU and then they have a greater chance to have a big return? That's not good for anyone trying to upset another team...

Edited July 28, 2007 by the green rokemi

[gangrene]

I don't think they are really that bothered with it. In fact, I think this rule greatly undermines the underdog team. The bigger programs greatest strength is depth and where can that really play out? Special teams, especially blocking. If we score against OU and then they have a greater chance to have a big return? That's not good for anyone trying to upset another team...

I agree that's a definite possibility. The bigger programs are definitely deeper and bigger, but they may also be vulnerable to a speedy return man with a good k/o blocking scheme. However, to your point, I could see the bigger program sealing the game in the 4th quarter with a couple of k/o returns for TDs against a very tired mid-major k/o coverage team.

[Guest GrayEagleOne]

I don't know how that will affect us. My understanding was that Woodward's strength was more accuracy than distance. It could be that we have another kicker for kickoffs; whoever can consistently kick it the farthest.

I would expect Roman to be the primary return man. I think that his returns were what got the coaching staff's attention. His signing pretty much assured me that Evan Robertson will not return, at least for this coming season. Having only seen video highlights from JC days, it's hard to say what kind of impact Roman will have but I like his attitude.

[Cr1028]

Don't the big schools have the kickers with the strongest legs to begin with? Won't that hurt the smaller schools the most?

[NT80]

Don't the big schools have the kickers with the strongest legs to begin with? Won't that hurt the smaller schools the most?

I think the rule change is intended to prevent those "strongest leg kickers" (ie big schools) from sending the ball into the endzone every kickoff. By moving the kickoff spot back 5 yards it gives the opponent (smaller schools) a better chance of catching the ball in the field of play vs endzone and returning it past the 20.