I watch his interview with Chris Long where he talked about this. Here is an article about it.
The NFL kickoff will be different in 2024 since the league's competition committee added new rules this offseason.
These new rules came to be because touchbacks became more expected on kickoff returns than actual returns themselves. The rules incentivize action and returns -- and tackling -- will be more important than ever, particularly on the last line of defense for the kicking team.
That's why the back-to-back Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs have decided to insert safety Justin Reid as their new kickoff man. He filled in for kicker Harrison Butker in this capacity at different moments in the 2022 and 2023 seasons because of injury. Reid went 1 of 2 on extra points in Week 1 of the 2022 season at the Arizona Cardinals, a 44-21 Chiefs victory. His seven career kickoffs have traveled an average of 63.6 yards, and Reid has recorded five touchbacks.
"The advantage for us is that if I'm doing the job, which is what we're planning on doing, then I can fill that last gap, so it makes it a little bit easier, and nobody needs to win two gaps," Reid said on the "Green Light with Chris Long" podcast on Tuesday. "We're in a great place with it. Although I know he [Butker] can make some tackles, I think he's excited to preserve himself, and we can use him where we really need him, which is those fourth-quarter situations to go nail a 60-yard field goal and win the game. It would be devastating to try and trot a guy out there who's still nicked up from trying to make a tackle in the second quarter."
I would normally be concerned with Reids extra work but we've got a damn deep secondary room. There should be plenty of opportunity to spell him. [Reply]
When is first came up, given Butker leg strength I thought they would generally let him kick because he should be able to send it out of the end zone and I think it’s only a 5 yard loss of field position. I thought they would use Reid or LRZ WHEN WEATHER CONDITIONS jeopardized Butkers chances of kicking it out of the end zone.
I still don’t understand why that isn’t the best strategy. Definitely Butker should not be tackling. But as several have said, doing kick offs puts some, although I don’t think much, greater risk on Reid. [Reply]
Originally Posted by el borracho:
They want more returns? Didn't the NFL move the kickoff up some number of years ago? Why not just move the ball back for kickoffs?
Because Goodell is scared of all the terrible injuries that would result from NFL football players running most of the length of the field to make a tackle, that's why. The whole idea here is to limit how far a player needs to run to make a tackle. [Reply]
The two starts I would use. Just kick it out and don't have your kicker tackle or injuries to other players. Imagine using another player for kickoffs just to fuck up or get injured.
Or expand roster and build a special teams of speed and great tacklers and blockers for returns and coverage.
Just odd they want injuries back after taking them away. Even with new protections they are going to happen.
Almost need a team of kickers for a season if you are not utilizing your kicker. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Megatron96:
Because Goodell is scared of all the terrible injuries that would result from NFL football players running most of the length of the field to make a tackle, that's why. The whole idea here is to limit how far a player needs to run to make a tackle.
Doesn't this happen with punts as well though? [Reply]
Originally Posted by TLO:
Doesn't this happen with punts as well though?
Not entirely sure about this, but iirc the NFL's study on punt returns showed that there were several percentage points less head injuries on punt returns than in kickoffs. Something about punts not travelling as far?
Or maybe, and this isn't a huge leap unfortunately, the NFL rules committee is just composed of a bunch of retards? [Reply]