Jake Moody-K-Michigan 3rd Round 2023 Draft

Originally posted by WINiner:

Originally posted by OnTheClock:

Originally posted by thl408:

Originally posted by 49ersRing:
So the NFL just approved a new rule that allows teams to fair catch a kickoff and start at the 25 like it's a touchback. I wonder if that reduces the value of having a kicker that can reliably kick it into the endzone as most teams are probably just going to fair catch it either way.

NFL owners approved the resolution putting the ball on the 25-yard line following a fair catch on a kickoff, I'm told.

Special teams coordinators unanimously opposed the change, but it's happening.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) May 23, 2023

Here's the full proposal owners approved today. pic.twitter.com/GcmLgGljw2

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) May 23, 2023

Player safety is a big deal on kickoffs - no more wedges, fair catching outside of the endzone. But Thursday Night football? Yes, more of that.

I don't see how this changes much. Maybe fair catching vs catching and taking knee saves a few seconds of blocking? But otherwise, I'd expect returners will still make the decision to go for the big return if it's not deep into the end zone.

We started seeing kick-offs to teams with returners nobody feared that fell short of the goal line which would force a return. The new rule makes a fair catch anywhere the same as one in the endzone.

NFL in 5 years:

what if we used next gen stats to simulate the result of the kickoff, with no risk to player safety??

Originally posted by 49erFaithful6:

Originally posted by WINiner:

Originally posted by OnTheClock:

Originally posted by thl408:

Originally posted by 49ersRing:
So the NFL just approved a new rule that allows teams to fair catch a kickoff and start at the 25 like it's a touchback. I wonder if that reduces the value of having a kicker that can reliably kick it into the endzone as most teams are probably just going to fair catch it either way.

NFL owners approved the resolution putting the ball on the 25-yard line following a fair catch on a kickoff, I'm told.

Special teams coordinators unanimously opposed the change, but it's happening.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) May 23, 2023

Here's the full proposal owners approved today. pic.twitter.com/GcmLgGljw2

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) May 23, 2023

Player safety is a big deal on kickoffs - no more wedges, fair catching outside of the endzone. But Thursday Night football? Yes, more of that.

I don't see how this changes much. Maybe fair catching vs catching and taking knee saves a few seconds of blocking? But otherwise, I'd expect returners will still make the decision to go for the big return if it's not deep into the end zone.

We started seeing kick-offs to teams with returners nobody feared that fell short of the goal line which would force a return. The new rule makes a fair catch anywhere the same as one in the endzone.

NFL in 5 years:

what if we used next gen stats to simulate the result of the kickoff, with no risk to player safety??

If they really cared about player safety, they would play Thursday Night football on a Saturday.

Originally posted by thl408:

Originally posted by 49erFaithful6:

Originally posted by WINiner:

Originally posted by OnTheClock:

Originally posted by thl408:

Originally posted by 49ersRing:
So the NFL just approved a new rule that allows teams to fair catch a kickoff and start at the 25 like it's a touchback. I wonder if that reduces the value of having a kicker that can reliably kick it into the endzone as most teams are probably just going to fair catch it either way.

NFL owners approved the resolution putting the ball on the 25-yard line following a fair catch on a kickoff, I'm told.

Special teams coordinators unanimously opposed the change, but it's happening.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) May 23, 2023

Here's the full proposal owners approved today. pic.twitter.com/GcmLgGljw2

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) May 23, 2023

Player safety is a big deal on kickoffs - no more wedges, fair catching outside of the endzone. But Thursday Night football? Yes, more of that.

I don't see how this changes much. Maybe fair catching vs catching and taking knee saves a few seconds of blocking? But otherwise, I'd expect returners will still make the decision to go for the big return if it's not deep into the end zone.

We started seeing kick-offs to teams with returners nobody feared that fell short of the goal line which would force a return. The new rule makes a fair catch anywhere the same as one in the endzone.

NFL in 5 years:

what if we used next gen stats to simulate the result of the kickoff, with no risk to player safety??

If they really cared about player safety, they would play Thursday Night football on a Saturday.

NCAA like

I still don't see how this affects anything except end of game strategies slightly.

All it does is make you either kick it deep or squib kick it.

They are assuming returners catching inside the 10 or 5 will just fair catch to save clock I guess?

Maybe wish can do some funky dropkick squibs lol.

Originally posted by OnTheClock:
I still don't see how this affects anything except end of game strategies slightly.

All it does is make you either kick it deep or squib kick it.

They are assuming returners catching inside the 10 or 5 will just fair catch to save clock I guess?

Maybe wish can do some funky dropkick squibs lol.

It sucks because I feel like this was the first year we had the personnel to compete on kick off and kick/punt return. Now this rule kinda negates that. We've been so bad in those areas for years, and now that we finally get some returners, we won't need them as much.

Originally posted by OnTheClock:
I still don't see how this affects anything except end of game strategies slightly.

All it does is make you either kick it deep or squib kick it.

They are assuming returners catching inside the 10 or 5 will just fair catch to save clock I guess?

Maybe wish can do some funky dropkick squibs lol.

we will see if teams employ the fair catch tactic at their own 3 yard line; I would guess so, if analytics shows that your avg field position is better fair catching vs returning.

for example there is this from PFF:

Kicks that landed short of the end zone were returned to the 25 or better fewer than 44% of the time, which suggests that the kicking team was also acting suboptimally in kicking it in the end zone so frequently.

so basically they changed the rule from 20 yard line (touchback) to 25 in 2016, and teams slowly adjusted from booting it into the endzone, to wanting to force a return, by a good hang time kick landing short of the endzone; now the receiving team has the decision, to return said kick or not.. the reality is they should not, we will see how quickly teams figure this out

So teams like KC, Eagles and us will only have to go 75 yards to get a TD.

Will be very interesting to see how it plays out.

It may be very boring or exciting. I'm sure teams will be trying to figure out using squib-type kicks or something else not yet thought of to exploit it.

Can someone explain the rule to me please lol. So all they have to do is call a fair catch and they get it on the 25? That's for kick offs and punts? I'm confused

edit: think I just figured it out.

So on a kickoff, if you kick it to the 4 yard line they can just fair catch it and get it on the 25? f**king lame.

so kick returners are almost useless now & having moody being able to boot it out of the end zone doesn't matter as much lol Jesus

Originally posted by NYniner85:
Can someone explain the rule to me please lol. So all they have to do is call a fair catch and they get it on the 25? That's for kick offs and punts? I'm confused

edit: think I just figured it out.

So on a kickoff, if you kick it to the 4 yard line they can just fair catch it and get it on the 25? f**king lame.

so kick returners are almost useless now & having moody being able to boot it out of the end zone doesn't matter as much lol Jesus

Yep. At this point they might aswell get rid of kickoffs if everybody just starts fqairq catching every kick off. I was reading that concussions were up again on kick offs due to teams kicking the ball short. Guys are still gonna try to return it unless coached otherwise

Originally posted by lamontb:

Originally posted by NYniner85:
Can someone explain the rule to me please lol. So all they have to do is call a fair catch and they get it on the 25? That's for kick offs and punts? I'm confused

edit: think I just figured it out.

So on a kickoff, if you kick it to the 4 yard line they can just fair catch it and get it on the 25? f**king lame.

so kick returners are almost useless now & having moody being able to boot it out of the end zone doesn't matter as much lol Jesus

Yep. At this point they might aswell get rid of kickoffs if everybody just starts fqairq catching every kick off. I was reading that concussions were up again on kick offs due to teams kicking the ball short. Guys are still gonna try to return it unless coached otherwise

If they want to incentivize touchbacks, when there's a touchback/fair catch, place the ball at the 30. I think ST coaches would take that.

Originally posted by lamontb:

Originally posted by NYniner85:
Can someone explain the rule to me please lol. So all they have to do is call a fair catch and they get it on the 25? That's for kick offs and punts? I'm confused

edit: think I just figured it out.

So on a kickoff, if you kick it to the 4 yard line they can just fair catch it and get it on the 25? f**king lame.

so kick returners are almost useless now & having moody being able to boot it out of the end zone doesn't matter as much lol Jesus

Yep. At this point they might aswell get rid of kickoffs if everybody just starts fqairq catching every kick off. I was reading that concussions were up again on kick offs due to teams kicking the ball short. Guys are still gonna try to return it unless coached otherwise

It's just like college now

Originally posted by lamontb:

Originally posted by NYniner85:
Can someone explain the rule to me please lol. So all they have to do is call a fair catch and they get it on the 25? That's for kick offs and punts? I'm confused

edit: think I just figured it out.

So on a kickoff, if you kick it to the 4 yard line they can just fair catch it and get it on the 25? f**king lame.

so kick returners are almost useless now & having moody being able to boot it out of the end zone doesn't matter as much lol Jesus

Yep. At this point they might aswell get rid of kickoffs if everybody just starts fqairq catching every kick off. I was reading that concussions were up again on kick offs due to teams kicking the ball short. Guys are still gonna try to return it unless coached otherwise

That seemed to be central reason given by the NFL in making this change. Player safety.

I don't like it. I suppose the next step will be no kickoff. Just put the ball on the 25 after the other team scores or to start the game. They ignore the real problem. Players are too big and too fast. Crack down on PEDs and get guys back to a more normal size.

Originally posted by dj43:

Originally posted by lamontb:

Originally posted by NYniner85:
Can someone explain the rule to me please lol. So all they have to do is call a fair catch and they get it on the 25? That's for kick offs and punts? I'm confused

edit: think I just figured it out.

So on a kickoff, if you kick it to the 4 yard line they can just fair catch it and get it on the 25? f**king lame.

so kick returners are almost useless now & having moody being able to boot it out of the end zone doesn't matter as much lol Jesus

Yep. At this point they might aswell get rid of kickoffs if everybody just starts fqairq catching every kick off. I was reading that concussions were up again on kick offs due to teams kicking the ball short. Guys are still gonna try to return it unless coached otherwise

That seemed to be central reason given by the NFL in making this change. Player safety.

They are gonna start two hand touching these QBs, the way this is going. Which means no more QB injury, and the 49er dynasty can begin

Originally posted by CatchMaster80:
I don't like it. I suppose the next step will be no kickoff. Just put the ball on the 25 after the other team scores or to start the game. They ignore the real problem. Players are too big and too fast. Crack down on PEDs and get guys back to a more normal size.

It's the speed at which the kickoff coverage guys are running downfield to smack the receiving team. They recently made the kickoff team be at a standstill until the kick is in the air, instead of having them get a running start. If they want to get creative, have the coverage guys line up at the 30 yard line (near the kick returner), then when the catch is made, that is when the coverage guys can start their pursuit. That could eliminate the high speed collisions. Something like that.