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Sticking It to the NFL’s New Kickoff Rule

By Robby Brayton

Nov 19, 2015; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Tennessee Titans kicker Ryan Succop (4) watches his kick sail through the goal posts during the second half of a football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field. The Jaguars won 19-13. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 19, 2015; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Tennessee Titans kicker Ryan Succop (4) watches his kick sail through the goal posts during the second half of a football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field. The Jaguars won 19-13. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /
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Specialization in Special Teams: A Letter to Bobby April

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Dear Coach April,

As you well know, the days of the two-way player are long gone. Same can be said for the three down player; back, backer, and almost every other position for that matter. The game of NFL football has evolved into the maximization of matchups that often chooses percentages over football ability and acumen. What if I could explain how to get the best of both worlds for our kickoff coverage team?

You do not know me, as I am a fringe player that has not yet caught your eye. That said, and understanding that versatility will increase my worth and improve my chances to remain on the 53-man roster, I have the following request.

Include me in the competition to kick the ball off this season.

Before you bust out in laughter or wave this off as insanity, please hear me out.

The NFL has made a rule change where a touchback now brings the ball out to the 25-yard line. My understanding is that teams may decide to kick the ball short of the goal line in an attempt to minimize the resulting yardage loss. What if we could not only minimize that loss, but also gain from this rule change? Exciting, right?

Imagine the following scenarios:

• A tiptoeing, kicker avoiding contact until the return exposes him, a terrible angle, a whiffing lunge, and a scoreboard that reads; Opponent 6 – Titans 0.
• A young, energetic tackling machine of a DB who races through traffic and blows up the kick returner inside the 10. Opponent 0 – Titans 0

Wouldn’t you much rather have the second scenario and the opportunity to get another athletic (no offense, Succop) player on the field? One who makes tackles for a living? One whose injury wouldn’t result in missed extra points after every score?

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    • What if I told you that my leg strength is perfect for this and that my 100% kick consistently falls between the five and one yard deep in the end zone? Doesn’t an actual kicker have to take something off his kicks, like a golfer in between clubs, to manage this distance? What if I told you that I had directional control? Not pinpoint accuracy like a kicker, but within a yard or two of my target. Not bad, right? Have I told you that my kickoff hang time is in the low fours? Same as my forty…

    It’s true – I am not a kicker, but I am not just a rookie positional player either. I am an athlete, capable of extraordinary physical accomplishments, that chooses to make his living in the NFL. All I need is a shot…To kick & stick.

    If we do this Coach Bobby, you and I are going to be the best of friends – We’ll need to be because the commissioner will not be very fond of either one of us.

    Think about it.

    Best regards,

    Versatile, Fringe Player

    PS: Titan Up!

    Kicking a football is extremely specialized…and a lot more difficult than the Ryan Succops and Brett Kerns of the world make it appear. That said, a kickoff requires less accuracy and timing than a field goal.

    Directional control, hang time and leg strength would seemingly are the main attributes of a good kickoff. Could a great athlete do these things? Does the NFL have great athletes? Do any of the NFL’s great athletes play for the Titans? If not, could a player be coached up enough to be considered a viable option? Who knows, but wouldn’t it be exciting to see someone other than a kicker trot out onto the field in that role?

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    Who could it be? Perhaps an “irrelevant” rookie proves relevant by replacing an “irrelevant” kicker. Maybe a high school, three-sport athlete, like David Bass, decides he needs a fourth letterman’s patch. A sprinter and high jumper, like Marquis Huff, seemingly has the legs for it…How about the chops? Who wouldn’t want to see a jack-of-all-trades (running back, track & wrestling), like Karl Klug, rumbling down field at full speed?

    "“Time will tell. But I can see where if you have a kicker who has good hang time in the 4.3, 4.4, or 4.5 range, that special teams coach is going to try and have him kick the ball high and short and pin teams, rather than kicking a touchback and allowing a team to start at the 25-yard line” – Ryan Succop"

    Could this be the year that someone finally brings specialization to the kicker position by using a positional player to kickoff? Yes. Please yes. Oh billy, billy, billy.

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