I really don't like this rule but it is what it is.
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Also.
  1. Onside kick only in 4th Qtr and only if team is trailing
  2. AND you must declare onside kick before you do it
(so basically this will end onside kicks practically).
All of these rules seem like drastic changes, the NFL has already been a little unloved by public....I think there will be a backlash
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Onside kicks aren't used much anyways and teams usually know they are going to do them anyways so I am not too concerned about that but the new tackling rules and the kickoff rules I am not a fan of.
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The Donkeys did a surprise onside kick to open the season against the Raiders. They did not successfully recover it.
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Interestingly enough the Raiders, 49ers and Packers were the only teams to vote against it. 49ers and Packers Special Teams were awful last year. Don't know how the Raiders fared.
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That's surprising to me. The Raiders might have the best kicker in the league. Touchbacks are more punitive now, so maybe they wanted to continue just booting it out of the back of the end zone.
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Probably the case.
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That's something the Broncos would do.
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I think it's going to increase the frequency of returns, so I'm cautiously optimistic. I've really disliked all the recent changes that have all but eliminated the return game.
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But with everyone lined up on the returning side of midfield, if everyone blocks well you might just have to beat one guy and it's a TD.
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That's my concern, too. They may have broken the game. We'll probably know by the end of preseason if this is going to be a disaster. My understanding is that all of the Special Teams Coordinators were on board with that, which I doubt would have happened if they thought it was uncoverable.
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With all those guys on one side it seems all or nothing to me. Either the returner will have no space and get shut down quickly or blocks will be good and he will break a tackle and have only the kicker to beat to bet to endzone.
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Yeah, I saw someone breaking down how schematically it's the kicker who needs to make the tackle. They've certainly gotten more athletic since I was a kid, but I still wouldn't want to be counting on my kicker to make a tackle.
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Just when you thought the No Fun League couldn't muck things up more..... shrugs
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All these Rule changes to protect players safety is killing the game.
It’s like modern culture is trying to eliminate risk but you can’t. If guys know they will be in pain forever and they still sign up making up all these rules is ridiculous. Too much money involved now.
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