For years, the kickoff within the NFL has been an afterthought. But with the brand new guidelines coming this season, it is producing plenty of buzz.
Justin Tucker was requested nearly solely in regards to the new format after Organized Team Activities on Thursday.
“[My] preliminary response was [that] you might have to be constructive about it and give it some thought when it comes to, that is going to preserve the play within the sport,” he stated. “This is not only going to preserve the play within the sport, it is going to make it rather more thrilling. I feel there’s going to be much more motion so far as kicks that will likely be returned.
“In all chance, we’re going to see much more returns, and it’ll give much more guys alternative to take that play and make it an enormous play. I’m trying ahead to it. It’s going to be actually thrilling.”
Tucker stated that when watching movie of XFL kickoffs, which these new guidelines are modeled after, the kickers had been concerned in about 25% of the tackles. After joking about doing extra shoulder shrugs due to that, Tucker was requested in all seriousness if he is desirous about including any weight due to the brand new guidelines.
“I’ve placed on like 3.8 kilos,” he stated. “Can you guys inform? Probably not. I’ll depart it at that.”
With the condensed nature of the brand new kickoff and the elevated modifications of the kicker getting concerned within the tackles, Head Coach John Harbaugh was requested about the potential of not utilizing Tucker because the kickoff kicker.
“I’d say that we have thought of all the pieces,” Harbaugh stated. “It’s only a matter of, ‘Do you might have a man that may kick it in there persistently?’ If you do, it most likely is a bonus since you get an additional tackler in there, and you do not put your kicker in danger,” he stated. “So, I’d say we’re taking a look at each facet we will consider.”
