NFL owners met yesterday and approved a change regarding kickoffs for this upcoming season, whenever that season begins. All kickoffs will be placed on the 35-yard line rather than the 30-yard line as it has been in the past.
Owners cite player safety as the main reason for the change, and predict an increase of touchbacks from 5% to 15% this year due to the move. The rule change is scaled down from the rules committee recommendations that included eliminating the blocking "wedge" formation for receiving teams and placing touchbacks on the 25-yard line rather than the 20. The new rule has received criticism from some NFL coaches and players including Chicago Bears head coach, Lovie Smith.
The Packers would seem to be one of the teams that will potentially benefit from the rule change. While finishing 30th in kick coverage rankings last season, what Packer fan didn't cringe every time the Packers kicked off during their Super Bowl playoff run?
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