kick offs and touchbacks
Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2004 3:56 pm
is it me or has the percentages of touchbacks declined in the last couple of seasons ?? why is that ? 
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kick offs and touchbacks
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Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2004 3:59 pm
They make them kick a new ball everytime. Older footballs that have been scuffed up, typically are softer than new footballs, and as a result can be kicked further. The rule was changed for exactly that reason. The league wnated more kick returns and less touchbacks.
Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2004 4:02 pm
a new ball makes that much of a difference ??JansenFan wrote:They make them kick a new ball everytime. Older footballs that have been scuffed up, typically are softer than new footballs, and as a result can be kicked further. The rule was changed for exactly that reason. The league wnated more kick returns and less touchbacks.
Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2004 4:03 pm
Yep, 'fraid so. If it's softer, when you kick it, you get more foot actually on the ball at once, where as a new harder ball doesn't give us much.
Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2004 4:05 pm
also did the kickoffs get moved back ??
Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2004 4:09 pm
I never heard anything like that, but that doesn't mean it didn't happen.
Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2004 4:13 pm
just wondering ...my friend at work discussed this topic the other day and noticed that no one was kicking touchbacks ....in high school i kicked a few times but never could tell the difference in a ball. ....(by the way no bragging or anything my longest field goal is 40 yards.)mark mosley style baby !!!!
Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2004 6:23 pm
redskinz4ever wrote:also did the kickoffs get moved back ??
Not since it went from the 35 to the 30 a few years ago (in the mid 90's, perhaps? Even I remember when they kicked off at the 40. . .)
Kickers were very upset when they established the new ball rule--as far as I know they like to take the (new) ball and press it in as much as possible with their hands before each kickoff.
As terrible as it was that Kimrin missed the chip shot field goal, it was refreshing to see (or in my case hear) how deep he can boot the ball.
Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2004 6:35 pm
FanfromAnnapolis wrote:As terrible as it was that Kimrin missed the chip shot field goal, it was refreshing to see (or in my case hear) how deep he can boot the ball.
I agree, he's got a powerful leg for kickoffs. IMO, the new ball rule is just another way to make football more "exciting" and thrilling. Same thing as making stricter rules for DBs and stuff like that.