Last season, the NFL saw touchbacks on 73% of its kickoffs, the highest rate since 1970. In order to combat this, the NFL adopted new kickoff rules with the goal of increasing return opportunities while also protecting players by limiting the high-impact hits that often come on the play.
The new format was on display for the first time during Thursday night’s Hall of Fame game between the Houston Texans and Chicago Bears. It definitely accomplished the goal of more returns, as there was just one touchback on eight kickoffs, but it looked and felt completely different, and that stood out to Las Vegas Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce.
Speaking to reporters after Raiders practice on Friday, Pierce asked if anyone was impressed by the new kickoff rules before calling it ‘weird’ via Raiders NewsWire’s own Ryan Ward:
#Raiders HC Antonio Pierce on watching new kickoff format yesterday: “Was you impressed? It was weird.”
— Ryan Ward (@RyanWardNFL) August 2, 2024
Just the format and look of things alone is completely different so it makes sense why things would look weird to Pierce and many others who watched. But he and the Raiders will need to get used to it, as these changes will go into effect this season.
The main difference is that the 10 non-kickers will now line up on the opposing 40-yard line. The receiving team must have at least seven players between the 30 and 35-yard line in what is known as the ‘set-up zone.’ Additionally the receiving team can have no more than two players in between the goal line and its own 20-yard line in what is known as the ‘landing zone.’
It will take some getting used to for Pierce, the Raiders, and the rest of the NFL, but that is the new reality. Pierce and the coaching staff, particularly Raiders special teams coordinator Tom McMahon, will need to figure out the best way to take advantage of these new rules and create some explosive plays on these kickoffs now that the opportunities will be there.
Antonio Pierce believes Raiders are building something ‘really special’
Regardless of these new kickoff rules, head coach Antonio Pierce still feels good about the direction his Raiders are going in so far in training camp. The Raiders coach enjoys the chemistry and camaraderie the team is building so far believing they are building something ‘really special.’
Pierce noted it wasn’t just about the players on the roster, but the franchise as a whole and team captain Maxx Crosby echoed those sentiments as well, believing the team is improving and growing closer every day.
