The NCAA announced a new kickoff rule to begin in 2018. Here’s how it will affect Clemson football in the upcoming season.
One of the least talked about areas of the Clemson football season is the new kickoff rule.
The NCAA announced back in April of 2018 that a kick returner can fair catch a ball anywhere between the end zone and the 25-yard line and earn a touch back, which will lead to the ball being placed on the 25-yard line.
The goal of the rule is to eliminate, or at the very least cut down on, injuries on that particular play, which has been researched to be one of the most dangerous plays in all of sports.
Back in 2016, the NCAA moved kickoffs from the 35-yard line to the 40-yard line in an effort to promote more touch backs.
With the new rule in my, though, here’s how it will affect Clemson football.
How to handle kickoffs…
The coaching staff has indicated that they will handle kick offs and kick returns differently depending on the opponent.
In my opinion, it’s going to be a lot harder to get opponents to start inside their own 25-yard line. As a matter of fact, it may be almost near impossible.
If I were an opponent against Clemson, I don’t know that I would have my returners do anything but fair catch the ball and take it at the 25. There may be a few teams with explosive returners that choose to run the ball, so those will be hard to track down as well.
I think it’s almost a given that after a touchdown, teams will be starting on the 25 more often than not. This doesn’t really give Clemson much incentive to kick the ball short of the end zone. I think the rule leads to the Tigers kicking the ball into the end zone and conceding the 25-yard line more often than not.
When returning the ball, this could actually help Clemson because it seems that the Tigers haven’t had the most reliable returners in the past few seasons. Getting to start on the 25 is much better than starting inside the 15. I think that will be the philosphy– at least most of the time– of the Tigers this season.
What do you think of the new rule, Clemson football fans? Comment below!