Commitments are changing rules in the NFL! The objective: to increase the number of returns.
It's time for change in the NFL. After the ban on hip tackles, there was also an end to commitments as you knew them. From next season, the rules change.
29 out of 32 managers voted for this new formula supposed to limit high-speed collisions and increase the rate of return on commitment.
This new rule is a major change for the big league and risks disrupting the progress of many matches.
Players who stand still
During the 2024 season, kickers will continue to kick as usual, from their own 35 yard line. The difference with the current system lies in the placement of the outfield players. The 10 players from the starting team will line up on the opposing team's 40 yard line.
Opposite, the players of the receiving team will have to line up at least nine players between their own 30 and 35 yard lines. Also, the remaining returner(s) will be able to position themselves in a receiving zone located between the 20 yard line and their goal line.
All the salt of this new rule lies here: at the time of engagement, only the kicker and the returners are authorized to move. All other players must remain still. They will only be able to move once the ball has touched the ground or the returner's hands in the receiving zone.
If there is a touchback, the offense automatically begins on the receiving team's 35-yard line. That's 10 yards further than before! If the ball falls into the receivers' receiving zone and rolls into the end zone, the offensive team returns from 20 yards.
And there is no longer any need for fair wrestling. In the event that a team wishes to do an onside kick, they must notify the referees. The latter will thus authorize the two teams to resume the traditional formations of this type of action.
A model modeled on the XFL, with 90% returns
This proposal takes up the philosophy of the XFL's commitments. Moreover, to support this new rule, ESPN reports that 90% of commitments were returned during the two seasons of this subsidiary league.
NFL special teams coaches hope to post an 80% return kick rate during the 2024 campaign.
The strong argument for this change is also the league's desire to reduce the number of concussions, which are unfortunately numerous on starting kicks.
However, over the past few seasons, the touchback rate has increased significantly in the NFL. IN 2023, the return rate in 2023 even reached 21.7% at one point, again according to ESPN. In fact, the number of concussions decreased but remained relatively constant when returning from action.
Here's what the new NFL kickoff will look like this season: pic.twitter.com/vtR5bqGZLK
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 26, 2024
