Should Kick-offs be Eliminated?

[nu2u]

I have been able to catch only portions of the B10 media days broadcast but I last night I watched Minnesota HC Claeys talking about the possibility of eliminating KOs from college football. Apparently, it is being seriously discussed as a measure to reduce high impact injuries.

For me, this presents sort of a dilemma: I support action to make the game safer but I also feel that KOs are an exciting and integral part of the game. Need more info.

 

[hawk_it]

It would be interesting to see injury studies on Kickoff's, Punts, and which type of plays cause what type of injuries. In addition, what plays cause the most. Concussions, knee, etc.

 

[ConvenientParking]

No more onside attempts? IDK.

 

[rivercityjazzman]

This was discussed previously, towards the end of the thread. A timely issue, certainly, but I'm not certain that the data are solid.

https://iowa.forums.rivals.com/thre...ing-game-is-coming-along.141121/#post-3180511

 

[NevadaHawk]

Why remove the kickoff from the game? Just move up the line the KO comes from. Football is a full contact sport and there are injuries in every phase of the game. Every guy who suits up and goes out on the field knows there is a chance he could get hurt. What the game really needs is better officiating.

 

[fifteenandoh]

more accountability with officiating is desperately needed....

but regarding kickoffs... I love them... I was thinking about this... and... rather than changing the game... perhaps improving the protective equipment is a possibility?... and.... outlawing all hits to and with the helmet?...

it seems like concussions happen because of hits to the helmet...

what if it was illegal to lead with the helmet on kickoffs?....

you know... its funny.... I recall in the Pittsburgh game, CJ Beathard getting hammered repeatedly on the head.... and I think only 1 flag was ever thrown for the multiple hits Beathard took to the head....

so perhaps these 2 areas need much improvement.... accountability with the refs... and... expansion of the rules regarding hits to the helmet.

I don't know.... but eliminating kickoffs seems extreme.... maybe we should put flags on the players... make them wear pom poms... and eliminate all contact?

 

[nu2u]

Claeys later said that mandating single man (one-to-one) blocking on KOs might be a workable alternative to elimination. I'm not so sure but I would favor that over removing KOs from the game. I mean c'mon ..... kickers barely earn their scholarship money as it is.
(j/k rcjazzman)

 

[Hawk8595]

No more onside attempts? IDK.

I'm not in favor of eliminating kickoffs but I absolutely hate onside kicks. A team out plays their opponents for 59+ minutes and gets beat because of a crap play?

 

[ichawk24]

The Ivy League reported numbers that kickoffs are ~6% of plays yet ~24% of concussions.

I'd rather see kickoffs and other high-danger plays eliminated than see the game greatly changed.

 

[rivercityjazzman]

Claeys later said that mandating single man (one-to-one) blocking on KOs might be a workable alternative to elimination. I'm not so sure but I would favor that over removing KOs from the game. I mean c'mon ..... kickers barely earn their scholarship money as it is.
(j/k rcjazzman)

Yeahhhhh
I think punters should be able to score points for the team...how about giving them points for punts through the uprights from beyond 40 yards. ; )

 

[Kurt Warner]

Yeah, better officiating, like the TERRIBLE no call on the helmet to helmet on our receiver in the end zone that most likely cost us the big ten championship game.

 

[J_Heater]

I'm not in favor of eliminating kickoffs but I absolutely hate onside kicks. A team out plays their opponents for 59+ minutes and gets beat because of a crap play?

Yes that one play decides the game. It's not like they have to take the ball and move down the field for a TD or kick a FG. Nope kick the onside, get it and game over. 59+ minutes of outplaying is not true and a gross exaggeration. If it were you wouldn't be beaten by one onside kick.

 

[Herkmeister]

This really bothers me. The KO is such a huge part of the game with some many variables. FB would not be FB without it.

That said, safety cannot be down played. But lets face it, there is risk in FB and there always has been.

BUT THE GAME IS IN TROUBLE DUE TO LAWYERS AND LITIGATION.

 

[bhawk24bob]

I can think of better things to attack without changing the game, starting with the unnatural strength of a lot of players

 

[soybean]

Yeahhhhh
I think punters should be able to score points for the team...how about giving them points for punts through the uprights from beyond 40 yards. ; )

I think punters should be able to score from any distance on the field so long as its a drop kick.

 

[anon_bb9wlf9kj42py]

Will it eliminate the dreaded touchdown/commercial/kick off/commercial time span? I'm for eliminating them if it means killing the most boring parts of watching football as a fan.

And yes, obviously the resulting injuries should play a factor.

 

[DarkThunder#61]

I say keep kickoffs and eliminate the people trying to destroy the game of football.....but that's just me.

 

[Banks Fan]

Let's just eliminate fotball. And while we area at it, let's eliminate other sports where people might be injured. I tore a tendon running hurdles. Can't have that. Basketball causes all kinds of leg and back injuries. Let's all just stay in a closet where nothing can happen.

 

[Herkmeister]

Let's just eliminate fotball. And while we area at it, let's eliminate other sports where people might be injured. I tore a tendon running hurdles. Can't have that. Basketball causes all kinds of leg and back injuries. Let's all just stay in a closet where nothing can happen.

I got severe tendinitis playing cards.

 

[unoHawkeye]

more accountability with officiating is desperately needed....

but regarding kickoffs... I love them... I was thinking about this... and... rather than changing the game... perhaps improving the protective equipment is a possibility?... and.... outlawing all hits to and with the helmet?...

it seems like concussions happen because of hits to the helmet...

what if it was illegal to lead with the helmet on kickoffs?....

you know... its funny.... I recall in the Pittsburgh game, CJ Beathard getting hammered repeatedly on the head.... and I think only 1 flag was ever thrown for the multiple hits Beathard took to the head....

so perhaps these 2 areas need much improvement.... accountability with the refs... and... expansion of the rules regarding hits to the helmet.

I don't know.... but eliminating kickoffs seems extreme.... maybe we should put flags on the players... make them wear pom poms... and eliminate all contact?

Form tackling and blocking includes putting your facemask on the opponents numbers. Don't know how you're supposed to tackle without ever hitting with your head.

It already is illegal to lead with your helmet in any circumstance. Ball carriers are not allowed to lead with their head nor are defenders allowed to lead with their head. This just isn't enforced (primarily the ball carriers) which is part of the problem.

The rules are fine. If players aren't leading with their helmets while carrying the ball, and defenders launching themselves or hitting with their helmet down, then (aside from accidental collisions) players shouldn't be getting concussions. That's on the refs to enforce.

 

[IowaNiceHawk]

Let me give it some thought..........

NO

 

[DavenportHawk8]

Claeys later said that mandating single man (one-to-one) blocking on KOs might be a workable alternative to elimination. I'm not so sure but I would favor that over removing KOs from the game. I mean c'mon ..... kickers barely earn their scholarship money as it is.
(j/k rcjazzman)

Until that one guy misses his block and the KO guy gets a 50yd start to smoke the returner. The collisions on "free kick" plays are serious. I mean you have guys who are 6-1 200+lbs running full steam at one another.

No matter what they do, football will never be a safe sport. Its a contact sport where the athletes are BIGGER/FASTER/STRONGER than they were 20 years ago. Technology w/helmets and protection are trying to catch up, but its moving faster than they can. They can modify it all they want, but as long as contact is involved, there will be issues.

I sat in on a coaches clinic where they had a Div 1 official come talk about the rules and what coaches can do to help the game. He basically said that officials can't control what happens, its on the coaches/players to play the right way. He stated that all coaches need to teach heads up and tell their players to focus their target at the hip. The problem is a coach can preach and preach and preach till their blue in the face. The athletes are going to do what they want to do. A lot of these players are looking for the Big Hit. He mentioned something about enforcing the targeting rule to instead of missing 1 half, turning it into 2-3 games. Said there have been discussions on how to limit it, but like one coach mentioned. Some times it just happens and to penalize a player 2-3 games because of a hit seems very extreme (basically 1/4 of the season).

This guy that talked was very passionate about his job and stated several times that if something doesn't change, the game of football will eventually be gone (meaning people won't play it). He quoted something like Pop Warner football has seen a drastic drop in #'s of children signing up. Also said high schools are seeing the same thing.

It was good to listen to him, he was very informative about the game of football and what college football is trying to do to make it safer. Yet they still allow Blocking below the waist??

 

[DavenportHawk8]

Form tackling and blocking includes putting your facemask on the opponents numbers. Don't know how you're supposed to tackle without ever hitting with your head.

It already is illegal to lead with your helmet in any circumstance. Ball carriers are not allowed to lead with their head nor are defenders allowed to lead with their head. This just isn't enforced (primarily the ball carriers) which is part of the problem.

The rules are fine. If players aren't leading with their helmets while carrying the ball, and defenders launching themselves or hitting with their helmet down, then (aside from accidental collisions) players shouldn't be getting concussions. That's on the refs to enforce.

So you want a ref to call targeting on a runner?? That doesn't make any sense. There cannot be targeting on a runner. If they did enforce that, there would be no RB's left. They all would be sliding before contact.

 

[ROCKY MOUNTAIN HAWK]

Let's just eliminate fotball. And while we area at it, let's eliminate other sports where people might be injured. I tore a tendon running hurdles. Can't have that. Basketball causes all kinds of leg and back injuries. Let's all just stay in a closet where nothing can happen.

I agree. I've never seen anybody die on a football field but I've basketball players die on the court. Also, how many more people will die this year from bike riding than football. I'll say a few hundred. Should we get rid of bicycles?

 

[DutchyFunStar]

Better helmets are not going to keep a brain from rattling around inside someone's skull after impact. With the size and speed of players increasing more and more, the sport is more violent. Someone is going to die on the field and fans will start to leave the game. We are already seeing number dry up in youth football. The sport will be in a decline. But like boxing it will survive.

Boxing was the most popular sport in the county at one point. But now, it is far from mainstream. But its still big money. Football will likely go the same way over time. People will loose their taste for it as they realize the medical implications of the violence they see. TV numbers will go down, but there will still be rabid fans wanting to see the game.

 

[hoffmkr]

Instead of eliminating kickoffs, go with Arena Football kickoffs.
Let the kickers score a point for getting it through the upright. At the same time, don't use nets for misses. The number of touchbacks will go up exponentially and who wouldn't love being able to score 9 pts on a touchdown to increase ability to come back.

 

[StormHawk42]

So you want a ref to call targeting on a runner?? That doesn't make any sense. There cannot be targeting on a runner. If they did enforce that, there would be no RB's left. They all would be sliding before contact.

It's rarely called but I'm pretty sure targeting can be called on a runner. If they clearly lead with the very top of their helmet it can be called. Usually doesn't happen because the runner will lower his shoulder first.

 

[DavenportHawk8]

It's rarely called but I'm pretty sure targeting can be called on a runner. If they clearly lead with the very top of their helmet it can be called. Usually doesn't happen because the runner will lower his shoulder first.

Yeah, but in high school it is called "spearing" because the runner is lowering their head to punish the defender. In college there is no such thing. I have never seen it called, nor will it ever be called.

It will be interesting this year with Replay able to call Targeting from the booth. So now you will ever big hit examined from the booth and if they feel its targeting they will buzz down and call it!

 

[thewop]

Sarcastaball? Anyone with me there?

The Iowa Illinois game will soon look something like this...

 

[hawkeye54545]

I got severe tendinitis playing cards.

Plus you could always strain a finger shiffling the deck. Eliminate it.

Seriously, at what point did we determine there should be no risk in life? Actions have consequences, if someone decides to play football in 2016 they should no the risks and accept that responsibility if they choose to partake in the sport.

It is a slippery slope when we continuely ban or change things. Where do you stop?

 

[James Westfall]

I got severe tendinitis playing cards.

I got carpel tunnel syndrome typing at work, we must eliminate all work at once...

 

[Titanhawk2]

Yeah, better officiating, like the TERRIBLE no call on the helmet to helmet on our receiver in the end zone that most likely cost us the big ten championship game.

Because calling the penalty would have prevented the contact?

 

[Ree4]

My eyes are starting to hurt from reading all these comments, eliminate comments!

 

[Eternal Return]

Don't know how you're supposed to tackle without ever hitting with your head.

Watch rugby. Those players manage to tackle without using their heads. Back when there were leather helmets there weren't so many head-leading tackles, either. The "protective" equipment actually leads to more head-to-head and head-to-body hits. Just kind of interesting. I don't have a dog in this fight, though. I get both arguments and I'd adjust to either one (kickoffs or no kickoffs). It would change the game, but it's not like I'd stop watching because of it. I can't imagine anyone else would, either. But I do like watching kickoffs and I'm no longer playing football so I can't get hurt. If I had a son I'd probably steer him toward soccer, track&field, and swimming rather than football. Too easily could wind up like Tyler Sash. But that's me. I have no problem with other parents putting their kids in uniforms and letting them knock the shit out of each other. It's fun to watch violence like that.

 

[unoHawkeye]

Watch rugby. Those players manage to tackle without using their heads. Back when there were leather helmets there weren't so many head-leading tackles, either. The "protective" equipment actually leads to more head-to-head and head-to-body hits. Just kind of interesting. I don't have a dog in this fight, though. I get both arguments and I'd adjust to either one (kickoffs or no kickoffs). It would change the game, but it's not like I'd stop watching because of it. I can't imagine anyone else would, either. But I do like watching kickoffs and I'm no longer playing football so I can't get hurt. If I had a son I'd probably steer him toward soccer, track&field, and swimming rather than football. Too easily could wind up like Tyler Sash. But that's me. I have no problem with other parents putting their kids in uniforms and letting them knock the shit out of each other. It's fun to watch violence like that.

I did acknowledge in my response that players need to be smart even with the equipment on (heads up tackling, not leading with the head while carrying the ball).

I suppose that there's a bit of a trade off between rugby and football. In rugby you may not see the head-to-head/head-to-body hits, but when they occur (and they do) they can be quite serious. In general, rugby players tend to get pretty busted up in a typical game. In football, you remove some of the instantly serious hits, but you do allow players to accumulate more of the head-to-head/head-to-body hits over time.

Pick your poison I guess.

 

[terrehawk]

Maybe change the rule so the kicking team can't go past the opponents 20 or 25 yard line or its a 15 yd penalty.

This could make for more big returns and would eliminate so many big collisions at full speed as the tacklers can't just run full speed into the return man

 

[theIowaHawk]

Will it eliminate the dreaded touchdown/commercial/kick off/commercial time span? I'm for eliminating them if it means killing the most boring parts of watching football as a fan.

And yes, obviously the resulting injuries should play a factor.

This. Eliminate this, and we would all benefit greatly.