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The NFL is consistently electing rules and measures to make the game safer. This offseason they made an adjustment to kickoffs, which basically stops just short of eliminating runbacks.
Returners are now eligible to elect for a fair catch on kicks that don’t reach the end zone, effectively stopping play and placing the ball on the 25 yard-line.
The rule, submitted and approved by the Competition Committee:
Effect: For one year only, puts the ball in play at the receiving team’s 25-yard line if there is a fair catch on a free kick (kickoff and safety kick) behind the receiving team’s 25-yard line.
Reason: Player Safety
New York Giants special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey was grilled about how he was dealing with the new rule and did not appear to be in favor of it.
“The rule itself is just something we’ll just have to get used to. It’s like any other rule change,” McGaughey told reporters at this week’s OTAs. “You just make the adjustments and just keep moving forward. I’m going to keep coaching the guys the same way. It’s not going to change. We’re going to coach up the fundamentals and the techniques, the schematics will be the same, and we’ll just go from there. You just make the adjustments and see what happens.”
McGaughey was asked if he thought the new rule would increase player safety.
“What I think doesn’t matter,” he said. “It is what it is. If they think it’s to increase safety, then that’s what it is.”
The Giants’ special teams have been one of the more effective in the league under McGaughey. Last year, the Giants were seventh in the league in kickoff returns with 25.6 yards per attempt. When it came to defending kickoffs, the Giants were in the middle of the pack.
Mcgaughey was asked if the new rule was a step towards eliminating the kickoff from the game, something that has been discussed in the past.
“I’d never say that, because that’s my livelihood,” he said. “No one wants to lose a part of what you’re used to doing as a part of your job, to kind of go away. You want to be able to kind of coach the way you’ve been coaching and have the same kind of impact in the game that you want to have, but again, you just make the adjustments and just keep moving.”
The Giants added several players to their roster this offseason who had returner experience. Now, that feature — which could determine roster spots — may not factor in any longer.
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