The NFL tried to revamp the structure of the kickoff this season in order to increase the number of returns and make the play more exciting. Through two weeks, the Los Angeles Rams politely declined to participate in this experiment.
Even with the NFL trying to discourage teams from kicking it through the end zone by making touchbacks come out to the 30-yard line, the Rams aren’t changing the way they handle kickoffs. They’ve kept the status quo, choosing not to give opponents the chance to return kicks.
The Rams are one of just two teams that have not allowed a single kickoff return, booting all nine of their kicks into the end zone for a touchback. The Colts have also not allowed a return, while six other teams have just one non-touchback.
While some teams have toyed with different approaches to kickoffs in an attempt to pun their opponents deep in their own territory, the Rams would rather not play that game. Sean McVay is fine with giving the other team the ball at the 30 and letting his defense go to work rather than potentially allowing a long return or even a touchdown like the Bills did against the Cardinals in Week 1.
McVay, who’s on the competition committee, explained the thought process when he was asked about it last week.
“I just think the unforeseen. I think knowing that there’s not as many layers in the coverage,” he said. “There’s possible vertical seams. I think we felt like the confidence that we did have in our defense to put the ball on the 30. It was more about just a lot of the unforeseen consequences. I wasn’t truly surprised that was kind of the approach from the league. There were a lot of discussions that I was kind of involved in with just some of the different competition [and] the committee stuff. That was kind of the approach just not really knowing. It felt like that was the smart thing for us.”
On the other side of the coin, the Saints have only kicked four of their 18 kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks, allowing 14 returns for an average of 25.2 yards. They’re the only team in the league that’s allowed at least eight kick returns.
It’s clear most coaches don’t want to risk allowing long returns, even at the cost of giving their opponent decent field position at the 30. Penalties can occur, injuries can happen and there’s a decent chance the opponent will bring the ball out past the 30 anyway.
The NFL may have to rethink the rules of its overhauled kickoff to move touchbacks to the 35-yard line, which was an option before the season. However, that could be on the table for 2025 if the league doesn’t see the uptick in returns that it was hoping for.