Why aren’t kickers kicking line drives that can take nasty hops on kickoffs?

I was looking forward to more kick returns. Kinda bummed the coaches have other plans.

Because it's easier to just boot it out the back of the endzone and let them have it on the 30. No injuries, no risk of a TD, and only 3 yards more than the average start location anyway. Plus no risk of messing it up and having the ball go to the 40.

(09-09-2024, 07:05 PM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: Because it's easier to just boot it out the back of the endzone and let them have it on the 30. No injuries, no risk of a TD, and only 3 yards more than the average start location anyway. Plus no risk of messing it up and having the ball go to the 40.

They almost have to move it to the 35 next season, this isnt accomplishing what they want, IMO.

(09-09-2024, 07:05 PM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: Because it's easier to just boot it out the back of the endzone and let them have it on the 30. No injuries, no risk of a TD, and only 3 yards more than the average start location anyway. Plus no risk of messing it up and having the ball go to the 40.

You can’t recover it, if they can’t field it? 

I thought for sure the Bengals would try it when they were down late and needed to try and get the Patriots backed up. The 30-yard line means even if you stop the Patriots they could handicap the Bengals with a good punt. (You know, like when the Bengals fielded the punt at the 5-yard line.) Stop them inside the 20 and you might get good field position.

You're not allowed to bounce the ball outside a certain yard line, it's a penalty and I think it goes out to the 40.

"◾ The kick: Touchbacks in the end zone start five yards farther up the the field at the 30-yard line. If a ball lands within the landing zone and becomes a touchback, the ball is placed at the 20-yard line. If the kick falls short of the landing zone, the ball is placed at the 40-yard line."

(09-09-2024, 09:09 PM)reuben.ahmed Wrote: You're not allowed to bounce the ball outside a certain yard line, it's a penalty and I think it goes out to the 40.

"◾ The kick: Touchbacks in the end zone start five yards farther up the the field at the 30-yard line. If a ball lands within the landing zone and becomes a touchback, the ball is placed at the 20-yard line. If the kick falls short of the landing zone, the ball is placed at the 40-yard line."

Ok, thanks. That’s why they don’t. 

Edit. I read if it lands between the 20 and endzone it must be returned. 

• Landing zone is the area between the receiving team’s goal line and its 20-yard line.
• Any kick that hits short of the landing zone – treated like kickoff out of bounds and ball spotted at B40 yard line; play would be blown dead as soon as kick lands short of the landing zone
• Any kick that hits in the landing zone - must be returned
• Any kick that hits in the landing zone and then goes into the end zone – must be returned or downed by receiving team – if downed then touchback to B20 yard line
• Kick hits in end zone, stays inbounds - returned or downed – if downed then touchback to B30 yard line
• Any kick that goes out of the back of the end zone (in the air or bounces) – touchback to B30 yard line