05-06-2019, 01:22 PM
(05-06-2019, 12:57 PM)Benton Wrote: For now, it's still part of the game. But I wouldn't build too much around it. In a few years it'll be: place the ball on the X yard line following Y, or place it on the N yard line following Z.
I feel bad for those guys who made some kind of career, either as a punter, return specialist or just a special teams body.
Kick off returns are the ones that will be phased out (if any). When you have 22 guys running at each other full speed there are going to be more injuries.
Punt returns still have most of the guys on the line blocking with only the gunners running full speed at the blockers and return man down field. So they are not as dangerous.
I predict the kick off return will be changed to a punt return. Basically get a 4th and 15 at your own 35. You can either punt or go for it in cases where you used to try the onside kick. Still get all the excitement of a return without as much danger of injury.
