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NFL Halfway: Rule change boosts strategy on kickoffs returns

In this Aug. 12, 2016, file photo, New York Giants running back Bobby Rainey (43) brings the ball up field on the kickoff during the first quarter of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins in East Rutherford, N.J. The NFL is halfway through its one-season experiment with a rule placing the ball at the 25-yard line instead of the 20 on touchbacks. The league wants to see how that impacts kickoff returns while hoping to keep players safer by reducing returns. (Bill Kostroun / Associated Press)
By Teresa M. Walker Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Each time Marc Mariani heads out to catch a kickoff, he huddles first with the Tennessee special teams coach for a quick strategy session. Once he reaches the end zone and the ball’s in the air, the mental calculations begin.

Where will the ball come down? Short of the goal line or behind? Catch it and run? Catch and kneel? Or just let it roll out of the end zone for a touchback?

All in the seconds that it takes for the ball to fly off the kicker’s foot to the returner.

“It makes you second guess taking it out of the end zone now, and I think that’s what the NFL wanted ,” said Mariani, a 2010 Pro Bowler as a return specialist.

The NFL is halfway through its one-season experiment with a rule placing the ball at the 25-yard line instead of the 20 on touchbacks. The league wants to see how that impacts kickoff returns while hoping to keep players safer by reducing runbacks. Studies have shown players are at greater risk of injury on a play sending teams running at each other, creating relatively high-speed collisions.

Through nine weeks, touchbacks are up to 60.9 percent on kickoffs, according to Sportradar. That’s a jump from 58.8 percent a year ago and is the highest rate at this point in any season over the past 11 years. Teams also are averaging just 20.5 yards per return, the lowest average since the start of the 2006 season.

Titans special teams coach Steve Hoffman said the rule is having the effect special teams coaches expected, making it very difficult to reach the 25 returning a kick. Teams with fast players who recognize an opponent’s coverage scheme still can attack, though the decision on when to risk returning a kick often depends on the score and time left on the clock.

“It’s hard to get it to the 25,” Hoffman said. “You ask most offensive coordinators, they’re going to call plays a lot different at their own 15 than their own 27. They don’t want to take negative plays. They don’t want to take a sack, so what everybody’s trying to do, they’re just trying to pin it.”

Through the first eight weeks, only two kicks had been returned for touchdowns – both by the Philadelphia Eagles.

Then within an hour of each other, Kenyan Drake returned a late kick 96 yards for a TD , helping Miami beat the Jets 27-23. And Colts running back Jordan Todman took the opening kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown , setting the tone for a big win at Lambeau Field on a play Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy called a big swing.

“You can’t have it,” McCarthy said. “That’s coverage unit 101.”

Kickoff returns remain thrilling plays, and those pushed the NFL to four TDs midway through the season, matching the four such TDs at the same point each of the previous two seasons. The league hasn’t had double-digit touchdowns off kickoff runbacks through nine weeks since 2010 – the year before the NFL moved kickoffs from the 30-yard line to the 35.

Cordarrelle Patterson of Minnesota had 10 returns of 50 yards or longer during his first three seasons with the Vikings. This season, he surprised Tennessee with a 61-yard return coming out of halftime in the season opener, but has had nothing longer than 37 yards since.

Patterson used to have the green light even backed up in his end zone, with the Vikings confident Patterson he could reach at least their 24. Now getting to the 24 means Patterson might as well have taken a knee in the end zone, and Vikings special teams coordinator Mike Priefer said the rule has affected how they think.

“I think it’s going to be interesting going forward with what the league does with it as long as we keep the play in the game,” Priefer said. “It’s an exciting play. It does make a difference on field positioning. The way we teach it here is to teach our techniques to keep guys safe, keep the head out of the game, and I know a lot of coaches are doing that now. I don’t think there’s as many injuries as there has been. So, we’re going in the right direction.”

The NFL still has half a season left before deciding whether to make the rule permanent. With the weather turning cooler, especially for northern teams, Darren Rizzi, Miami’s assistant head coach/special teams coordinator, expects more teams to opt for the high, shorter kickoff that has been used mostly by those with both good kickers and coverage units.

“So, there have been some unseen things I think that they’ve been pretty interesting, so I think that it’ll continue to trend downward,” Rizzi said.

AP Pro Football Writers Dave Campbell and Rob Maaddi and AP Sports Writers Steve Wine and Michael Marot contributed to this report.