CANTON, Ohio — The primary two kickoff returns beneath the NFL’s new guidelines regarded quite a bit like kickoffs of the previous in the course of the Chicago Bears’ 21-17 weather-shortened win over the Houston Texans in Thursday’s Corridor of Fame Recreation.
Texans vast receiver Steven Sims took the opening kickoff 21 yards earlier than he was tackled on the 26-yard line, which is a yard past the place offenses start their drives after a touchback.
After Houston took a 7-0 lead, Texans kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn despatched a kickoff to Bears vast receiver Tyler Scott, who generated an similar 21-yard return.
“You grew up your complete life simply catching it, having completely different ranges and issues of that nature; and now, everyone seems to be sort of stacked,” Scott stated. “If a kick is sort of brief, guys are proper up on you. You have to make one lower and go. I believe there’s advantages to that, as a result of if one man misses, then you definately’re good. However on the identical time, for those who make the mistaken lower, any person is correct there.
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“To date, I really feel prefer it sort of protects guys a little bit bit extra. Guys don’t get a full head of steam coming down the sphere, taking photographs on individuals. However I believe for essentially the most half, it’s going to work out fairly good. Simply assume we’ll have lots of explosive performs.”
The NFL overhauled its previous kickoff guidelines this offseason in hopes of selling extra returns. Of the eight kickoffs that befell Thursday, just one resulted in a touchback. That occurred 73% of the time final season, which was the best touchback price since 1970.
“You must determine it out, like, ‘Hey, what’s it going to seem like?'” Bears coach Matt Eberflus stated. “So, actually, we have tried various things on the return group and alternative ways to assault on the duvet group and placing completely different our bodies in several spots. So, we’re actually simply attempting to determine it out, and I believe that is the place all coaches are. We’re simply attempting to determine it out and do one of the best factor we are able to. And that is going to be ongoing by way of the entire season.
“You may have to regulate. That is the best way the NFL is.”
Regardless of the extra returns, the dearth of massive performs from every group’s kickoff items was met with some criticism. The furthest return was made by Bears rookie vast receiver John Jackson III to the 31-yard line.
Former Bears return specialist Devin Hester, who can be enshrined into the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame on Saturday, was skeptical of the returns that befell Thursday night time.
“I am watching it, man, and I am shocked that we’re not seeing extra large runs,” Hester stated on ESPN’s broadcast. “You recognize, that is stunning. However hey, it is the primary sport. So, I determine lots of coaches are going to guage this sport and take a look at to determine what they’ll do to get some extra large performs. However proper now, it is sort of shaky …
“However who is aware of? The primary sport. We’ll see.”
Thursday’s sport was formally canceled after extreme climate stopped play for greater than 35 minutes late into the third quarter.
