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No wedge rule on kickoffs presents new challenge to special teams coaches
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Joe Marciano (houstontexans.com)
Gone are the days of wedge formations on kickoff returns in the NFL.
As part of the ongoing emphasis on player safety, the league has outlawed wedge formations consisting of three or more players.
Drat. No more wedgies.
Seriously though, the idea is to eliminate the violent collisions that have resulted in serious neck injuries to players such as Kevin Everett of the Buffalo Bills and our very own Cedric Killings .
I'll let Judy Battista of the New York Times explain the basis for the changes.
Texans special teams coach Joe Marciano is one of many NFL coaches who are forced to adjust their approach to kickoff returns.
"Well, rules are rules," said Marciano in an interview with Houston media transcribed by houstontexans.com. "It's equal sticks for everybody, so everybody's got to try to figure it out."
During the interview, Marciano explained his new approach to comply with the rule.
"I think everybody's going to have two fat boys in there," said Marciano. "Two offensive linemen, two defensive linemen, and you can't put three and four of them in there anymore."
When asked how his guys were going to line up, Marciano said "The two big boys? They're going to be shoulder pad-to-shoulder pad. But nobody else can be shoulder pad-to-shoulder pad."
When asked how far apart the rest of special teams will line up, Marciano said "(the league tells) me three yards, but we're teaching our guys four so we don't walk the grey area because the penalty is too severe."
The penalty is 15 yards or half the distance to the goal, which is quite severe if you inadvertently form a wedge at the 20, get a nice return, but only be penalized and have to start at the 10.
It will be interesting to see the creativity emerge among special teams coaches who have to comply with a rule that changes a long standing practice in the NFL.
What hasn't been described is whether the rule allows a third (or fourth) blocker to converge with the two at any point during the return. For instance, if I'm coaching kick coverage, I might choose to send three guys to overrun the two in the middle. If a third blocker is then drawn into the 'wedge light' when the lines collide, is that a penalty even if the third blocker maintained the three-yard spacing at the beginning of the return?
I've watched Coach Joe working with his special teams on returns during the past several open practices and it's obvious that kickoff returns will look a little different.
But it remains to be seen whether kickoff return average will go up or down or if the league's ultimate goal of making kickoffs safer will be achieved..
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