The NFL’s new kickoff rules are causing a lot of changes and consideration around the league with the Kansas City Chiefs even experimenting with using safety Justin Reid to kick the ball off instead of kicker Harrison Butker in order to maximize the number of defenders on the field. But it does not sound like the Denver Broncos will be utilizing that strategy.
While it’s certainly an interesting thought to use a position player on kickoffs instead of the regular kicker, head coach Sean Payton does not think the Denver Broncos will do this because the kickoff still has to stay in bounce, and he’s not confident in a position player’s ability to always keep it in bounds.
“I don’t want one out of every four going to the 40-[yard line] though because he kicked out of bounds, but he’s there to make the tackle,” Broncos coach Sean Payton told reporters on Thursday. “I think you will see a lot of change in every one of us. I’m just as anxious as you are to see it. We’re trying to go through it.”
Lots of teams are going to be experimenting with the best way to handle these massive changes, but it sounds like the Chiefs’ plan might be a bit controversial throughout the league.
