(08-23-2022, 01:42 PM)NewJagsCity Wrote:

(08-17-2022, 03:58 PM)Mikey Wrote: The shield is trying to kill the return play, so I doubt this gets any legs.

I do like the idea of a touchback penalizing the kicking team, maybe leave the yardage in place, but the receiving team gets a point. Returners could then risk letting a ball bounce and carom out of the end zone, or bounce back toward the kicking team, or somewhere in between, all while the ball is live.

I think if you want to make a progressive penalty, you start with initial touchback closer to the receiving goal, say the 25 or 30, and then slowly work your way upfield.

If I were to suggest any tweak to the kickoff, it would be that receiving and kicking team players would line up at the ball, as we see with punt returns. Only the returners would be back deep. When the kicker begins his approach, the receiving team could then choose to drop back into blocking/onside coverage or block the gunners at the point. You'd see a lot less high-speed impacts like you tend to see when guys have 20-30 yards to get heads of steam going in opposing directions before laying their initial blocks.

Love this idea.  Even if none of the changes I proposed in the OP get done, this should.