Rule Change will Impact MEAC

By Marty O'Brien, Daily Press

Coaches say moving kickoffs from the 35-yardline to the 30 will change football significantly.

The NCAA Football Rules Committee voted earlier this year to move kickoffs from a team's 35-yardline back to their 30. The change is designed to encourage more returns and add excitement to the game.

If you think a difference of five measly yards is meaningless, you're not a football coach. Area and state coaches vary on whether they like the new rule, but all agree it changes the game significantly.

Hampton coach Joe Taylor is happy that the number of returns will increase. HU senior Kevin Teel was second in Division I-AA last season with a 31.2 return average, and a host of speedy recruits are vying to become his partner.

Taylor says that adding more speed to the coverage team has become important.

"We're forced to use more wide receivers and defensive backs as contain guys to keep returners from getting up the field," he said. "We'll probably use a few less linebackers than in the past.

"The wide receivers and defensive backs might not tackle as great as linebackers, but at least they can get downfield and get in somebody's way."

Strategy will change as well.

Norfolk State coach Pete Adrian says that fewer teams will try onside kicks inside the final five minutes. Coaches are more likely to depend on defenses to make a late-game stop, time permitting, than gamble on an onside kick.

"If you don't recover the kick, you put the offense in four-down territory and you pin your defense in a bad position," he said.