Rams special teams coordinator Chase Blackburn on the dynamic kickoff and what they learned about the risks and rewards of it

WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. — As NFL teams approach the midway point of the 2024 season, they have received extensive information about the risks and rewards associated with the league’s hybrid kickoff format.

One game that exemplified both was the Week 7 Thursday Night Football game between the Seahawks and 49ers. It worked to Seattle’s advantage when it led to a kick return touchdown, but San Francisco suffered two kick return kicks in five days for the same reason.

“If you just look at the raw numbers, you’ll say, ‘Well, well, it’s easier to hang the ball, you’ll gain a yard or two, you know, actually gain about half a yard, maybe on average.’ But then you put yourself at risk,” Rams special teams coordinator Chase Blackburn explained Thursday as the team prepared for Sunday’s Week 9 road game against the Seahawks. “And this year there have been several injuries to football players. Look at San Francisco, there’s already two of them, and you’re like, “Okay, what’s the risk reward for this? What are the fines? Do you know if they are called? don’t get a response? Illegal doubles, holds, back blocks, blind sides, all that stuff. They’re not as common as I think you think at that interval. so when these things don’t get answered and you don’t get penalties, backups, turnovers against big returns, explosives, game-changers, three touchdowns…

“Even Seattle versus San Francisco, San Francisco controls that game pretty well and Seattle gets a touchdown and they really have an opportunity to get back in the game and gives them some life. And this situation is the risk worth the reward? Yes, the rest of you, you cause a loss early in the game. Great. You go out and tackle them at 24, 26, but then there’s a 100-yard touchdown. like… did this coincide? Or was it, you know, so I just think it depends on the philosophy of the head coach, the special teams coordinator, the situation of the players in the game, a little bit of something like that. All.”

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said last week that more than 30 percent of kickoffs have been returned this year, up from 22 percent last season. The league average for kickoff return yards of 26.5 yards is also nearly three yards higher than the league best of 23.8 in 2011 and 2014. This hybrid format also contributed to the average starting position of the 29-yard line compared to the 24-yard line. line in 2023.

Given these benefits, not to mention the momentum fluctuations and potential negative consequences, why not just adopt the philosophy of getting the ball out of the end zone every time?

Punter Ethan Evans made 33 of his 34 effective touchbacks on kickoffs (97%). Blackburn acknowledged that there are a few teams that have taken this approach (he estimates five to seven) and that the Rams are “pretty much in that category.” However, it is not that simple.

“Some teams get the ball back out of the end zone and then you go, ‘OK, well, they’re minus-seven,’ you’ve already got seven yards of field position by the time they catch it because it’s not hanging up anymore. The most important time when everyone takes the field is where they catch the ball,” Blackburn said. “So if they’re seven or six yards in the end zone, everyone goes when the ball is caught, the kicking team and the kicking team come back. So all the time and space is now out of play for the returning unit. So if they If you want to take him out from deep five, six or seven yards, you have the ability to escape and create those tackles inside that 25-yard line if they want to risk taking him outside.”

Additionally, there are a few teams, such as the Saints and Browns, that put everything on the ground and force teams to return every punt in order to do a better job of covering punts than teams that don’t return punts often. Blackburn said he sees benefits from both philosophies, citing the philosophy of each special teams coordinator, each’s personnel composition and the opponent they face that week as influential factors.

“If you’re just looking at it from an individual special teams standpoint, you’re not doing your team a favor,” Blackburn said. “I think the number one important job of a coordinator is to say, ‘Hey, what kind of team do we have, who are we, do we need two yards, do we need to gain two yards and put it on the 28 or 27.’ versus 30, and is who we are worth the risk?” This may be the case for some teams and not for others. Some teams might say, “Hey, we’re having trouble attacking, I want to get the ball out of the three or four rows.” I’m fine with the offense starting at the 23 or 24 (yard line), with a penalty, but we have a chance to make an explosive punt, we have a really explosive returner X, Y and Z. That’s up for debate. for everyone.”

Blackburn notes that the league seems to be getting what it wants, with higher strikeout percentages and better starting positions on every attack.

“Part of it is because the touchback has obviously moved to the 30 and you get some more explosives behind that 40-yard line and more touchdowns,” Blackburn said. “So, I think a lot of those boxes are being checked for what the league was looking for. Maybe not exactly everything they expected, but definitely trending in the right direction.”