Lorenzo Alexander doesn’t like it. Graham Gano does — to a point. Both will be impacted by the NFL’s decision to move the kickoff up to the 35-yard line.
Touchbacks still will leave the ball at the 20-yard line, but there’s no doubt the game will be impacted by moving the kickoffs up five yards.
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“It’ll be easier to hit touchbacks,” Gano said. “But we were one of the top kickoff coverage teams in the league last year. I can still hang it up in the air and get it a couple yards in the end zone, and that still gives us a chance to pin opponents deep.
“But it will be easier to hit touchbacks, which is good especially if you’re playing a team that has Devin Hester.”
Or even Brandon Banks — not that he’s as dangerous as Hester.
Last season, nine of Gano’s 71 kickoffs resulted in touchbacks.
Meanwhile, from 1974 to 1993 kickoffs were from the 35-yard line. During that span, 14 players led their respective conferences with at least a 27.5-yard average — and only one in the last six years of this stretch. In the past 17 seasons, 21 players have led their conference with at least a 27.5-yard average.
Alexander is happy that the two-man wedge remains legal. It’s a tactic the Redskins love to use, and it also keeps the bigger players in that role. Had they eliminated this strategy, Alexander said fullbacks and linebackers likely would have lined up in those areas — with speed, not size and strength, at a premium to execute different blocks.
“We [have] guys back there who loved to blow guys up,” Alexander said.
But kicking off from the 35 will impact what some players do best.
“It will take opportunities away from us to get tackles inside the 20,” Alexander said. “It hurts guys from being seen for what they do on special teams and for getting paid for being special teamers.
“And you’re taking guys like Josh Cribbs, Percy Harvin and even Brandon, you’re taking opportunities away from them making big plays and finding their niche in the game. It’s an excitement factor.”
