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Originally Posted by mbcrowder
Yes ... and more than a tiny bit. Most players will not be at full speed when crossing the kicking line now.
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I think the effect will be much smaller than you think. First of all, very few players that I can recall used to take more than a 5 yard run before reaching their line anyway, and those who did may have stretched it to just 8 yds. or so. But let's say they wanted to make it a 10 yd. run. If they sprint, what percentage of their full speed do you think they reach in 10 yds. as opposed to 5? I'd say they might gain an additional 15%, generously. So what difference will that make in traversing the 10 yds. of the neutral zone? A tenth of a sec.? 0.2? And if the idea is to reduce their momentum after they traverse it, that difference is going to be even more minuscule.
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Doesn't really matter now though, since every single kick is a touchback. It will affect onsides kicks, that's about it.
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But elsewhere I've read there's been a differential touchback adopted too.