NCAA kickoff

[Robert Goodman]

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.

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.

Doesn't really matter now though, since every single kick is a touchback. It will affect onsides kicks, that's about it.

But elsewhere I've read there's been a differential touchback adopted too.