Al another good short article. You are very concise.

If the NFL keeps making new rules on tackling soon the defensive player will have to consult with their attorney before they make a tackle. I will admit I like that it will be reviewed later and that a flag will not be thrown. Will the officials attempt to tell a player that their tackle might be reviewed so the player can correct it during the game?

I did not know that the hip drop tackle was a result of the using the helmet rule. This is what I try to tell people at work. When you make a change make sure you look at all the implications of the change.

The only issue I have with the new kickoff formation is assessing penalties on plays before the kickoff. if there is a penalty on the play before the kick off the penalty is assessed on the kickoff which makes no difference on this kickoff. I would like to see the penalty enforced after the kickoff.

What irks me is the possibility of the Packers playing in Brazil. One thing that is good is that it should not be played while I am at church like the games in Europe. What really makes me mad is that it would be streamed only on Peacock. The first game of the season. Roger really knows how to make bad decisions.

Boy, I hope you're right about Keisean.

I feel like he was very poor when playing the slot. He had 78 targets and allowed 63 completions.. He allows a completion 80% of the time he's targeted.

The contract the Packers paid him suggests they are viewing him as a core DB, probably playing the slot.
I'm skeptical. I don't think allowing 80% of targets to be completed is what we're looking for.

Al,

I have pointed out that everyone overlooks the most important part of the new rule banning the "hip drop tackle:" if you don't land on their legs pinning it from the leg down, it's not a penalty. Leave it to Mike Wahle to explain it in detail, with video examples.

His latest video covers this, why the rule is a must, along with history of its development and problems with the language as written. He also covers that defenders absolutely can tackle as they always have and if this new rule is implemented correctly it won't change that in the least. While I miss his installments being here on CHTV, at least this latest installment is a must see!

Hopefully everyone will understand the intention of this rule and the verbiage will be improved so that it becomes clear. Even that won't fix the problem of the league cheaping out on not having professional refs. You'd think the NFLPA could prioritize and demand this?

I imagine the new tackling rules will result in hundreds of interminable reviews in which everyone stands around scratching their asses and watching a million replays thereby sucking any enjoyment out of watching the game. (Yes, I know that anyone under the age of 50 would rather spend their time watching and analyzing minutiae in replays than actually watching a real game.)

As for kickoffs, I would like to propose a new rule. After the receiving team lines up, eleven miniature clown cars drive out and eleven clowns get out holding ten wiener dogs and a football. While nine wiener dogs run around yapping and pooping the tenth runs around with the football and places it on the five yard line. Once the receiver picks up the ball the kicking team must try to tackle him while avoiding the poop and tripping over extra long clown shoes until the play is over. No good? Well, at least it isn’t as ridiculous as the new rule.

Ai, do you think they'll have to make a new category in the record books for the new kickoff? Wouldn't seem fair to the great returners and kickers if they didn't.

The only tackle I worry about the with the Packers is "missed". Just like the new kick, it will swing some games and you just have to hope we're on the lucky end of the results.

This new tackle rule is bad. Just like sacking the QB and getting called for roughing lasted less than a year, this hip drop will good. be a thing of the past. I just don't hope we lose a game like we did before.

Resigning Nixon is good. He will have major impact on several games. And I have said before, that Barry contributed to poor DB play.

I am looking forward to Gute signing both a LB and S. Veterans at cheap rates. Plenty of time yet. There may be some post June 1st gems.

Al - thais for a well done article as usual. The league just wants to continue to make the game more confusing to watch and to play and to officiate. I'm not sure how much impact this new tackling rule will have on injuries. It will undoubtedly add reviews.

As for the new kickoff rule it seems like the league is doing everything it wants to do which is to eliminate kickoffs completely. Why not just start every drive at the 25 yards line and go from there. It's what the league really wants anyway so why not just do it and get it over with. Moving on. Thanks, Since '61

Tough to be a defensive player in the NFL these days, and getting tougher to be a fan when it's raining flags for no good reason. Does the casual fan need NBA All Star Game-like defense and scoring to hold their attention between Draft Kings commercials?

The kickoff rule change could generate some creative plays. Worth a shot.

Doesn't the CHTV Stylebook mandate use of "aforementioned" when "plethora" is used?

Even though I don't care for the new rule, I get it. Many of these players are grossly overpaid, and the owners want to protect their investments.
Just think of those players who played for peanuts years ago, when player safety was nonexistent!
If players today can get through a career with being able to still walk, recognize their kids, and have a bank account we could only dream about, it's a win.
This rule won't change my enjoyment of watching the Packers as much as paying $13 for a beer at Lambeau does!

Once again, we're in violent agreement on most of the points you make.

Not a fan of the "hip-drop" tackle. I didn't think the number of injuries resulting from such a move was any greater than the risk incurred by any other part of the game. It's probably just the owner's doing some CYA in case of future lawsuits. I'm also wait-and-see on the new kick-off rule. Having been an avid football fan for a long, long time, it's hard seeing so many changes to the game I grew up with. Just not the same anymore.

We need to keep in mind that Keisean Nixon, Isaiah McDuffie and everyone else on the defense will be playing under a new scheme this year. I think that's going to impact their abilities to contribute toward team success. Let's see how the season pans out. Both Nixon and McDuffie are hard-nosed players who might benefit under the Hafley defense.

One last thing! You mentioned the " uber-rich NFL" in your article. It reminded me of an article I read in the Washington Post this morning about some justification for fan ownership. Here's the link in case anyone's interested. Sorry, it's kinda long!

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/03/26/fans-own-teams-baseba...

I had penned a detailed Rugby-based explanation of why this rule is not necessarily a bad thing in theory as it’s better tackling technique not to land on feet/cleats, but the problem is it harder to do in practice in football where many tackles happen in a crowd and where one can no longer take out the lower legs to topple.

Of course it got eaten by the gremlins before I pressed submit. Maybe that’s a good thing, but no time to rewrite. Just to say that this is a contact sport trying to pretend it can maintain quality and still avoid injuries. That’s simply not true at this point.

A step too far, despite the fact that better technique will avoid most of the third, leg falling, criteria if other nearby bodies allow it.

Hip drop tackles in other words, 1 player gets hurt so they have to eliminate it.

Some rule changes for player safety make sense. The horse collar made sense for example. But hip drop tackles?

NFL needs to have full time refs. Officiating is one of the most inconsistent things about football. Which infuriates fans, which can also allow room for people to feel the game is or can be rigged. To prevent a lot of that, they need to have full time refs where that is their careers.

The new kickoff rule will create some interesting innovations I think. How will players decide to block and how will some teams try and pursue. I could see the kickoff team dropping a guy or 2 back to be the safety. It will be interesting to see what teams do.

Rich Bisaccia will need to be designing many new KO plays. Blocking schemes on returns could get very creative including stunts, slants, twists up front as the two opposing lines will be nearly nose to nose...and expect reverses, fake reverses by the two returners in the landing zone.

Coverage units will need to be even more disciplined because of the above. Rich's teams took a step backward last season due to penalties and mistakes. Time for Rich deliver. Hope Carlson can perfect the "landings".

Going to take some time for players and fans to get used to it, I believe.

I am surprised Al didn't comment on the new place kicker signing yesterday. I am really happy that the Packers realize wasting any points at all next year, especially with as close as most of the games are, is a fixable problem. I am not sure this kicker is the answer though, he has a strong leg so kickoff returns should be less frequent if he wins the competition.

There are 3 kickers in the draft to keep an eye on that have stronger legs than Carlson and Podlesny for sure.
Josh Karty-Stanford
Harold Mevis-Missouri
Will Reichard-Alabama
Karty and Mevis hit 60+ yard FGs last year, Mevis set SEC record @ 63 yards
Maybe one of them as UFDA

I don't like the rule change, but as with most things, the key will be to adapt and recognize the opportunities this presents. Life is 10% what happens and 90% what you do about it. Obviously, you're going to have to try to kick the ball into the zone and you'll have to return kicks. Just kicking it deep into the endzone guarantees a start at the 35. So there'll be more returns and more penalties and turnovers. The best kick would be a line drive that touches at about the 20 and takes a crazy bounce. There's no point in those high, deep kickoffs anymore.

The tackling thing......back in the day, you could do a lot of things that you can't do anymore: clothesline tackles (one of my favorites), horsecollars, crack back blocks, head slaps, blocking below the waist on kicks and punts, the Wedge, . Hitting the QB in the face after he threw was part of the game.

And it has helped player safety, and it has made it harder to get big, fast guys on the ground. I mean, it's always been hard to get those guys down, but now there are so many more of them, and you can't hit a "defenseless" receiver (defenseless my ass.) . It used to be, you might have one guy like that. Now, teams are lining up 5.

If you're hoping for good, clean tackling by a DB to stop a 225 lb guy with a head of steam, good luck with that.

Why the hell Brazil of all freaking places. NFL is driving spectators away. Now expect to you to get another channel to have to pay for. I have been a Packer fan since 1958 and am about done with foolishness the NFL is pushing for every dollar. I am also the old fashioned guy and like a good old defensive game which is not practically gone from even memory!

No to Brazil.
No to London.
No to traveling outside the USA.

No to new Rules,
The refs don't follow the Rule book now.
How many times have they changed the outcome.

Good article Al, as usual 😊

NFL rules people are idiots. that's how you tackle from behind. You don't dive at the legs. You grab them at the waist and slide down to pin the legs. If you dont slide down you will just be carried down the field. BTW why arent people upset about the commissioners diversity rule.
Since the NFL implemented its diverse rewards policy in 2020, UP to 2023 the San Francisco 49ers have been front-runners.
The Niners were awarded five compensation draft picks in the third round for developing Martin Mayhew, Robert Saleh and Mike McDaniel. They'll receive two more for Ran Carthon and another if DeMeco Ryans becomes a head coach this offseason.
7 maybe 8 for the 49er Five other teams have been awarded a total of 10 compensation picks.
Wonder why they are always a top team.
The policy enacted in 2020 states: "Clubs that develop a diverse employee who is hired in the position of Primary Football Executive or Head Coach at another club, will receive a draft choice compensation in the form of a compensatory draft pick in the third round in each of the next two drafts. If a club has two employees hired for either a head coach or GM position, then that club will receive third-round compensatory pick in the next three drafts."
Why not make deals with other teams to hire diverse people from your organisation as part of a trade. It costs them nothing and you get 2 3rd round picks

Developing these candidates allowed the 49ers to accumulate extra draft picks. The team traded a 2023 second-round pick, 2023 third-round pick, 2023 fourth-round pick and 2024 fifth-round pick to Carolina in October for star running back Christian McCaffrey.

On Refs - It is so cliche to complain about refereeing. And every fan base does it - NBA, NHL, Premier League, WWE :) etc. The fact and reality is that these officials are the best in the world. Certainly officials strikes prove that - when replacements are brought in. Due to the speed of the game(s) - calls will be missed. However, it has been proven, time and time again, that refs make far more correct calls - than not. As for the NFL Refs being only part-time - some context is necessary. Many of these officials have professional "day jobs" - i.e. doctors, lawyers, engineers etc. They do not want to leave their professional careers - which usually earns them a significant income. So be it. They are still the best in the biz and it should be of some comfort to know that smart and capable people are officiating NFL games.

On the Hip Drop Rule - I like the hip drop rule. Simply, the hip drop tackle is dangerous. That is why rugby banned it. There seems to be much protest and confusion about this new rule. However, like the horse collar - when you see it - you'll know. To close, "All things are difficult before they are easy." - Thomas Fuller

Further to New Rules - I haven't been a fan of Mark Murphy's work in recent years. However, a tip of my cap to him for voting against the new kickoff rules. Not that he was voting against the concept of bringing back the kick return - just it's implementation. He thought it prudent to trial the new rules (somewhere) - before its permanent implementation - so as to work out and refine some parts of it. A perfectly sensible recommendation - especially relative to player safety. NASCAR teams would never race a new engine without testing it first.

Well, I expected some comments from you Al regarding this "new" rules. At the moment, change in the kick off looks pretty more exicting and helping teams to create some interesting plays, while helping in injury reduction level.

Regarding tackling rule, I admit I have to watch Mike Wahle podcast to be able to tell anything at least little competent about issue. If it is true that last season that kind of tackle happened only once, than I believe this will not be issue.

However, additional piece of gem from you, Al.

welcome to flag football!

I "unweighted myself" once. That toilet never recovered.

Re: Nixon. He is one of my favorite players because of his heart and intensity. However, I don't think he is fast enough nor skilled enough to be in the slot CB position. Kick returner, yes.

Come on, really. With all these comments about the new kickoff rules nobody has made mention of the old South Park episode "Sarcastaball". Too dang funny and spot on.

Mike Wahle had a very good explanation of the hip drop. What hurts the tackled player is the tackler, after grabbing his guy somewhere in the waist/chest area, feet off the ground, then swinging around behind the guy to be tackled after grabbing him, and hitting him in the back of the legs with his own body, sometimes folding the guys ankle up as your body weight comes onto it, twisting and tearing it.

He also mentioned that the rules were badly defined and needed better wording to make the rule clear, both to players and referees.

So the tackle sounds like the tackler is putting all their weight on the back of the runners legs. Sounds like a good idea in principle.

What about tackles from behind? I guess just go for legs, not hips.

"Grabs a runner with both hands/arms while attempting to make a tackle"
Surely that is the definition of a tackle.

"“Unweights himself by swiveling and dropping his hips and/or lower body”

Geez, I thought I saw this when I was visiting the Great Pyramid in Cairo. It was clearly displayed in an Egyptian hieroglyph. Now what, rewrite history?

4th and long,

Pantz K. Sutra

Always enjoy your articles, Al!

Unfortunately, my post isn't much related to your article but is in regards to a mock draft I just did and I had to share due to just how amazing/ridiculous it was. First, a little background I have 3 small start-up businesses that consume my time....all of it! However, at this time of the year when I need a short break from work, I often use one of several mock draft simulators for a distraction before refocusing on work. Yes, I already know in advance a few posters will critique the draft below and want to pontificate who I should have drafted but that is okay. It is all fun! LOL!

First, I am 'almost' always into drafting big bodies to win the trenches, and for many years now the Packers have rarely been that physically dominating team. I am sensing this philosophy might be changing with the front office approach. In round 1, I simply had a trade offer I could not refuse and traded back from #25 to#27 and picked up a couple of extra draft choices. Therefore, here is my draft that IMO would be a draft for the ages. :)

#27 - OT, Taliese Fuaga
#41 - OT, Tyler Guyton
#58 - LB, Edgerrin Cooper
#71 - LB, Payton Wilson
#88 - RB, Jonathon Brooks
#90 - RB, Jaylen Wright (I know 2 RBs? I like them both, and the way the draft was falling I just couldn't resist Jaylen)
#91 - S, Javon Bullard
#126 - CB, D.J. James
#169 - IOL, Isiah Adams
#202 - QB, Jordan Travis - Florida State
#219 - IOL, Trevor Keegan
#245 - Edge, Braiden McGregor
#255 - Safety, Jaylon Carlies

Alright....fire away my fellow GBP VP Gen Managers...... :)