2024 NFL Rule Changes

[Ditka’s dictaphone]

Really cannot see LRZ doing anything in the NFL.
Pie in the sky for that kid. He’s great at union and that’s where he should have stayed. Anyway, good luck to him, hope he stays healthy

[southdakbearfan]

Did they do anything rules wise about the tush push, or generally having players push an offensive player forward scrum style?

I don’t believe so, but I expect Philly won’t be so good at it without kelce anchoring in front of the QB.

[mmmc_35]

What's with this hip drop tackle talk. I keep seeing it talked about.

[dplank]

What's with this hip drop tackle talk. I keep seeing it talked about.

Looks like a disaster in the making, players are pretty uniformly pissed off about it. I can't explain the tackle technique exactly, but it comes from chasing behind a guy then grabbing around his waist and lifting your legs up to generate pressure and landing on the back of their legs - something along those lines. It's good to get plays out that cause injuries, but this will be very hard to referee and will lead to mistakes.

[wab]

What's with this hip drop tackle talk. I keep seeing it talked about.

It's when a defender wraps up an offensive player on the side or from behind, generally around the waist, then drops their hips becoming dead-weight while trapping the legs of the defender underneath.

This is the best video example I could find.

[mmmc_35]

I get the tackles. We called it an ohlay tackle.

I should have been more clear. This technique doesnt seem to cause injuries. It's a completely natural move. Why would they ban it.

[HisRoyalSweetness]

NFL approves more helmets specifically for quarterbacks, linemen
By Patrick Finley

The NFL will feature eight more position-specific helmets in 2024, with the goal of protecting players from impacts most likely to occur at quarterback and offensive and defensive line.

Linemen have had the option of choosing their own unique design for two years, quarterbacks for one. This year, linemen will have six more choices, quarterbacks two.

“The growing availability of position-specific helmets is a central part of our effort to provide players with the best possible protection for their position,” Jeff Miller, NFL executive vice president of player health and safety, said in a statement Tuesday. “Quarterbacks and linemen will have a range of tailored helmets available to them, with more positions to come in the next couple of years."

The league is adding 12 new helmets across all positions, with cooperation from the NFLPA. Five of them tested better in a laboratory setting than any others in league history. It's mothballing six helmets because of poor testing.

https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2024 ... nemen-2024

Any improvement in equipment design to help mitigate the risk to players even to a small degree is always a positive step.

I wonder if the new QB helmet designs attempt to address the issue of concussions caused by the back of the the QB's head hitting the ground. That seems to be perhaps the biggest cause of injuries, certainly head injuries, for that position now there are all the rules that greatly restrict how a QB can legitimately be hit.

[HisRoyalSweetness]

More on helmet rules:

NFL expands uniform policy to allow third alternate helmet design

Two years after alternate helmets designs were approved to return to the NFL, the league has expanded its uniform policy to allow for a third helmet to be added to teams' uniform closets, the league announced on Wednesday.
...

Teams going through a re-design process for the 2024 season have been offered a third helmet option, and it will be available for all teams for the 2025 season. The teams must inform the league office of their intent to utilize an alternate color helmet for the 2025 season by no later than May 1, 2024.
...

• Clubs must obtain an entire new set of alternate color helmets for all players

• Alternate color helmets must be the same make, model, and size as the applicable player's primary helmet

• Alternate color helmets must be made available to all players at the start of training camp and should be fit at the same time as the primary helmet

• Alternate color helmets must be worn in practice at a minimum during the week leading up to the game in which they will be used.

These conditions were put in place to maintain player health and safety, ensuring that the alternate color helmets fit properly and players have had enough time to practice with them on before wearing them during game action.
...

Full article: https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-expands-un ... met-design

Personally I hate all these uniform expansions. Teams only play a maximum of two dozen games a year including preseason. There's absolutely no need for multiple helmet designs or even more than two uniforms, one for home games and the other when for away games. There's also no reason (other than the almighty dollar of course) to keep redesigning uniforms all the time.

The Bears orange helmet is an abomination as it is.

[LacertineForest]

More on helmet rules:

NFL expands uniform policy to allow third alternate helmet design

Two years after alternate helmets designs were approved to return to the NFL, the league has expanded its uniform policy to allow for a third helmet to be added to teams' uniform closets, the league announced on Wednesday.
...

Teams going through a re-design process for the 2024 season have been offered a third helmet option, and it will be available for all teams for the 2025 season. The teams must inform the league office of their intent to utilize an alternate color helmet for the 2025 season by no later than May 1, 2024.
...

• Clubs must obtain an entire new set of alternate color helmets for all players

• Alternate color helmets must be the same make, model, and size as the applicable player's primary helmet

• Alternate color helmets must be made available to all players at the start of training camp and should be fit at the same time as the primary helmet

• Alternate color helmets must be worn in practice at a minimum during the week leading up to the game in which they will be used.

These conditions were put in place to maintain player health and safety, ensuring that the alternate color helmets fit properly and players have had enough time to practice with them on before wearing them during game action.
...

Full article: https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-expands-un ... met-design

Personally I hate all these uniform expansions. Teams only play a maximum of two dozen games a year including preseason. There's absolutely no need for multiple helmet designs or even more than two uniforms, one for home games and the other when for away games. There's also no reason (other than the almighty dollar of course) to keep redesigning uniforms all the time.

The Bears orange helmet is an abomination as it is.

I generally like the alternate looks (well, not necessarily the Orange helmets, but the polar/white one would look good). I'm in favor of the change in policy.

[wab]

More on helmet rules:

NFL expands uniform policy to allow third alternate helmet design

Two years after alternate helmets designs were approved to return to the NFL, the league has expanded its uniform policy to allow for a third helmet to be added to teams' uniform closets, the league announced on Wednesday.
...

Teams going through a re-design process for the 2024 season have been offered a third helmet option, and it will be available for all teams for the 2025 season. The teams must inform the league office of their intent to utilize an alternate color helmet for the 2025 season by no later than May 1, 2024.
...

• Clubs must obtain an entire new set of alternate color helmets for all players

• Alternate color helmets must be the same make, model, and size as the applicable player's primary helmet

• Alternate color helmets must be made available to all players at the start of training camp and should be fit at the same time as the primary helmet

• Alternate color helmets must be worn in practice at a minimum during the week leading up to the game in which they will be used.

These conditions were put in place to maintain player health and safety, ensuring that the alternate color helmets fit properly and players have had enough time to practice with them on before wearing them during game action.
...

Full article: https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-expands-un ... met-design

Personally I hate all these uniform expansions. Teams only play a maximum of two dozen games a year including preseason. There's absolutely no need for multiple helmet designs or even more than two uniforms, one for home games and the other when for away games. There's also no reason (other than the almighty dollar of course) to keep redesigning uniforms all the time.

The Bears orange helmet is an abomination as it is.

Eh, it's fun. As long as it doesn't get to the level that some college teams take it. I think a black or a white helmet would be cool.

[HisRoyalSweetness]

An interesting discussion with Richard Hightower about the new kick off format (about 15 minutes):

[HisRoyalSweetness]

Not a change for this year, but a proposal for next:

NFLPA working to finalize proposal to overhaul offseason workout program

The NFL Players Association is considering pushing for changes to the offseason workout program.

The NFLPA is working to finalize a proposal to overhaul the offseason starting as soon as 2025, eliminating voluntary on-field work in the spring in favor of a longer training camp ramp-up, with players reporting in mid-June to early July, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported Tuesday, per sources informed of the plan.

A formal proposal is expected this summer.

Under new leadership since July 2023, the NFLPA has sought feedback from players on adjusting the offseason schedule, with the majority supporting the changes, Pelissero reported.
...

Offseason work rules are collectively bargained, so any changes require an agreement with the NFL.

Per Pelissero, the NFLPA has consulted medical and performance experts to create a solution for reducing injuries and maximizing players' recovery time. Under the potential proposal, virtual classroom work would still be permitted in the spring, but no practices until camp.

Restructuring the NFL's offseason could help break up the calendar, giving players a deeper layoff following a grinding season and a longer ramp-up period before the start of the season, which could prove helpful to avoid soft-tissue injuries that plague some players during training camps under the current structure.

Full article: https://www.nfl.com/news/nflpa-working- ... ut-program

[Grizzled]

A look at how the new rule has worked so far:

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/nfl-kickof ... 05276.html

Might see touchbacks spotted on the 35 yard line to further discourage kicking into the end zone.

[HisRoyalSweetness]

Really cannot see LRZ doing anything in the NFL.
Pie in the sky for that kid. He’s great at union and that’s where he should have stayed. Anyway, good luck to him, hope he stays healthy

Louis Rees-Zammit was cut by the Chiefs but has been signed to the Jaguars practice squad. I wonder if he'll get to play in London, perhaps even against the Bears...

[Ditka’s dictaphone]

Really cannot see LRZ doing anything in the NFL.
Pie in the sky for that kid. He’s great at union and that’s where he should have stayed. Anyway, good luck to him, hope he stays healthy

Louis Rees-Zammit was cut by the Chiefs but has been signed to the Jaguars practice squad. I wonder if he'll get to play in London, perhaps even against the Bears...

Still pie in the sky in my opinion

[HisRoyalSweetness]

The new KO rule proved to be a complete damp squib in the opening game of the season with 11 KOs and 9 touchbacks. I'm not sure anyone anticipated that.

Of the two returns one went to the 33 yard line and the other to the 31 yard line, but there was a penalty on the latter taking it back to the 19 yard line.

I was surprised that both teams seemed to be deliberately kicking into the end zone, but maybe they figure the chances of stopping a returner before he gets to the 30 yard line is low so why risk a big return?

With the defending team lined up on the 40 yard line and not allowed to move until the returner fields the ball, unless the latter bobbles or drops the ball he's going to be past the 20 yard line before any defender can possibly get there.

It will be interesting to see how KOs are approached in the rest of the Week 1 games.

[dplank]

Yea good call. For one game at least, the coaches appear to favor just starting at the 30 vs trying to gain an extra few yards of field position, but risking a big return by doing so. They may need to bring a touchback out to the 35.

[LacertineForest]

The new KO rule proved to be a complete damp squib in the opening game of the season with 11 KOs and 9 touchbacks. I'm not sure anyone anticipated that.

Of the two returns one went to the 33 yard line and the other to the 31 yard line, but there was a penalty on the latter taking it back to the 19 yard line.

I was surprised that both teams seemed to be deliberately kicking into the end zone, but maybe they figure the chances of stopping a returner before he gets to the 30 yard line is low so why risk a big return?

With the defending team lined up on the 40 yard line and not allowed to move until the returner fields the ball, unless the latter bobbles or drops the ball he's going to be past the 20 yard line before any defender can possibly get there.

It will be interesting to see how KOs are approached in the rest of the Week 1 games.

Yeah, that definitely surprised me, too. I was sure we'd see more returns, but nobody wanted to risk it. It will be interesting to see if the rest of the league follows the same approach or not.

[Moriarty]

Head coaches love to be conservative.

But I'm still surprised. Were there any big returns in the preseason? I don't remember noticing any.

[HisRoyalSweetness]

I don't recall any. The expectation was that teams were keeping their tactics very basic and saving the good approaches for the season to avoid tipping other teams off.

The NFL's not going to be happy if the number of returns doesn't end up increasing significantly. Maybe they'll try moving the kicker back to the 30 or even 25 yard line?

Alternatively they could implement a rule where if the ball lands in the end zone or out-of- bounds then the ball gets spotted at the 40 yard line, but if it bounces in play and rolls into the end zone or out-of-bounds then the offense gets the ball at the 20 yard line. That would encourage the return team to field the ball and discourage the kicking team from kicking into the end zone.

[HisRoyalSweetness]

The dynamic kickoff is off to a good start. Even though 70 percent of kickoffs were returned during the preseason, the impact of the new dynamic kickoff -- designed to generate a better return rate than last season's historically low 22 percent -- was unknown heading into the regular season.

No coach wanted to show his cards before the games counted, and some pundits wondered if putting a touchback on the 30-yard line was enough of a disincentive to keep the kicking team from launching the kickoff out of the end zone. In Week 1, there were enough big returns to be hopeful about the impact of the play.

The Arizona Cardinals' DeeJay Dallas had the first dynamic kickoff return for a touchdown, returning a Bills kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.

The Bills' Brandon Codrington returned a kickoff 53 yards.

The Bears' DeAndre Carter returned a kickoff 67 yards.

It's early, and coaches will undoubtedly adjust to whatever they see coming out of Week 1, but if the Titans-Bears game is any indication, we should at least see more returns. In that game, there were 10 kickoffs and just three touchbacks. In the Cardinals-Bills game, there were 13 kickoffs and seven touchbacks.
...

Full article: https://www.nfl.com/news/assessing-firs ... lar-season

[Rusty Trombagent]

Report: NFL determines Roquan Smith injured Chris Godwin with illegal hip-drop tackle

https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootba ... rop-tackle



It doesn't seem to be a huge thing since they're just fining people, not throwing flags, but that doesn't look like a hip drop to me. Godwin's stumbling and like what is Roquan supposed to do, wait til he regains his footing?

It just doesnt seem like something you can legislate out of the game.

[dplank]

I agree, really tough for refs to call this in live action.

[Arkansasbear]

I"m not a fan of the rule. I mean is you get some sort of WWE tackle okay, but otherwise it's just impossible to police in real time.

[dplank]

I"m not a fan of the rule. I mean is you get some sort of WWE tackle okay, but otherwise it's just impossible to police in real time.

Yea. Impossible to police and damn near impossible for the players to comply. Things move so fast and the opponent is doing everything they can to break tackles and score.

[HisRoyalSweetness]

NFL fines Ravens LB Roquan Smith over $16K for hip-drop tackle that ended Chris Godwin's season
...

Upon review, the NFL determined Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith performed a hip-drop tackle on Buccaneers receiver Chris Godwin in Baltimore's win and has fined the linebacker over $16,000, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported.
...

The tackle resulted in a season-ending ankle dislocation for Godwin, who underwent surgery on the injured ankle this week. It also drew criticism of Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles, who had kept Godwin on the field in the final minute of a game his team was unlikely to win.

At first glance on the television broadcast, it didn't appear as though Smith performed a hip-drop tackle. However, All-22 footage shot from the end zone shows Smith contacting Godwin with his upper body and wrapping both arms around him. Immediately after making contact, Smith's legs swing forward and his body lands on Godwin's left leg, causing the ankle injury.

Smith was not flagged for the tackle during the game.

Outcomes like Monday night's are precisely why the league banned the hip-drop tackle during the Annual League Meeting in March. It isn't the first notable hip-drop tackle resulting in injury -- Texans running back Joe Mixon was taken down by Bears linebacker T.J. Edwards via a hip-drop tackle in Week 2, causing a high-ankle sprain that cost Mixon three games -- but it has produced the most significant injury to a star player this season. Despite the league's efforts, it's clear the tackle won't disappear from football immediately, as Smith became the 10th player to be fined for the tackle this season.
...

Full article: https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-fines-rave ... win-season

[HurricaneBear]

I"m not a fan of the rule. I mean is you get some sort of WWE tackle okay, but otherwise it's just impossible to police in real time.

Yea. Impossible to police and damn near impossible for the players to comply. Things move so fast and the opponent is doing everything they can to break tackles and score.

I'm on the opposite end of the spectrum from you with most things rules related. I think the game should be officiated more strictly. With that said, the hip drop one is tough to call in game and even harder for a player to do correctly. Although I do feel like the same was said about landing with your body weight on a QB when that was put in place. Could absolutely be misremembering that. So I go back and forth on the hip drop.

I know we do agree on they should have the eye in the sky replay on every play which would help immensely with any of these issues. I'll never understand why they don't go to that. Add it to our live feed while your at it for accountability and the game would improve dramatically imo.

[thunderspirit]

I know we do agree on they should have the eye in the sky replay on every play which would help immensely with any of these issues. I'll never understand why they don't go to that. Add it to our live feed while your at it for accountability and the game would improve dramatically imo.

It'$ hard to imagine why the NFL doe$n't do that.
Or hire their official$ full-time.
Or have a GP$ $en$or in the ball to determine whether it cro$$ed the goalline.

It'$ $uch a my$tery.

[thunderspirit]

And the cost would be relatively small in the grand scheme. But penny wise and pound foolish.

[wab]

I know we do agree on they should have the eye in the sky replay on every play which would help immensely with any of these issues. I'll never understand why they don't go to that. Add it to our live feed while your at it for accountability and the game would improve dramatically imo.

It'$ hard to imagine why the NFL doe$n't do that.
Or hire their official$ full-time.
Or have a GP$ $en$or in the ball to determine whether it cro$$ed the goalline.

It'$ $uch a my$tery.

I thought they put a GPS in the ball for goal line plays, or was that just a preseason thing?