When the NFL announced new kickoff rules for 2024, I was excited about the possibility of shaking up an aspect of the game that had become stale. Nearly three out of four kickoffs in 2023 ended in touchbacks. Now, the percentages have reversed. In the 2024 preseason, nearly 80 percent of kickoffs resulted in returns. But after watching the Steelers in August, they should do the unthinkable this season and live with their fears. The touchback could be Pittsburgh’s best friend in 2024.
The rules for kickoffs have been changed so that a touchback takes the ball to the 30-yard line. Mike Tomlin has said he is not interested in letting opponents get the extra yards. In early August, he said, “When you pursue greatness, you have to take some risks. We’re going to have to get used to this thing.” However, given the makeup of this year’s roster, kickoffs are not where the Steelers need to take risks.
Let’s look at where Pittsburgh’s opponents have returned kickoffs this preseason.
- Houston: 30, 24, 31
- Buffalo: 21, 29
- Detroit: 32, 45, 34, 29
It’s a small sample size, but only one of nine returns had an exceptional result. Buffalo’s return to the 21-yard line was due to a deep kick by Chris Boswell to the 1, followed by an excellent tackle by Dez Fitzpatrick. The next best stop was Houston’s return to the 24. That happened because a Texan ran into his teammate. The worst result was Detroit’s return to the 45-yard line, which started when Boswell only kicked the ball to the 8. The Lions had another less-than-ideal return to the 34. The other five preseason returns were all pretty much right around the 30.
This trend is quite similar across the NFL. Before the third week of the preseason, the average starting position was just inside the 28-yard line. Only about one in five drives started inside the 20. But more than a third started beyond the 30.
Those percentages show the risk isn’t worth the reward. In the Steelers’ case, for every kickoff return to the 20-yard line, Pittsburgh gives up one to the 45-yard line, which is only about two first downs from field goal range. Given the perceived strength of the Steelers defense this year, why risk the momentum-changing potential of a big kickoff return, even if the chances are only 22 percent? Kick the ball into the end zone, send the defense to the 30-yard line, and let potential Pro Bowlers TJ Watt, Alex Highsmith, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Patrick Queen, Joey Porter Jr., and Cameron Heyward do their jobs.
