Mike McCarthy reacts to new NFL kickoff rules: ‘It was such a wasted play’

Ahead of the Dallas Cowboys’ OTAs, head coach Mike McCarthy opened up about one of the league’s biggest rule changes this offseason – the kickoff. Based on the XFL’s kickoff, the NFL’s new hybrid kickoff has the potential to bring the play back to its once-former glory. McCarthy is all for the NFL reinstituting the big-play opportunities kickoff returns once afforded the special teams units.

“This game is about big plays,” McCarthy said. “You can’t win without big plays whether it’s offense, defense and now, special teams. You put the big-play opportunity into special teams and a) it’s more exciting for the fans and it fits into the fiber of what pro football is… I think the kick-off is going to be very successful, I’d be shocked if it wasn’t.”

In the new kickoff, the kicker stands alone. He sets up the ball at his own 35-yard line and once he kicks the ball, he can’t cross midfield until the returner catches the ball, hits the dirt, or gets to the end zone. The remaining 10 players on the kicking team will line up at the receiving team’s 40. There must be five lined up to each side and each player must have one toe on the 40 before the play can start.

As for the receiving team, most of them will be five yards away from the kicking team. Seven players will line up at the 35-yard line. Also, two more players can be in the setup zone, but they will line up outside the hash marks. The receiving team also can field two returnmen. If a team only uses one, the other guy can be in the setup zone between the 30 and 35.

“I know we’ve put this in at a fast pace… unfortunately, the success of it, some teams could be on the other side of it, but it was needed,” McCarthy added. “It was such a wasted play. In 2010, it was 80% returns and 20% kickoffs and last year it was 20% returns and 80% kickoffs. That’s a tremendous flip in action.”

Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey weighs in on rule changes

The Cowboys have one of the best kickers in the league who made the Pro Bowl in his debut season. Dallas signed Brandon Aubrey after he wrapped up a season with the USFL’s Birmingham Stallions. He initially had an MLS career and a collegiate career playing soccer for Notre Dame before taking a shot at kicking in the NFL, with stellar results. In year one, he had 99 touchbacks on 109 kickoffs (90.8%) with an average of 64.8 yards.

As far as the league’s kickoff rule changes go, Aubrey is a fan.

“I love it,” Aubrey said. “It’s gonna save my leg and give me a chance to go out there and hit some unique balls. [Special teams coordinator John Fassel] is aggressive so he’ll give me all the opportunity in the world to go out there and make mistakes, and live with them.”

“We’re in the workshop right now,” Aubrey added. “Hang time is a little less important and not being able to move until it’s caught, so we’re in the workshop — don’t wanna really give too much away. … [My soccer background] absolutely [helps]. It works with hitting the ball in different ways, putting my foot on the ball in different ways and wrapping my foot around it in certain ways.

“I think it will help. Being a soccer player is a skill I’ve taken with me to the NFL.”

Aubrey owns the NFL’s record for consecutive field goals made to start an NFL career. Against the Rams last season, he tied Cleveland Browns kicker Travis Coons’ league record, set in 2015, for consecutive makes to start a career with 18. He surpassed Coons to set the new league record of 19 makes with a 51-yarder against the Philadelphia Eagles. He went on to extend the record to 35 makes to start a career.