Garrett Has Mixed Feeling About Proposed Kickoff Rules

Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett agrees with the thinking behind the league’s proposed rule changes with respect to kickoffs, but not necessarily how these changes are being implemented.

"I like the intent," Garrett told ESPN DallasCalvin Watkins. "You can’t argue with the statistics. Now what’s the best way to achieve the goal? I don’t think it's all of the five components out there."

The proposal has teams kicking off from their 25 yard line as opposed to the 20; in addition, a touchback would give the receiving team the ball at their 25 rather than the 20; no player on the kicking team would be allowed to line up more than five yards behind the kicker, to prevent players from getting running starts; kickoffs out of bounds will be placed 25 yards from the place of the kick, or at the receiving team’s 40 yard line; and two-man wedges would be eliminated.

The Cowboys lost Dez Bryant on a kickoff last season, so it’s no wonder that measures taken to make kickoffs more safe resound with Dallas. However, if passed, the new rules will also likely be a detriment to David Buehler, who was brought into Valley Ranch expressly for his ability to kick the ball through the opposing end zone, eliminating returns.

"It’s a momentum thing," Garrett said. "A two-man wedge, all those things. It's kinda mixed in a sense incentive wise, because they are talking about the touchbacks come out to the 25-yard line."

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