2. What does the new kick-off look like and can someone make an early impact in the return match?
As special teams coach Jay Harbaugh noted earlier this week, the anticipation for the kickoff at last week’s Hall of Fame Game was higher than usual because that particular play, the kickoff, will look very different in 2024. In an effort to increase the return rate while also making the play safer, the kickoff has undergone a major overhaul this year. And while teams obviously practice the play, the only way they can truly figure out what works and what doesn’t is by replaying the play with kick returns and coverage at full speed.
“We’re hot. It’s going to be pretty cool,” said special teams coordinator Jay Harbaugh. “I think the Hall of Fame game the other day was probably the most anticipated preseason game ever, at least as far as I can remember. It was fun to watch, and we’re really excited to see our guys put what we’ve been training into action.”
For returners, there will be more returns each game and potentially opportunities for bigger returns. The Seahawks had several players return both kicks and punts in practice and will likely continue to look at several players in those roles on Saturday.
Receiver Laviska Shenault Jr., one of the top candidates for kick return duties, said he expects the game to be a bit chaotic at first, but also sees an opportunity for himself and other returners to make a difference.
“My thoughts on it? It’s going to be a (expletive) show,” he said with a laugh. “But I feel like there’s potentially something great happening. I’m going to put it in place, some great things are going to happen, and we’re going to start doing that this Saturday. I think there’s a lot of ways to approach this new kickoff return, and everybody just has to do their job.”
The new kickoff format also changes things for the kickers. In the past, a lot of emphasis was placed on hang time in kickoffs, but now that players, aside from the returners and the kicker, don’t move until the ball is caught or hits the ground, placement is what matters, not hang time or even distance.
“It’s all about placement,” kicker Jason Myers said. “It’s kind of the opposite of what it was. It was always high and wide, and now a shorter shot with less hang time is probably more advantageous. It’s just finding a place to put the ball. I’ve been working on that a lot. I’m applying my old football life, just looking at where I want to put the ball and finding a way to get the ball there. I’m not really taking my traditional steps, just stepping back at an angle. That’s a nice way to differentiate my kickoff swing from my field goal swing. Just kind of a football style, just finding a way to get the ball there.”
