There is a new kickoff format coming to the NFL this season that will ask much more of kickers than just blasting it into the end zone for a touchback, in fact, kicks like that will be harshly penalized, but Atlanta Falcons Kicker Younghoe Koo is ready to make the necessary adjustments.
The new rule will emphasize kickoff returns and will harshly penalize kicks that not only go too far, into the end zone for a touchback, but also kicks that fall too short. The ball needs to land between the goal line and the 20 yard line or it will be treated like a ball kicked out of bounds and placed at the 40 yard line.
One potentially under-looked aspect of the new kickoff rule is how kickers may be asked to make more tackles now, but Koo states that he has not done any offseason work on tackling and will rely on his previous experience of making four tackles in 5 years in the NFL.