Rams’ Sean McVay Weighs in on the New Kickoff Rule

The Hall of Fame game last Thursday gave fans their first glimpse of the new kickoff rule in practice. The change, aimed at enhancing player safety, has stirred quite a bit of discussion and mixed reactions within the NFL community.

Initial Reactions

• Odd Appearance: “If you thought it looked a little odd, you’re not alone.” Many viewers and participants found the new kickoff to be quite unfamiliar.
• Sean McVay’s Take: Rams head coach Sean McVay commented on the new kickoff after a joint practice with the Chargers, describing it as “interesting, to say the least.”

McVay’s Perspective

• Unfamiliarity: “It just feels weird,” McVay admitted. “It doesn’t look like anything that has been anything I’ve been familiar with football.”
• Intent and Adaptation: McVay acknowledged the good intentions behind the change. “I know the intent is right. We’ll try to figure it out… It’s a very foreign-looking play. However we feel about it, we have to be able to adjust and make sure that we adapt and it can be something that’s an advantage to us.”
• Ongoing Evaluation: McVay and his coaching staff are actively exploring ways to make the most of the new rule. “We’ll continue to look at ways to make sure the execution of the play can benefit the team.”

The Need for Flexibility

• Adjustments: McVay emphasized the importance of being flexible. “I think we also need to probably have some fluidity with it if there are adjustments as we go.”
• Value of Joint Practices: He highlighted the significance of practicing against other teams. “When you see it against some other teams… it’s one thing to work it against each other but when you see it against some other teams, there will be a lot that we can really dive into with the film.”

Looking Ahead

• Preseason Expectations: The Rams will see the new kickoff in action during Sunday’s preseason game against the Cowboys. However, McVay noted that teams might not reveal much during these early games. “McVay isn’t anticipating that teams will show much from the new kickoffs until the games count.”
• Strategic Planning: The preseason and joint practices are critical for teams to familiarize themselves with the new rule. “This was a good opportunity to really get familiar with it in terms of just seeing it against another opponent in a little bit more of a controlled setting.”
• Future Developments: McVay acknowledged that understanding and mastering the new kickoff rule is an ongoing process. “There’s a lot of work to be done… I don’t believe that the preseason is going to give us an indication of what this play looks like because I think a lot of teams that have some schematic things, they’re not going to show it just like we wouldn’t as well.”

Conclusion

As the Rams and other NFL teams adapt to the new kickoff rule, it’s clear that there will be a learning curve. Coaches like Sean McVay are focused on leveraging this change to their advantage, ensuring their teams can execute effectively when the regular season begins. The coming weeks of joint practices and preseason games will be crucial for refining strategies and understanding the full impact of this significant rule change.