How will Eagles adjust to NFL’s new kickoff rule?

The idea? To bring the kickoff, a potentially electrifying and scoreboard-altering play, back into the game and, because the blockers and tacklers are slowed down – separated only by 5 yards instead of racing down the field and engaging in violent collisions – keeping it as safe as possible.

“There are a lot of things that every team is thinking about right now,” Ferrari said. “What type of players are you using on the kickoff? The kickoff is now played in much tighter quarters now so what is the size/speed ratio of players on the field at that time? Do you use multiple returners now? What are the blocking schemes like?

“Teams are just now developing their strategy and I think that’s great for special teams coordinators and for players on the roster who are looking to make an impact on special teams. This keeps the kicking part of the game in the game. We’re expecting to see more kickoff returns, more plays, and that is always a good thing.”

The XFL served as a template for the NFL’s new kickoff rule, and while what the NFL is doing isn’t an exact duplicate of the XFL kickoff rules, there were some noteworthy numbers that the NFL noticed, including better starting field position for offenses in the NFL because of big kickoff returns – 6 percent of XFL returns last season gained 40-plus yards, far higher than the NFL’s average.

That led to more points and, ultimately, that provides more entertainment. That’s the goal, right?

Well, it’s also very possible that great kickoffs that are strategically targeted in the landing zone will also pin return men deep in their own territory – approximately 20 percent of XFL returns last season started at or inside the 20-yard line while the NFL had a rate of 6 percent at or inside the 20-yard line.

“It’s a significant structural rule change and, to me, it’s one of the most impactful things I’ve ever seen. You don’t know where it’s going to go,” Ferrari said. “The average starting field position the past few years has been at about the 24-and-a-half-yard line. Where is average starting field position going to be in 2024? The touchback comes back to the 30-yard line, where it was the 25-yard line last year. That’s significant.

“It’s new. It’s unconventional and it’s complicated and those are three characteristics that usually derail a potential new rule change. In this case, I think everybody knew something had to happen, that the status quo was not going to hold….