Rams resume work on new kickoff format in training camp

The league reportedly sent a memo to all 32 teams saying that the ball must be placed upright, rather than sideways, on the kicking tee. In other words, cross that off as a way of throwing off the return unit under the new setup.

According to Blackburn, it’s possible to get “a lot of different types of balls” when the ball is laid differently on the tee. He said when it’s in the well of the tee straight up and down, there’s less variance with the kick one will get. Leaning the ball up against the tee is still allowed, but if it’s on the tee, it must be in it.

“It’s been really good,” Blackburn said of troubleshooting the format. “There’s a lot of… obviously, on the other field, we’re working a lot of individual with the punters, the specialists, (and) the snapper, holds, all of that kind of stuff, (the) mechanics. Obviously, our kickers (are) getting a lot of work over there, plus what you see over here in the team periods. As far as just the mechanics of the kickoff return, (the NFL) sent the memo out about having the ball in the tee and certain things there. Some things have changed from the offseason. We’ll be ready for any other adjustments as they come, but we’re kind of staying the course. We have some good kickoff return reps today, individual-type work tomorrow. We’ll get some schematics and kind of put it all together.”

The new kickoff format is modeled after the XFL’s, but not an exact replica. As a refresher:

• The kicker will still kick off from his 35-yard line, but the other 10 members of the kicking team will be lining up at the receiving team’s 40-yard line. The play can’t start until 10 members have at least one foot on the 40; five of those players must be on each side of the ball, which prevents the kicking team from loading up one side.
• After kicking the ball, the kicker won’t be able to cross midfield until the ball is in play – defined as the returning catching it, or the ball hitting the ground in the landing zone, or the ball getting to the endzone.
• Meanwhile, the receiving team will have a 5-yard setup zone from its own 30 to its 35-yard line. Seven of the receiving team’s players must have their foot on the 35-yard line. Players not on the 35 must be lined up in the setup zone outside the hash marks, and all players in the setup zone can’t move until the kick has hit the ground or a player in the landing zone or the endzone.
• No more than two returners may line up in the…