Bears ignore new kickoff rule

[theMINI]

Citing need to judge players, Bears ignore new kickoff rule.

As if to reiterate their presumed opposition to the new kickoff placement rule, the Chicago Bears defied it twice in the first half of Saturday's preseason victory over Buffalo.

The Bears lined up Robbie Gould's first and second kickoffs at the 30 instead of the 35, as called for in the new rule. When told of the kickoffs, Carl Johnson, the NFL's vice president of officiating, called Soldier Field and ordered officials to "put a stop to it," according to Fox Sports.


As it turns out, the Bears were more interested in practicing kickoff coverage than defying the new rule. The team reportedly told the officiating crew beforehand that they would kick off from the 30 at some point.

"Robbie Gould ... we can put it on the 35 and he can kick it out each time," coach Lovie Smith told the Chicago Sun-Times. "We’re not really getting a good evaluation of what we can do coverage-wise on some of our players. That’s what we were trying to do with it."

The Bears are believed to be one of six teams that voted against the rule change at the owners meetings in March. The league hopes the change improves safety.

What do you guys think?

[EmpireWF]

That's ridiculous. Bears should get a hefty fine for this, preseason or not.

You don't get to choose which rules you get to follow. Who cares if you want to test your kickoff coverage?

[BigBucs]

Hurts nobody but them so I dont care.

[Aso]

Hurts nobody but them so I dont care.

How does this hurt them? The Bears are notorious for having one of the best all around special teams in the league year in and year out because Lovie Smith and company put a very important emphasis on it. Lovie wants to make sure his team can cover kickoffs and this is the best way to find out who is good and who's not at this particular job. When half of your teams kickoffs go into the endzone for a touchback you're not getting a lot of opportunities to see what you're guys can do. When the regular season starts expect the Bears to have one of the best kick coverage units in the league because they'll simply be more prepared to cover kickoffs and the guys who will be covering these kickoffs will be good at it and have practice. Smart move by Lovie Smith imo.

[Houston]

When half of your teams kickoffs go into the endzone for a touchback you're not getting a lot of opportunities to see what you're guys can do.

Yeah but can't they cover this in practice like anything else?



I don't know much about being a NFL coach but I don't think they make a habbit of testing new things out in the middle of the game. You don't look for starters or to see what your guys can do when the game has already started.

[Coked Up Elmo]

....its preseason

[theMINI]

I think the rule is stupid but as a coach can't you just tell your kicker not to kick it out of the end zone?

[Aso]

Yeah but can't they cover this in practice like anything else?



I don't know much about being a NFL coach but I don't think they make a habbit of testing new things out in the middle of the game. You don't look for starters or to see what your guys can do when the game has already started.

Well there is nothing like game speed. I think Empire has a very good point but if they do get away with it, I say bravo to Lovie Smith.

I think the rule is stupid but as a coach can't you just tell your kicker not to kick it out of the end zone?

But then they don't get to be rebels

[manchild24]

If he can kick it out of the end zone every time, why do they have to practice coverage then. Kick the fucker out of the end zone then.

[Saluki]

Pfft, it's preseason who cares.

[killgod]

Pfft, it's preseason who cares.

So why not put coaches in the huddle, red practice jerseys on the QB's.....

Why stop there?

If the Bears are going to use this to practice kick coverage, why can't another team break a different rule to practice something else?


Can of worms = opened.

[Saluki]

So why not put coaches in the huddle, red practice jerseys on the QB's.....

Why stop there?

If the Bears are going to use this to practice kick coverage, why can't another team break a different rule to practice something else?


Can of worms = opened.

Teams do all kinds of little shit to see what they can get away with in the preseason. If they ain't fining, shit, go for it. There's not alot of rules you can break in preseason that will give you any benefit in the regular season.


Take Suh for example, he gets his illegal ass "fucking up the QB" penalty is becoming a preseason tradition

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tWBOWI8AfU[/ame]


There's not alot of rules you can break in preseason that will give you any benefit in the regular season. Comparing throwing a coach in the huddle to moving back 5 yards on a kickoff is a bit much.

[Saluki]

That's ridiculous. Bears should get a hefty fine for this, preseason or not.

You don't get to choose which rules you get to follow. Who cares if you want to test your kickoff coverage?

lol hefty fine, that's like fining a team for having 12 men on the field. Should be some sort of flag if anything.

[Senser81]

So why not put coaches in the huddle, red practice jerseys on the QB's.....

Why stop there?

If the Bears are going to use this to practice kick coverage, why can't another team break a different rule to practice something else?


Can of worms = opened.

If they put coaches in the huddle and red jerseys on QBs, I honestly wouldn't care. Its just preseason.

I remember Mike Ditka said "If its preseason, then why do they keep track of the score on the scoreboard?" My guess would be boredom.

[1ke]

This is nothing. Surprised to see it get the reaction it did. Remember, there are limits on practice time. And with camp opening kinda late, all the teams only had what, 12 days of practice? Why not practice this here and now.

Also, after November, Robbie wont be kicking anything out the back of the endzone even if he did try.