Touchbacks will likely dominate the NFL’s new kickoff

One thing is becoming increasingly clear: The NFL’s new kickoff rules will have unintended consequences. While the rule changes were initially branded as a way for the kickoff to be an active play that avoids touchbacks, that’s not exactly how it’s actually going to play out when the season begins.

Back in May, we wrote this about the league’s new kickoff, after digging into the rules and talking to sources:

Here’s what I learned:

The XFL’s kickoff return was returned for an average position of 29 yards. The NFL moved the kickoff back five yards (along with a few other rule changes), so the expectation going into the season is that the starting field position spot will be around the…