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The NFL recently announced a 1-year trial rule change that would have touchbacks brought out to the 25-yard line, instead of the previous 20-yard line. This is not good news for Josh Lambo, who impressed coaches enough with booming leg to supplant Nick Novak as the starting Kicker for the 2015 season. Below you will see a record of all of his Kickoffs from last season:
| Result | Return | Yards | Net | Rule Change | -4 Yard Starting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Det | |||||
| Touchback | 20 | 25 | 25 | ||
| Return | -5 | 48 | 43 | 43 | 25 |
| Touchback | 20 | 25 | 25 | ||
| Touchback | 20 | 25 | 25 | ||
| Touchback | 20 | 25 | 25 | ||
| Return | -8 | 34 | 26 | 26 | 25 |
| Return | -6 | 23 | 17 | 17 | 25 |
| Cin | |||||
| Return | -5 | 29 | 24 | 24 | 25 |
| Touchback | 20 | 25 | 25 | ||
| Return | 0 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 |
| Touchback | 20 | 25 | 25 | ||
| Return | -4 | 29 | 25 | 25 | 25 |
| Min | |||||
| Return | -8 | 32 | 24 | 24 | 25 |
| Return | 4 | 21 | 25 | 25 | 25 |
| Touchback | 20 | 25 | 25 | ||
| Cle | |||||
| Return | 0 | 35 | 35 | 35 | 35 |
| Touchback | 20 | 25 | 25 | ||
| Return | -7 | 37 | 30 | 30 | 25 |
| Touchback | 20 | 25 | 25 | ||
| Touchback | 20 | 25 | 25 | ||
| Return | -5 | 38 | 33 | 33 | 25 |
| Pit | |||||
| Touchback | 20 | 25 | 25 | ||
| Touchback | 20 | 25 | 25 | ||
| Return | -7 | 30 | 23 | 23 | 25 |
| Return | -4 | 32 | 28 | 28 | 28 |
| Touchback | 20 | 25 | 25 | ||
| GB | |||||
| Return | -4 | 37 | 33 | 33 | 33 |
| Return | 10 | 30 | 40 | 40 | 40 |
| Touchback | 20 | 25 | 25 | ||
| Return | 29 | 0 | 29 | 29 | 29 |
| Oak | |||||
| Return | -9 | 32 | 23 | 23 | 25 |
| Touchback | 20 | 25 | 25 | ||
| Onside | |||||
| Onside | |||||
| Onside | |||||
| Bal | |||||
| Touchback | 20 | 25 | 25 | ||
| Touchback | 20 | 25 | 25 | ||
| Touchback | 20 | 25 | 25 | ||
| Return | -8 | 33 | 25 | 25 | 25 |
| Touchback | 20 | 25 | 25 | ||
| Touchback | 20 | 25 | 25 | ||
| Chi | |||||
| Return | -3 | 30 | 27 | 27 | 27 |
| Touchback | 20 | 25 | 25 | ||
| Return | 15 | 16 | 31 | 31 | 31 |
| Touchback | 20 | 25 | 25 | ||
| KC | |||||
| Return | -2 | 24 | 22 | 22 | 22 |
| Touchback | 20 | 25 | 25 | ||
| Jac | |||||
| Touchback | 20 | 25 | 25 | ||
| Touchback | 20 | 25 | 25 | ||
| Touchback | 20 | 25 | 25 | ||
| Touchback | 20 | 25 | 25 | ||
| Touchback | 20 | 25 | 25 | ||
| Touchback | 20 | 25 | 25 | ||
| Den | |||||
| Return | -9 | 33 | 24 | 24 | 25 |
| Touchback | 20 | 25 | 25 | ||
| KC | |||||
| Touchback | 20 | 25 | 25 | ||
| Return | -2 | 24 | 22 | 22 | 22 |
| Mia | |||||
| Touchback | 20 | 25 | 25 | ||
| Return | -6 | 25 | 19 | 19 | 25 |
| Return | -2 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 16 |
| Return | 0 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 |
| Touchback | 20 | 25 | 25 | ||
| Return | -5 | 23 | 18 | 18 | 25 |
| Oak | |||||
| Return | -2 | 22 | 20 | 20 | 20 |
| Return | -9 | 32 | 23 | 23 | 25 |
| Return | 4 | 21 | 25 | 25 | 25 |
| Return | 4 | 36 | 40 | 40 | 40 |
| Return | -1 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 30 |
| Den | |||||
| Touchback | 20 | 25 | 25 | ||
| Touchback | 20 | 25 | 25 | ||
| Touchback | 20 | 25 | 25 | ||
| Touchback | 20 | 25 | 25 | ||
| Touchback | 20 | 25 | 25 | ||
| Kickoffs Summary | |
|---|---|
| No. Kickoffs | 70 |
| No. Returns | 32 |
| Touchback % | 54% |
| Run Outs | 23 |
| Avg Runout Depth | -5.3 |
| Avg Return | 28.0 |
| Avg Starting | 22.9 |
| Rule Change Starting | 25.6 |
| -4 yard Starting | 25.6 |
A few things stand out:
- Lambo incurred touchbacks at a 54% clip.
- Teams opting to return his kicks averaged 28 yards per return.
- Most teams opted to return particularly deep kicks when Lambo "out-kicked" his coverage.
Digging deeper into the numbers, if last years' teams chose to kneel and take the ball out the same as they did for all kicks, the rules change moves opponents' starting field position from the 22.9 yard line to the 25.6 yard line. Even if they chose to be more conservative and never brought out a kick deeper than 4 yards in the endzone, they would still average the same.
The only silver lining is that the Chargers should see fewer returns. With no real motivation to try for the 25.6-yard line when you can have the 25 for free, the fans should expect the rule change to achieve its' goal of fewer returns and fewer injuries.