The future of onside kicks

We've reached the time of year when the NFL considers rule changes. Among those proposed is one from the Broncos that would eliminate onside kicks. And it's one worth considering.

How did we get here:
First, the NFL made an amendment to kickoffs which eliminated the running start. In addition, the kickoff rules require a balanced lineup. In the past, not only could the kicking team run up to the start, but they could stack one side of the field. That created a much better circumstance to try and recover an onside kick. It still wasn't a high chance, but it felt like a real chance.

Now, the teams must remain stationary on the line until the kick is made, and they must keep five people on each side of the kicker. That has resulted in far fewer onside kicks being recovered, and a far less chance they even could be recovered. Hence the discussion.

It has made the onside kick almost a forgone conclusion, which sucks some of the excitement out of close games and comeback attempts. Indeed, the receiving team would almost have to make an error for a kick to be recovered (or it would have to be unexpected). Thus, it's become a problematic kind of play.

Other Ways of Thinking:
And then there's the AAF, which came to sort of shake things up when it comes to football and rules. That includes no kickoffs and no onside kicks. So how does a team get a chance to retain the football? Well that's where the unique rule comes in that allows them the equivalent of a fourth and long to keep the ball.

Not everything about the AAF has been great or a success, but I like the idea of this. It's one of the fun wrinkles that I think adds something to the game. And it's no surprise that it's an idea gaining traction.

The Proposal:
We know the running start for kickoffs and unbalanced lineups is never coming back. In fact, the NFL is really limited incidents of the kicking game in general in the name of player safety, and that makes some sense. Kickoffs with men running at each other at full speed is a dangerous element of football, one that could lead to plenty of injuries. So it makes some sense that this would be a place to make the game safer without a major impact to overall quality.

So if onside kicks have become more of a foregone conclusion, why keep them in the game at all? The Broncos' proposal for the rule change addresses that very idea, proposing that instead of a kick a team gets a fourth and 15 at its own 35 yard line. If successful, the team gets the ball at the 50 to make a drive. While it's a tall order, it seems more possible than the current onside kick, and more fun.

I hope it passes, but we'll see.

Other Proposals:
The onside kick proposal was one of nine made, seven of which have to do with expanding replay. After the NFC Title Game sham, I think that something needs to be done. But it takes 24 owners voting yes for a change, and I have my doubts.

The other one from the Chiefs regards overtime and abolishing the rule that if the team that receives scores a touchdown the other team never sees the ball. This, too, is a good rule I think. The overtime rule was altered a while ago to make it more competitive, and this seem to dovetail with that idea. But, again, we'll see if it passes.