FOXBOROUGH - There remains a great deal of uncertainty regarding the new kickoff rules. The Patriots, for instance, have been working on them since the spring, but they haven't said or shown us if they've come to a conclusion on how they want to play it.
Not only that, but the rules are already changing, and we haven't even had a preseason game (that is so the NFL). For instance, many teams experimented with putting the ball sideways on the tee this spring. That technique was banned in a memo the league sent out less than a week ago. The reason is that the ball can only be teed up a maximum of one inch, but it was a half-inch higher when putting it sideways.
We finally saw the play in the NFL with Thursday's Hall of Fame game. There were eight kickoffs. One went for a touchback, and the longest return was 31 yards. On average, the ball started at the 26-yard line.
"If a kick is kind of short, guys are right up on you," said Bears KR Tyler Scott. "You've got to make one cut and go. I think there's benefits to that, because if one guy misses, then you're good. But at the same time, if you make the wrong cut, somebody is right there. So far, I feel like it kind of protects guys a little bit more. Guys aren't getting a full head of steam coming down the field, taking shots on people. But I think, for the most part, it'll work out pretty good. Just think we'll have a lot of explosive plays."
The Pats will get their first crack at the play in Thursday's preseason opener. Jalen Reagor and Antonio Gibson have been the team's first pairing of returners, and the former did it as well - if not better - than anyone in the league when given the opportunity late last season. Under the old rules, Reagor had seven returns for 221 yards, including an electric 98-yard touchdown. When we talked to Reagor earlier in the week, he was tight-lipped about various subjects until we started discussing his thoughts on the new rules.
"There's just one line of defense now. I feel like that's bad for the kickoff team. It's bad," he said with a smile, adding that the delayed start for the kickoff team means "I'm going to be up to like, 20 mph (running). If they miss, it's over."
Plenty of strategies go into how returns get blocked, but once Reagor fields the ball, he runs on instinct.
"It's more of a natural thing," he said. "It's reactive. You don't want to try to anticipate something. It's just trying to read it clear and let it happen."
That skill is as good a reason as any to think Reagor will make the 53-man roster, especially since he's also had moments as a receiver this summer. But, as always, let's see how it plays out once the competition ramps up.
TUA KNOWS IT'S TIME
The Dolphins showed Tua Tagovailoa the money, briefly making the quarterback the highest-paid quarterback in the league (Jordan Love's deal, made official later that day, surpassed him). Getting that paycheck — four years, $212.4 million (the practical guarantee is $147.17 million) — only raises the expectations for Tua and the Fins, who have had regular-season success together but have yet to record a postseason win.
"I'm the highest-paid employee in this office," said Tagovailoa. "I got to get my whatever together. I got to get that right and get our guys moving in the direction that we need to go to be able to do those things."
His head coach, Mike McDaniel, appreciates Tua recognizing the heightened expectations.
"It's a pretty hot place to be, quarterback in the National Football League," he said a couple days after the contract was signed. "You get a lot of reps at seeing how people respond to things. I think that is absolutely the nature that you should expect and something that I know Tua's very, very aware of. I think that's one of the cool things about sports is Tua can know that, his teammates know that, and they already have pressure and expectations for themselves.
"He knows what time it is, fortunately him and all his teammates can go out and determine whatever the narrative is built upon by the way they play. We focus on the way we play, understanding that we will always hear about the results regardless of what they are. So why don't we try to move the needle on what those results are."
You can argue about how responsible Tua is for the Dolphins' success or failures, but his numbers since McDaniel took over are amongst the best in the league. He's in the top five in passing yards (4th), yards per attempt (2nd), TDs (5th), and passer rating (2nd), and the team is 56-25 when he starts and 4-5 when he doesn't.
After only being a partial participant before signing his extension, Tua has been a full-go and has seemingly added something to his bag that's been missing since his early days at Alabama, foot speed. He lost a considerable amount of weight this off-season, and that is showing itself in camp.
"I just think being more mobile, being lighter on your feet, all of that helps with this game, and everything in this game helps,' said Tagovailoa. "That's sort of the thought there."
The thought in this space is that if Tua and the Fins can't break through this season with a deep playoff run, then regrets...they'll have a few.
KIDS CAN PLAY
Let's look at some of my draft class faves in their new spots.
- In Buffalo, Cole Bishop pushed strongly to fill the retired Micah Hyde's spot at free safety. The second-rounder had been part of a three-player rotation with veterans Mike Edwards and Damar Hamlin. With Edwards dealing with a hamstring issue that may knock him down for a couple weeks, the door was wide open, and Bishop is good enough to bust on through, working with the ones. That is, until he, too, got hurt. He has a shoulder issue that makes him "week-to-week," per Sean McDermott. That's disappointing because the head coach was growing fond of the second-rounder.
"One of the bigger things I've seen, and one of the bigger things you hope for, is growth over the course of the break. It's been clear that he put time in, on the mental end of things with the scheme and mastering the scheme."
- Ladd McConkey is making a considerable impression in the Chargers camp (that sound you hear is of me crying softly in the corner). After quarterback Justin Herbert praised him this spring for how quickly he picked up the offense, the rookie slot machine has carried that over into the summer.
"He's been off to a really good start," said coach Jim Harbaugh. "Really, really excellent route runner. We knew that, and he's been really good, really dialed in right from the beginning. Just how quick he gets up to full speed. I don't know how many steps it is, but it's pretty fast, pretty quick — three, five, six steps, and he's up to full speed."
With the departures of Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, McConkey is likely to gobble up heavy volume in that passing attack.
- My people at Jets camp say Malachi Corley, the "YAC King, "started slowly — he needs work as a route runner — but shined as the week progressed. Corley caught a pair of touchdowns in the red area Thursday, taking advantage of an injury to Xavier Gibson to shine. The sooner he gets up to speed, the more dangerous the Jets offense should be.
- The Bears have been impressed with pass rusher Austin Booker. Considered a raw prospect because of his lack of collegiate snaps at Kansas, Booker is being moved around the defensive line, even getting some snaps as an interior defensive lineman in obvious throwing situations.
"I'm gonna continue to get better in the shadows, and they're not going to know what's coming," said Booker, who had a sack in the Hall of Fame game.
If Chicago deems Booker not ready for prime time, I wonder if they will make a play for Matthew Judon (if he is, in fact, available)? They are openly searching for someone to complement Montez Sweat, and tried to land Bryce Huff (former Jet now with the Eagles) in free agency.
- Roman Wilson had put a strong foot forward in Pittsburgh's camp until his ankle was twisted during a red zone jet sweep Tuesday. He walked off under his own power but later left the field on a cart and has been seen since with a walking boot. Not ideal.
- Tackle Roger Rosengarten has a chance to start for the Ravens. Teammate Ronnie Stanley, the team's left tackle, said of the rookie from Washington, "All in all, Roger's a pro. He's a pro football player, and he definitely belongs in the NFL. I see it in the way he prepares, thinks about the game, and his IQ. Just his tenacity and the way he's not scared to go after blocks, and he does it in a controlled way."