Bengals' longest tenured coach will now take on the biggest challenge of his career
An offseason filled with coaching turnover for the Cincinnati Bengals didn't impact special teams coordinator Darrin Simmons. 2024 will be the 22nd year Simmons will coach for the Bengals, and the 12th year he'll hold his current title. No other coach on staff in Cincinnati has been there longer.It may also be his toughest thanks […]
An offseason filled with coaching turnover for the Cincinnati Bengals didn't impact special teams coordinator Darrin Simmons.
2024 will be the 22nd year Simmons will coach for the Bengals, and the 12th year he'll hold his current title. No other coach on staff in Cincinnati has been there longer.
It may also be his toughest thanks to a new rule change imposed by the NFL.
Kickoff changes incoming
29 out of 32 NFL franchises approved a one-year change to kickoffs. The NFL will trial run the XFL concept for the upcoming season, featuring players lined up within 10 yards apart down the field and not moving until the ball is being returned. Here's an example of how it will look:
Kickoff specialists will now be advised to kick the ball into the landing zone, which is essentially the red zone between the goal line and the 20-yard line, and all kicks landing in that area must be returned. Kickoffs that fall short of the landing zone will be treated as out of bounds and the ball is placed on the 40-yard line. Touchbacks out the back of the end zone will have the ball spotted at the 30-yard line.
In layman's terms, teams that are kicking off have more to gain by actually putting the ball in play instead of booting it through the end zone. This will lead to more returns, and the alignment of blockers and would-be tacklers is designed to prevent explosive collisions and concussions.
The XFL saw these exact results unfold after implementing these changes, which is why the NFL is now adopting them. Increased action and decreased injuries are a huge win for the game, but the onus now falls on coaches like Simmons to get his players up to speed before the season begins.
Former XFL director of player personnel Eric Galko took to Twitter/X to explain how different the new kickoff is going to be from a schematic perspective. It's a stark shift from how it's always been at the NFL level.
"The kickoff play isn’t going to be run like a previous kickoff. They'll be less value on collisions, quickness and explosiveness," Galko posted. "Instead, it’ll likely be more closely analogous to a spaced out run play. You might even see Special Teams coaches develop into Man vs. Zone type distinctions. You'll see players pull, plays like Power/Duo, now on kickoff return!"
Instead of the methodology Simmons has been teaching for two decades, he'll have to adapt both his practices and maybe even personnel to best maximize the special teams department. A large chunk of the roster is comprised of players who make their biggest impact under Simmons' direction.
How will Evan McPherson handle shortening his kickoffs? Will there be a new kickoff return man to enter the picture?
The rule changes appear very good for the viewership and future of the game. How Simmons and other STCs handle it all will be fascinating this season.
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