Vikings sign former (Sooners) and UFL DL Jalen Redmond-Nathan J. Fish/The Oklahoman/USA TODAY Network
The NFL has done it again, folks. It has turned to its Spring football companion in the UFL.
The league announced earlier this week that there will be in-game interviews with players, coaches, and coordinators.
The mainstream telecasts will be permitted before games to have locker room credentials.
This will give the fans an inside look at the team’s thoughts and expectations regarding “real game day” discussions between the coaches and players.
Spring football has pioneered this practice since the second XFL returned in 2020.
Taken from the UFL
1. KICKOFF RULE
The NFL originally adapted the “dynamic kickoff rule” from the XFL, which ran in 2020 and 2023.
The hand’s team lines up opposite on the 40-yard line while the kicker is still back at the 35-yard line.
Only the kicker is allowed to move before kicking the ball, and the play begins once the returner catches it. If the ball is blasted into the endzone, it will start at the 30-yard line.
If the ball hits safely in the landing zone and lands in the endzone, it will come out to the 20-yard line.
This new kickoff rule allows more returns while reducing high-speed kickoff collisions.
The kickoff also requires more strategy regarding blocking schemes and how deep the kickers want to kick the ball.
2. NFL SKYCAM
If you return to the original XFL in 2001, the league adopted the Skycam system. The skycam takes shots of the game to help in many different instances.
The NFL began using it, and now it’s been a cool scene in NFL broadcasts and TV screens in many homes.
It brings many great angles of plays and players and can help officials during instant replays, coaches challenges, and booth reviews.
Other Opportunities for The NFL Down the Road
1. Automated First-Down System
In 2024, the UFL used an Automated First-down System instead of the chain gang to call first-downs faster and more transparently.
While it worked tremendously for them, the NFL decided to try this technology in the 2024 preseason.
The NFL hoped to achieve the same results in the preseason, but it didn’t work for them.
In fact, during some preseason games, fans complained that it took about three times longer than the regular chain gang, and the refs waited longer to call for the first downs.
That means there will be no automated first-down tech in 2024, but the good news is they can work out the kinks, so hopefully, it will work according to plan in 2025.
2. 4th and 12 Scrimmage Conversion Play
In the UFL, there are two ways to try to retain possession of the ball late in the fourth quarter after scoring an offensive touchdown.
One is you can try the traditional onside kick which isn’t a ceremonial play anymore.
The other is a one-time scrimmage play on fourth and 12 from the 28-yard line.
In this play, the offensive team must announce to the refs that you will attempt it, and you can only do it when trailing in the fourth quarter.
How it works is that instead of kicking the ball and watching it bounce around to recover, the offense and the defense line up for a fourth-and-12 conversion.
If the offensive team converts it, they get to keep the ball. If they miss it, the ball goes to the other team from that spot on the field.
This would work great in the NFL because only 5.2% of onside kicks were successfully recovered in 2023.
3. Universal Challenge System
The UFL took a page from Tennis and used its Universal Challenge System rules.
Unlike in the NFL, where you have three challenges and have to win at least one of them, you only have one.
An advantage of this is that you can use that one challenge on anything, (even pass interference calls, roughing-the-passer calls), etc.
If you challenge and get the call right, you can keep your one challenge. If you lose the challenge, you’re out of challenges.
A really unique part of the process is when the play is being challenged.
UFL rule advisors Mike Pereira and Dean Blandino actually explain the call on mike, and they tell you ahead of time if you win or lose the challenge.
Plus, it’s fast and transparent, and there’s no waiting around.
Conclusion
While the NFL and UFL are now sharing some of the same rules in their respective leagues; Currently, two players from the UFL recently were signed to NFL rosters: (DL) Jalen Redmond of the Arlington Renegades to the Minnesota Vikings and (K) Jake Bates from the Michigan Panthers to the Detroit Lions.
Congratulations go out to both players.
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