PALM BEACH, Fla. – For the second straight year, Darren Rizzi is working with NFL teams on kickoff rules.
Rizzi last year was special teams coordinator for the New Orleans Saints and at the NFL owners meetings in Orlando, Fla., addressed the media about the new dynamic kickoff that was passed in which touchbacks put the ball at the 30. Now, Rizzi is special teams coordinator of the Broncos and is working with teams at the owners meetings in Palm Beach on possible modifications to the rules.
“I’m back doing the same thing,’’ Rizzi said Sunday, the first day of the meetings, which will conclude Wednesday at The Breakers resort. “I’m here as head of the special teams group this year and just here really to answer any questions from the coaches, (general managers), owners on any of the kickoff stuff. We’re looking to make some possible modifications that will come up the next couple of days. I’m really here just to be a voice for the special teams coaches and answer any questions that those guys have.”
One proposal on the table is to make touchbacks come out to the 35 rather than the 30.
“Obviously, it will bring a lot more returns into the game, which is what we’re trying to do,’’ Rizzi said when asked about that. “There’s a couple different ways we can go. We can move the touchback to the 35 or we can maybe move the kickoff back five yards (from the 35) or both. So those are the things the next couple of days we’re going to discuss.”
Rizzi said he was the only NFL special teams coordinator on hand Sunday. But that Chicago’s Richard Hightower will arrive for Monday meetings. Rizzi is hopeful there will be some adjustment to the rules.
“I’m for as many returns as possible. … I’m optimistic there will be some change, some type of modification to try to make it uptick a little bit,’’ he said.
A rule change could benefit the Broncos due to having Marvin Mims Jr., one of the NFL’s top kickoff returners. Foes usually kicked the ball well past the goal line last season and Mims only got seven returns while averaging 27.7 yards.
Boselli’s new role
Tony Boselli made the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Now, he wants to get them back to winning ways.
Bosselli, who starred at Boulder’s Fairview High School and was inducted last year into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame, was named last month as the Jaguars’ executive vice president of football operations.
“I love the organization,’’ said Boselli, who starred for the Jaguars from 1995-2001 and finished his NFL career with Houston in 2002 before being inducted into the Canton, Ohio, shrine in 2022. “It was a great opportunity and when (owner) Shad (Khan) gave me the opportunity, it was a pretty easy ask. It was a no brainer.”
Speaking at the owners meetings, Boselli said his mission is simple for the Jaguars, who have made the playoffs just once in the past seven seasons and just twice in the last 17.
“Win football games,’’ he said. “It’s pretty easy. … Ultimately, our goal is to win a championship.”
For the past decade, Boselli had been the Jaguars’ radio analyst. In his new job, Boselli will work with new general manager James Gladstone, who has the final say on personnel matters, and new head coach Liam Coen.
Colquitt likes Haack addition
Former Denver punter Britton Colquitt likes the team’s addition of punter Matt Haack.
“He’s got a big leg, so I think he’s a good choice for them,’’ Colquitt, who played for the Broncos from 2010-15, said of Haack, who signed a one-year, $1.255 million deal March 19.
Haack is entering his ninth season and has a career average of 44.7 yards gross and 39.6 net. Haack is left-footed, which Colquitt said sometimes can be an advantage.
“Returners are used to getting that spin from a righty pretty much day in and day out,’’ Colquitt said. “In a given year, there’s maybe three or four lefties. So it’s just new and it’s just opposite. It’s just harder to catch because you’re not used to it. Your whole life you’re catching off a righty pretty much, so it’s definitely a valuable thing.”
This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.
