New NFL kickoff rule leaves Browns wanting more after preseason opener vs. Packers

CLEVELAND — The new NFL kickoff rule left the coach Kevin Stefanski and the Browns wanting more after their preseason opener Saturday evening against the Green Bay Packers .

With starting kicker Dustin Hopkins sitting out, Cade York kicked off three times for the Browns . The first two resulted in touchbacks and thereby gave the Packers possession at their 30-yard line.

After the Browns' 23-10 loss , Stefanski chuckled while he explained the team's plans did not include York kicking the ball into the end zone twice.

“We wanted to see those guys cover, so disappointed with that,” Stefanski said. “Kickoff, didn’t get to see us as much as we would have liked. Kickoff return, it’s a different play, and we’ve repped it and repped it and repped it [in practice], but to get it live against another team was really, really important. I thought we got some good reps to teach off of.”

York said adrenaline contributed to him kicking touchbacks instead of placing the ball in the landing zone between the 20-yard line and goal line.

“It kind of just flew on me,” York said. “So dialing back a little bit [will be important]. It shouldn't be too much of an issue.”

With 5:08 left to play, York kicked off for the third and final time. The ball went to the 3, where running back Emanuel Wilson caught it and then returned 28 yards before defensive end Isaiah McGuire and safety Brady Breeze combined for the tackle. Yes, some linemen, including McGuire and Browns defensive end Sam Kamara, are being deployed on kickoff coverage.

“It feels like a kickoff. It's just the back end of the kickoff,” said Browns cornerback Kahlef Hailassie, who played on Cleveland's coverage unit. “It's eliminating the 20-yard, 30-yard sprint that you do in the beginning of the kickoff.

“On the defensive end, you can get a tackle faster. On the kick return end, one missed assignment or when somebody's out of place, it's easier to hit the hole and get out of there.”

The Browns returned all five of the Packers' kickoffs for 122 yards (24.4 average) without a touchback. Only one kick was brought out of the end zone. Undrafted rookie wide receiver Ahmarean Brown had three returns for 70 yards (23.3 average), running back Pierre Strong Jr. one return for 27 yards and receiver Jaelon Darden one return for 25 yards.

“It's right there on you. I feel like it's a faster-tempo play now, especially if it's a shorter kick,” Strong said. “They're right there in your face, so you've got to be decisive with your moves. It's the first time [getting a] feel for things, but I feel like people are going to start getting more comfortable back there and just making plays.”

The Browns' average drive start after kickoffs was their 29-yard line. The Packers' average drive start after kickoffs was their 30.

Browns special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone recently said he expects coaches to save their creative kickoff coverage and return schemes for the regular season, and his players agreed wrinkles will likely be revealed when the real games begin.

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Strong and Hailassie both said they expect the revamped kickoff to produce more touchdowns throughout the NFL than the old one.

York said he must be more cautious because kickers are more likely to become involved with tackling during returns.

On York's second kickoff, Wilson caught the ball in the end zone and rushed toward the goal line before slamming on the brakes and taking a knee for a touchback.

“I was like, 'Come on, bro. It's preseason. Get some film for yourself,'” York quipped.

The Browns hope to cover more kickoffs next week in joint practices and preseason game No. 2 against the Minnesota Vikings.

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Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich .

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: New NFL kickoff rule leaves Browns wanting more after preseason opener vs. Packers