Where the inflated NFL QB passing numbers of last season a result of the touchbacks?

[jadillac]

Since they moved the kickoff line up? So then more teams were having 80 yard drives as opposed to shorter fields.

I'm probably the last person to realize this......but it hit me yesterday and I was like

 

[NYC Rebel]

Since they moved the kickoff line up?

I'm probably the last person to realize this......but it hit me yesterday and I was like

Alot more opportunities to throw the ball.

 

[Freestyle Phantom3.0]

Wow i never thought about that

 

[FTBS]

Never thought about it until this very moment and it makes sense.

 

[JBoy]

whoa that would explain it wouldn't it?

 

[holidayinn21]

i thought about that the 1st game of last year.

 

[jadillac]

maybe I'm not the last person to realize it

 

[TheGreatShowtime]

Nah, the Patriots & Packers were doing it before the rule was put in place. This is a copy cat league.

 

[R.E.N. Spells Ren]

Ok stat nerds, what was the average starting point for offensive drives in 2011 and 2010?


Cuz all (most?) drives don't start after kickofffs

 

[mastermind]

Since they moved the kickoff line up? So then more teams were having 80 yard drives as opposed to shorter fields.

I'm probably the last person to realize this......but it hit me yesterday and I was like

This is brilliant

It makes total sense. There is a lot of ground to cover and the "easiest" way to eat those yards up is by passing.

Never thought of this until now too

 

[yseJ]

the difference now is average of 7 yards on each kickoff.

in high-scoring game I can see this making a difference
in low scoring game, not so much

 

[FreedS[ohh]lave]

Its really been happening the past few years since you cant defend WR'S anymore but yeah last year it went to another level though i dotn really pay attention to stats much in football its not a stat sport like baseball theyres too many intangibles in the game of football to go by stats alone

 

[Tony D'Amato]

I hated that rule and still do. Returns are exciting

 

[jadillac]

I'm not saying it's the only reason, but I think it contributed

 

[The_Sheff]

Average starting field position after kickoffs.

2011 - 22.1
2010 - 26.8

Average total number of kickoffs per game

2011 - 10.4

You are looking at an average of 47 extra yards a game (thats the total for both teams) if a TD was scored on each of those kickoffs. That has very little to do with the increase in passing yards.

The increase is due to the rules favoring the offense and especially passing right now.