How Different NFL History Looks With New Rules

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Wedge Kickoff Formation

It’s hard not to feel a little nostalgic about kickoff returns. They don’t happen nearly as often as they used to, not since the NFL made a series of changes to the rule book that made it almost impossible to enact anymore. Among those tweaks was the disallowing return units from using a particular blocking scheme.

"“In the wake of mounting player injuries on kickoffs, the NFL banned kick return teams from “wedge blocking.” Previously, three or four blockers on the return team would often block together, forming a wall aimed at stopping coverage players from tackling the kick returner. With the ban, no more than two players are permitted to block together on kickoffs.”"

One special teams coach explained that the wedge was like an offensive line. Imagine taking away 33% of the bodies on the offensive line during a run play. That is what they were forced to do with the new rule.

It’s good then that the Green Bay Packers didn’t have to deal with it back in the late 1990s.

Their return to greatness at that point was almost complete. Behind quarterback Brett Favre they had rolled into Super Bowl XXXI and jumped on the New England Patriots early 27-14 in the first half. It looked like things were getting away from them in the third quarter though when the Patriots scored, cutting the lead to 27-21.

The momentum was up for grabs. Until one return from Desmond Howard changed everything.

In that one play all the hopes for New England were snatched away. The Packers defense clamped down in the 4th quarter and the team clinched its first title since 1967. What they don’t realize to today is the blocking formation used to spring Howard in the first place.

That’s right. A wedge.

A penalty would have called that play back, and been yet another blow to the Packers’ momentum. Could Favre have been able to answer the bell? Thankfully Green Bay will never have to know.

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