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Sean Payton says football IQ key for Denver Broncos on new kickoffs

Rich Kurtzman
Sean Payton at training camp in July, 2024.

Sean Payton at training camp in July, 2024. Credit: Isaiah J. Downing, USA TODAY Sports.

Kickoffs are changing this year and Sean Payton says football IQ will be important on the transformed plays.

There are a ton of changes to the kickoff, meaning it will take a lot of getting used to. For fans, and players too.

Sean Payton says football IQ important on kickoff returns

Football games are won in all three phases; offense, defense, and special teams. And while most folks focus on offense or defense, special teams can also determine outcomes.

After all, every game and half begins with a kickoff. And they come after every score, too.

That’s why Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton needs smart players on the return.

“I think it’s going to be more—we worked on a drill yesterday—decisions near the sideline where you potentially straddle, put your one foot out of bounds and field the kick and get it to the 40 [yard line],” Payton explained after practice on Tuesday. “I think it’s going to fall on the returners, the decision making and the football IQ I think is going to go up with those two spots.

“I referenced middle infielders the other day. You’re going to see different types of kicks, and you’re going to have to make decisions on the fly and then go with it. In that drill we eliminated any decisions, we’re returning them. Certainly if we get a kick into the end zone we’ll be comfortable with the 30-yard line.”

Making decisions on the fly will be the new norm this year. Especially as the entire NFL adapts to the possibilities on the plays.

Because, as we all know, this is a copycat league.

Marvin Mims could excel as a returner if he plays smart

Marvin Mims’ opportunities at wide receiver are up in the air like a Bo Nix pass.

But if he plays smart football, Mims could make a huge impact on the team on kickoffs.

What the second-year player needs to do is process quickly and make intelligent plays.

As Sean Payton says, football IQ is crucial, like knowing what to do with the new rule he mentioned catching the ball with one foot out of bounds.

The players will now line up at the receiving team’s 40 and 35 yard lines, respectively. There can be two returners, and any kick in the landing zone must be returned. Also, onside kicks must be announced and can only happen when a team is trailing in the fourth quarter.

These rules were first tried in the XFL and the play will basically look like this:

If Mims gets it right, the numbers show he could be dynamic in the return game.

Pro Football Focus wrote, “Among 26 NFL returners with at least 25 combined kickoff and punt returns, Mims ranks fourth in return yards per kickoff attempt (26.5), ties for second in missed tackles forced per kickoff return attempt (0.6) and ranks No. 1 overall in longest kickoff return (99 yards).”

One strategic disadvantage is if Mims is doing so well that opponents start kicking it to the other Broncos return man.

Either way, Broncos Country is in for some excitement on the previously predictable plays.

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