Darren Rizzi: Special teams coaches want NFL to change rule for holders on kickoffs

Under the NFL's dynamic kickoff rule, a 12th player can take the field as a holder on kickoffs, with our without the use of a tee, as long as the holder runs off the field immediately after the ball is kicked. Rizzi says the intent of the rule was to allow the kicking team to ensure the ball would stay in the tee on windy days, but the Eagles gained attention in Week 2 for using a holder just to hold the ball on the ground at an odd angle, which changes the trajectory of the kick and makes it harder to return.

Rizzi helped organize a conference call of special teams coordinators and said almost everyone agreed that the NFL should change the way the rule is officiated so that kickoffs are on a tee and holders are for weather conditions, not creating an advantage for the kicker.

"We don't want the ball on the edge, we don't want the ball on the ground, we don't want the ball held sideways. We want just a regular kickoff," Rizzi said. "That's kind of what was discussed amongst the coordinators. If we're not unanimous, we're darn close to it, the way we feel about it. That's why you saw some holders come out to start the game. And that's really not the intent. It's a work in progress. It hasn't been remedied yet."