Raiders’ Daniel Carlson on new kickoff rules: ‘We’re learning on the fly’

Las Vegas’ kicker says everyone will adapt as they go, including tackling returners

As we proceed through preseason games, it’s becoming abundantly clear NFL teams are adjusting to the new kickoff rules.

As much as teams may practice, the exhibition slate is where the kinks will be worked out in real-time, or ensuing training camp sessions.

This is the case for the Las Vegas Raiders. Kicker Daniel Carlson admitted as much during his time at the media podium during the team’s time in Costa Mesa, Calif.

“It’s definitely different,” the 29-year-old said. “It’s not something you kind of think you’re going to have to do at this point in your career where all of a sudden there’s new rules. And just last week they changed the rule that — something that I was working on all season. All of a sudden you can’t do, so we’re learning on the fly, and you’re kind of having to be creative about it.

“And each week I feel like we’re going to see different teams doing different things. And just like offenses and defenses are doing, you’re adapting different game plans sometimes when you see something that works well.”

Carlson is not only transparent, he’s quite hilarious, too.

“I just got some extra bicep curls in there during our jail-yard workout over there at the high school gym,” Carlson said at the Raiders’ training camp in Costa Mesa, California, “so, I mean, hey, I play football, too, and, luckily, I’m a pretty big guy — 6-foot-5. …

“But, yeah, we got to work it a little more. It might happen a little more than usual. I mean, nobody really knows what this kickoff, kickoff return is going to look like, so we’re eager to see it in live action and in the preseason games and find out kind of what it is.”

Las Vegas’ first live action of the preseason slate was on Saturday against the Minnesota Vikings. Nothing out of the ordinary occurred in the contest, but there will be a lot of figuring out during that content — the quarterback battle chief amongst the tinkering — but how Carlson and Raiders special teams boss Tom McMahon approach the kickoffs merits attention, too.

The Silver & Black special teams crew have been experimenting on not only kickoffs, but coverage and return game. While the kickoff is awkward at first, as the games progressed, a block here, or picking that hole in the coverage unit versus another, means a potential big play and big return. There are those occasions where the return man makes one defender miss and it could be a house call.

As a kicker, placement appears to be the preferred method over power. Carlson has plenty of leg and it’s his accuracy and directional kicking that’ll likely take center stage on kickoff attempts. No matter what, he and McMahon are always adapting.

“Different teams are going to do different things,” Carlson noted. “And there’s always going to be one or two things that are, you know, someone keeps a secret until probably Game No. 1, so we’re kind of scouting it out, and everybody else across the league is doing the same. But eventually you’re going to have to show whatever secrets you might think you have. But I think at this point all the kickers probably have tried just about everything.”

Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images

One of those everything moments may be Carlson squaring up with a return man if they get past the initial wave of tacklers. At 6-foot-5 and 215 pounds, Carlson is by no means small. But he is more tall than wide and his slender frame may not be imposing to returners as the other members of the Raiders special teams coverage unit. As he enters the seventh year of his career after being a fifth-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft (167th overall) by Minnesota, Carlson has three solo tackles (one assist) to his name.

“It’s something that, unfortunately, I’ve had to do a couple times throughout my career,” he said. “Hopefully, I’m not the one making the play very often. You know, it’s usually not a good sign. But just with the new kickoff rule, there’s definitely a greater possibility I’m going to be in certain plays possibly. And there’s different things we can do scheme-wise to, hopefully, avoid that some. But if I’ve got to make the play, I’ve got to make the play. And, like I said, just continuing to work that and get better at that.”

Not to be outdone with Carlson’s humor, Raiders All-Pro punter AJ Cole (who himself is 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds) had his own hilarious description of the kicker’s tackling acumen.

“He must be in his room late at night,” Cole said. “He’s got some pillows set up on his bed, and he’s, like, jumping on the bed like a little kid and rolling over it. But I’ve seen no tackling drills, so that’s fiction. You guys are out of practice. Have you seen him tackling?”