MINNEAPOLIS — Daniel Carlson was in midseason form as a kicker in the Raiders’ preseason opener against the Vikings on Saturday, nailing all three of his attempts, including a 56-yarder late in the first half. Kickoffs? Let’s just say it’s a work in progress. “Kind of feel like a rookie out there on the kickoffs,” he joked after the Raiders’ 24-23 loss .
All thanks to the NFL’s peculiar new kickoff rules, which have left fans scratching their heads and coaches and kickers experimenting to devise an effective plan. That led to an adventurous first live foray for Carlson into the new world kickers are dealing with. That includes managing the 20-yard landing zone — the spot kickers must drop the ball in to avoid costly penalties.
Kick it too far, as Carlson did when his opening boot rolled out of the end zone for a touchback, and you set opponents up at their 30. Kick it too short, as he did later in the game by dropping it one yard outside the landing zone, and reward opponents with a spot at their 40. Carlson said Saturday was all in the spirit of experimentation, a luxury he can lean on during the largely meaningless preseason so he can be as buttoned up as possible come the regular season.
“Now’s the kind of time where I do want to experiment with it,” Carlson said. “Do I want to do that for the team? No. But I’d rather do it now and hopefully learn some things.
And the team is learning some things, and that’s what we’re trying to do.” Satur.