National Football League

Bucs' Spurlock getting used to kickoff changes

Published Aug. 15, 2011 11:56 p.m. ET

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Tampa Bay wide receiver Micheal Spurlock is entering his fifth season in the NFL, and he's learning on the fly this year, along with the rest of the league's top kick returners.

The NFL made a couple of important changes this offseason for kickoffs, moving them up 5 yards to the 35-yard line and requiring players on the kickoff team to line up between the 30 and 35, precluding a full-speed start.

The significance of the changes became clear on the opening kickoff of the Buccaneers' preseason opener Friday night when Kansas City's Quentin Lawrence was nailed at the 8-yard line. The Chiefs had bad field position all night in a 25-0 loss.

''What messes it up is when you catch it 4 or 5 yards deep and you hold for a sec, and then you try to take off,'' said Spurlock, whose 25.7-yard average ranked seventh in the NFL last season. ''Do you want to take it out at the 20, or do you want to get tackled on the 11-yard line?''

The new setup for kickoffs probably will lead to more of those decisions for returners, who have to balance the risk against the possible reward.

''It's being shown this preseason how guys are going to have to take chances and see where that happy medium is. You saw some guys taking it out 6 yards, 7 yards; is it really worth it?'' Spurlock said Monday. ''But during the year you have wind conditions, you have injuries, you have tired legs. There's a lot of unknown variables in there.''

The Bucs had only one of their kickoffs go for a touchback last season. In the preseason opener, five of their kickoffs were not returned. Still, coach Raheem Morris doesn't see any particular advantage or disadvantage to the changes.

''For me, it's all grey matter,'' he said. ''If our return team gets a chance to catch it and run with it, we will, and we'll still be dynamic.''

Spurlock, who became the first Buccaneer to run a kickoff back for a touchdown in 2007, understands there may be more times when he has to take a knee.

''You want to touch that ball and you're going to get antsy, so it's hard to watch (touchbacks), but hopefully during the season it'll be a lot better,'' he said. ''That can be a game-changer for you. You can score a touchdown, but on the kickoff return, that's also where a lot of turnovers happen.''

In fact, Spurlock said, some kicking teams might prefer to take their chances on a return.

''Look at the Indianapolis Colts,'' he said. ''You'd rather put the ball in the kick returner's hands than put it in Peyton Manning's hands.''

NOTES: The Bucs signed corrnerback Ashton Youboty to a two-year contract. Youboty, who played five years with the Buffalo Bills, joins Ronde Barber, Aqib Talib, Myron Lewis, E.J. Biggers, Elbert Mack and seventh-round pick Anthony Gaitor in the cornerback competition. Talib and Lewis sat out the preseason opener with injuries. ... Rookie tight end Jose Cruz was released to create a roster spot for Youboty. ... Morris said defensive tackle Brian Price is probably a month away from having both of his hamstrings fully healed.