We're going to see new kickoff rules in 2024, and the early returns are encouraging. Players like New Orleans Saints safety J.T. Gray, a two-time All-Pro, approve of it. So what's the big deal? Saints special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi joined a conference call with NFL football operations executive vice president Troy Vincent Sr. to discuss the rules changes he and other special teams coaches developed, which the league is branding as a new "dynamic kickoff."

There are a couple of big changes. The kicking team's 10-man coverage unit will line up on the receiving team's 40-yard line --  which, Rizzi pointed out, is just like they've done it in practice for years. Seven players for the return team must line up on their 35, two more on their 30, and two returners must wait back deep behind the 20 and the goal line, which Rizzi called "the landing zone." No one can move until the ball touched by a returner or the ground.

"The only really new rule for the fans that they've got to get used to is the different touchback rules," Rizzi explained. "The touchback rule, previously, the ball would come out to the 25. Now, if the ball goes in the end zone and the returner downs it or it gets kicked through the end zone, the ball's gonna come out to the 30 yard line. If the ball hits in the landing zone and it rolls through the end zone or into the end zone, it comes out to the 20. And the reason for that is to promote and create more returns."

If the annual Hall of Fame preseason game is any indication, the approach works. Last season just 587 of the NFL's 2,698 kickoffs were returned (a historically low rate of 21.8%). While it was cut short due to bad weather, the Hall of Fame game saw eight kickoffs, and seven of them were returned. Each team was fouled once for illegal formation penalties but the preseason is the time to iron out those wrinkles.

Will the rules change result in more big returns? Maybe. It'll at least result in fewer touchbacks and give fans something to watch between commercial breaks. Once the ball is in someone's hands, it's anyone's guess as to what happens next.

This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Watch: Saints special teams coach Darren Rizzi breaks down new 'dynamic kickoff'