ESPN Analyst Wants to Ban a Coverage From the NFL So Offenses Can Score More Points

ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. made an appearance on ESPN’s “Get UP” morning show with an idea about how to ignite NFL offenses that are struggling to produce like they have in years past.

Kiper thinks there is a type of coverage taking over the NFL that is making the product harder to watch due to the lack of big explosive plays and points. Through two games, NFL offenses are not scoring in line with recent trends, but there is a lot of football left in the 2024 season.

ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. wants to ban two-high safeties

Kiper thinks the two-high safety look that many NFL teams have adopted this season is not good for the NFL and “should be outlawed.” Two-high safety looks involve giving one safety one deep half of the field and giving the other deep half to the other safety.

This look makes sure any deep routes on either side of the field have help over the top in case the defender covering the receiver up close is a step behind. One-high looks can give the defense an extra player in the box to stop the run but can leave the defense vulnerable to long bombs if there are multiple deep routes run.

Kiper suggests a rule in the U.S. Sun “that brings those safeties up closer to the line of scrimmage.”

“We gotta change this thing,” Kiper said.

.@MelKiperESPN believes two-high safeties “should be outlawed” 👀

“The NFL is being ruined by these two-high safeties.” pic.twitter.com/d65PFJysIq

— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) September 19, 2024

Having two safeties over the top prevents NFL offenses from taking deep shots and forces them to take less flashy checkdowns and short passes that get the ball out of their hands quickly. Kiper is not wrong when he says explosive, deep passes are not as common.

Through two weeks of the 2024 NFL season, only 69 passing touchdowns have been thrown. That is the lowest amount of passing touchdowns in two weeks since 2006.

The percentage of plays in which two-high safety is employed on the defense is the highest it has ever been as 46% of plays through two weeks have had two-high safety looks. Other stats that show a lack of explosive plays are an average depth of target (7.1 yards) which is the lowest in NFL history, 545 blitzes which is also the lowest number in NFL history and 41% designed run plays which is the most since 2008.

ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. took a lot of heat for his suggestion

While defenses making a concerted effort to keep everything in front of them and go after the quarterback less has a huge impact on the number of explosive plays, poor offensive line play can contribute to this as well.

Bad offensive lines mean opposing defenses don’t have to blitz as much to bring pressure because they know they can keep everyone back and still make the QB uncomfortable. It also means the quarterback is forced to get the ball out of his hands quickly instead of allowing long plays to develop.

Kiper, who is most known for his coverage of the NFL draft and not his analysis of in-season play, took a lot of heat for suggesting a new rule. Offenses get the benefit of the doubt when it comes to NFL rules as touchy 15-yard penalties protect them from a lot of what defenses can do.

Defensive-oriented fans and analysts took to social media to express their discontent with Kiper’s suggestion, saying the offense has to learn how to counter the two-high look with creative playcalling or an establishment of the run game.

Just what the league needs, another rule hampering the defense. How’s about the offense schemes better?

— NoFsJeff (@NoFsJeff) September 19, 2024

This is a bit, right?

— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) September 19, 2024

Maybe teams should have a run game

— Anthony Russo (@Anthony_Russo97) September 19, 2024

😂😂 man please take guys like this off tv man, they are the ones ruining the game we all love fr!!! Mel a joke

— Keem Brooks (@GodSpeed_06) September 19, 2024

Disagree.

Football is a chess match.

If the offense hates seeing two high safeties, make the defense regret putting them back there.

Run the ball.

Hit your receivers in the open space given

The only thing “ruining the NFL” is excessive penalties.

— Matt Williams (@MattWi77iams) September 19, 2024

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