Scoring and offensive production have been down across the NFL in recent years, and Mel Kiper Jr. has a radical idea that he believes would reverse that trend. Most people just think the longtime draft analyst is insane for proposing it.
During an appearance on ESPN’s “Get Up” Thursday morning, Kiper reminisced about previous NFL eras where deep passes were more common. He ranted about how quarterbacks in the modern NFL have become “checkdown kings” and “bubble-screen sensations.” Kiper feels the big reason for that is that defenses are using a lot of two-high safety coverage.
A two-high safety approach, as the name implies, is when the defense has two players deep in the defensive backfield to protect against intermediate and deep throws. That encourages offenses to run the ball more and throw passes near the line of scrimmage. Kiper would like to see the NFL implement a rule that requires safeties to be within a certain distance from the line of scrimmage before the ball is snapped.
“Don’t tell me you can’t have those safeties closer to the line of scrimmage than they are,” Kiper said. “I was at games where I’m thinking, hey, two high (safeties)? They’re out in outer space. I couldn’t even find them. I said they’re playing with nine guys, where are the other two? Oh, the other two? They’re so doggone far back I didn’t even know they were part of the damn play. I’m telling you, we gotta change this thing. … It’s too far back. The NFL is being ruined by these two-high safeties.”
You can hear the full rant:
.@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
Kiper’s proposal did not go over well.
What in gods name is Mel Kiper talking about???
2-high safeties is ruining the NFL?!
Take a hike @MelKiperESPN pic.twitter.com/t7zoIKwzGy
— Will Compton (@_willcompton) September 19, 2024
Mel Kiper just said 2 high safeties should be outlawed. He does know you can still play cover 2 with corners playing deep half, maybe a corner and nickel playing deep half? Stick to the draft Mel!
— Jay Gruden (@Coach_JayGruden) September 19, 2024
A shorter version of what Mel Kiper Jr. is saying:
"ESPN wants the NFL to outlaw playing defense because we and most of our viewers don't think football exists beyond fantasy and gambling." https://t.co/jbbTIq83qD
— Sam Roberts (@RealSamRoberts) September 19, 2024
I’ve long enjoyed Kiper as good as anyone, but he shouldn’t have been “allowed” as THE NFL Draft guy to air this nonsense on ESPN concerning 2-High SAF.
Stop holding Offenses’ hands @ the expense of defenses I love.
Signed, Jessie Bates & Justin Simmons pic.twitter.com/an8dQTz903
— Clint Goss (@NFLDraftDome) September 19, 2024
Most people would tell you the big issue in the NFL right now is poor quarterback play. Of course, Kiper went viral for another rant this week in which he blamed the Carolina Panthers for Bryce Young’s struggles.
We highly doubt the NFL is going to ban the two-high safety look anytime soon, but the league is probably concerned about poor quarterback play and the lack of scoring. It would not be a shock if there was some sort of rule change in an attempt to change that.
