Not sure why this isn't showing me as the author...but it is me :)

I think most owners are aware of my position on this and my reasoning. I won't vote against it, I'm abstaining.

I need clarification, are we talking about the 4 down linemen, or are we including the 2 OLB positions as well?

I want to be clear on the rule proposal.

If the majority want this or something like it, we should consider:

RBs ... or WRs who have a high run block stat, are often not only the best bullet blockers, but also the best line blockers available on punt returns. OLs just don't have the speed to get back in front of tacklers after the initial rush. FB/TEs can sometimes make it, there just aren't enough of them on most teams for this job.

As far as percentages go, I've seen successful blocks come from RDE, LDE, RW (WLB), LW (SLB), RDT, LDT positions (in that order). That can change when you play someone like Pern or Smirt, but against most PB owners it follows that progression.

works for me

I will make an inquiry of the proposer and allow him to clarify the intent and post here when I hear back.

The rule would be no DBs or WRs at the DE position on punt return, LBs are OK. The punt block "exploit" is usually done by a CB with 80+ speed at any of the DL positions.

Yes please

I'm not sure how I feel about this. I've had very few punts blocked and I have never seen a FG block on this simulation.

The first few times my punt got blocked, I tried to fight this by making sure my backup linemen had high intelligence, strength, and I'm thinking pass blocking skills would matter more than run blocking on punts. Anybody know if that is true or not? Anyway sometimes I even put a starting lineman or two on punt protection team. My thinking is that if the int, str, and blocking skills are high enough, then even those speedy guys have a hard time getting through. This is the same reason why a speedy WR with low B&R and Route running skills find it difficult to get past a CB with decent counter skills to that.

Furthermore.....you can find DEs, LBs, and sometimes even DL with higher speed and acceleration in the 80+ areas that can make it to the punter.

To stop dedicated low-weight high-speed punt blockers at the outside (end and wing) positions, you need high speed (real speed not rated speed, so weight does matter), acceleration, and pass blocking. Int and Str are almost non-factors. That's not to say that I haven't seen teams with regular linemen completely tie up punt blockers, if those linemen have the right characteristics. On the inside, acceleration is more critical than speed. I have seen a WLB with 94 accel, 79 speed, and 100 pass rush block several punts from the RT position.

On the return side, it pays to have fast run blockers. My team has been built for seasons around downfield blocking (giving away all my secrets lately). I have more receivers that can perform this function than there are bullet blocker positions.

If the league decides collectively to avoid punt blocking, then I'm not going to try finding loopholes, I'm going to work on punt returns. That means I want WRs available to run block as well as any other options. The current rule would only ban them from the end positions (where 80+% of PBs come from), ... I still abstain from voting but I can work with that.