The MMQB website featured a compelling story yesterday authored by former NFL special teams coach Mike Westhoff.  Westhoff, who spent 27 years in the NFL coaching special teams with the Dolphins and Jets, suggests that recent rule changes have eliminated much of the excitement of special teams plays.

Moving kickoffs up and the rules protecting snappers were both cited as reasons why the role of special teams have been minimized of late .  The diminished impact of this key aspect of the game, according to Westhoff, makes it harder for NFL teams to keep special team players on rosters.