Dallas Special Teams coordinator has a ‘concern’ for one player heading into the 2024 season

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America’s Team has been hard at work in training with their rookie minicamp and now we are gearing up for the next batch of scheduled OTA’s this month but John Fassel has expressed a concern for one player.

The Dallas Cowboys found out earlier this week that they are scheduled to face the Cleveland Browns on the road to start 2024.

They must travel to one of the ‘toughest places to be’ for any team in a sold-out ‘Dawg Pound’.

Fans can already taste the regular season and in exactly 113 days the first game of the regular season will be underway with the Kansas City Chiefs.

John Fassel will have to adapt to the new kick-off rules for the 2024 season

One of the new modifications that the NFL has added for the upcoming season is a kick-off rule change.

The NFL has proposed that there will be no fair catches on the one-year trial basis to encourage receiving teams to make a return downfield.

Additionally, the kicking team is encouraged not to kick the ball into the end zone because the receiving team will line up at their 30-yard line.

The vote passed 29-3 in favor with only the Las Vegas Raiders, Green Bay Packers, and San Francisco 49ers voting against.

Therefore, John Fassel will be working hard to exploit this new rule and maximize their encouraged returns for the 2024 season.

Fassel has expressed a concern about Turpin being stopped from exploiting the returns

One player who has given the Dallas Cowboys special teams coordinator a cause for concern is their return man KaVontae Turpin.

The Dallas Cowboys special teams specialist poses a massive threat when receiving the ball, which was highlighted when he scored two touchdowns in one game against the Los Angeles Chargers. Turpin scored off a 98-yard kick-off return and an 86-yard punt return in the opening two quarters.

However, Fassel is anxious that his ability could mean the opposition is happy to sacrifice a 30-yard touchback to prohibit Turpin from a return.

“My concern is Week 1, 2, 3, if we hit a big one, then (opponents) just give him touchbacks and say we’ll give him the ball at the 30 and not have to cover him. That’s still a concern, Fassel explained via Jon Machota.

The Dallas Special Teams coordinator wanted the touchback to be 35-yards

Furthermore, the 50-year-old stated he opted for a 35-yard return instead: “I was hopeful that we were gonna make the touchback the 35, which was under discussion. But a lot more (coaches) were in favor of the 30. Because if it was the 35, I don’t think anybody is giving a touchback on purpose.”

Despite the touchback being increased from 25 yards to 30 yards, teams will still be content with stopping the opponent from a return.

Turpin has proved his ability after producing a career-high 29.2 yards kick-off return average in 2023.