1. Falcons coach Mike Smith will not need to clutch his red challenge flag as often because all replay reviews of scoring plays during the entire game can now be initiated by the replay-booth official. Coaches will no longer have to use one of their challenges if a scoring play occurs outside the two-minute warning.
2. The coaches have had to make sure the players lower their target areas on hits. Last season, cornerback Dunta Robinson was fined $25,000 for a hit on Philadelphia’s DeSean Jackson.
3. The coaches instructed their players to make “football” tackles as opposed to launching themselves like a fake pro wrestler. Launching is now illegal. Form tackling is not.
4. The coaches have had to review the definition of a defenseless player. It’s too complicated to explain. Basically, players have to play until they hear a whistle.
5. With the new kickoff rule, coaches must decide when their returner will have the green light to return kicks deep into the end zone. Falcons returner Eric Weems had a 5-yard deep limit in the exhibition season.
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