College Football Thread
- Thread starter hickslawns
- Start date
- 39,137
- 274
There are 4 distinct criteria rules for targeting. None of them take into consideration intent, they only look at the action itself and result. I personally dont like them and think it's a BS rule. But it is what it is and players like wade have been around long enough to know better. He clearly violated 2 out of 4 of the targeting rules as written.
- Launch--a player leaving his feet to attack an opponent by an upward and forward thrust of the body to make forcible contact in the head or neck area. Not Guilty. Wade did not launch himself.
- A crouch followed by an upward and forward thrust to attack with forcible contact at the head or neck area, even though one or both feet are still on the ground. Not Guilty. While he did crouch he did not thrust
- Leading with helmet, shoulder forearm, fist, hand or elbow to attack with forcible contact at the head or neck area. Guilty. He did lead with the helmet and make forcible contact with the head or neck. Yes the QB dropped. But note the rule does not say "intentional contact" or give a stipulation for unintentional. It's black and white and both stipulations we're satisfied for this targeting rule.
- Lowering the head before attacking by initiating forcible contact with the crown of his helmet. Guilty. Even if the QB doesn't duck, and even if Wade hit him in the chest, he is still guilty of this targeting rule. He clearly led with the crown of the and made forcible contact with it.
I can agree to the 4th. He lowered his head, I have to concede that. Do I think this happens on most tackles, yes. Did Wade do it, yes.
The intentional contact in Criteria 3 is something that really bothers me, and it's not just in this scenario with this player. As it is written, the hit arguably went too high. My personal opinion, I thought he hit Lawrence more in the shoulder, but whatever. There needs to be an amendment regarding intentional/unintentional contact. There's no way you can expect a defender, moving at high speed, to somehow adjust to a player dropping/ducking/moving at the last second. That's completely unreasonable if the punishment is ejection. If you want to keep it as-is, change it to 2 violations for ejection.
A 6'6" QB made himself closer to 5'10" by ducking/bracing for the contact. I guess Wade should have just gone for his knees. But how do you tackle that low without lowering your body/head? Damn, footballz is hard.
tracker 6
Junior Member
Where your head goes, the body will follow. Very hard to do this the other way around while running. Not a fan of the rule. Don't like getting hit, take up bowling. Look at hockey players getting destroyed for having their head down. It's part of the game. Furthermore, how the hell are you to avoid going helmet to helmet when the ball carrier lowers his head at the last second.
tracker 6
Junior Member
@Dustinb80 you might also want to read your signature for a refresher...
Edit: shit, you changed it.
Edit: shit, you changed it.
Say he did...what would have been the appropriate reaction to the ball carrier lowering himself?
Keeping his head up allowing the ball carrier to use his head as a spear and hit the tackler in the chest? SMDH.
- 39,137
- 274
I can agree to the 4th. He lowered his head, I have to concede that. Do I think this happens on most tackles, yes. Did Wade do it, yes.
The intentional contact in Criteria 3 is something that really bothers me, and it's not just in this scenario with this player. As it is written, the hit arguably went too high. My personal opinion, I thought he hit Lawrence more in the shoulder, but whatever. There needs to be an amendment regarding intentional/unintentional contact. There's no way you can expect a defender, moving at high speed, to somehow adjust to a player dropping/ducking/moving at the last second. That's completely unreasonable if the punishment is ejection. If you want to keep it as-is, change it to 2 violations for ejection.
A 6'6" QB made himself closer to 5'10" by ducking/bracing for the contact. I guess Wade should have just gone for his knees. But how do you tackle that low without lowering your body/head? Damn, football is hard.
It is hard, and in some instances unfair. It's a bad rule, but not a bad call.
There has been a huge spike in leg injuries due to the targeting rule. I think it completely changes the game also. Shallow slants, QB runs, and high thrown balls just don't have the same repercussions on a receiver that they used to.
