Post by Juggs on Aug 22, 2013 16:04:11 GMT -5
There seems to be a lot of confusion on what's legal and what's not. At first, I really didn't like the changes that were being implemented, but actually reading them they make much more sense. The results on the field sometimes seem much worse than the intent of the rules.
As the subject line says, head to head hits are legal in every possible situation except three.
- When ANY PLAYER (not just a receiver or a "defenseless person") is attempting to catch the football, a defender can't use the crown or eyebrow region of the helmet to hit ANY body part (not just the head) before making contact with ANY other part of the body.
This means that if Heath Miller is streaking across the field, Ed Reed CAN use his head like a battering ram and knock him into next week as long as he makes the effort to reach out with his hands, wrap him up, or use his shoulder first.
Ed Reed CAN'T dive out head first and use the crown of his helmet to bash right into Miller's left knee.
- When any ball carrier (not just runningbacks) use the crown or eyebrow region of the helmet to make first contact with a defender inside the tackle box. First contact being the operative word. After you touch the guy, anything goes.
This means Trent Richardson can't duck his head down to draw a spearing penalty, while increasing the likelyhood of concussions on both sides.
This means Trent Richardson can throw a quick stiff arm, then flick his helmet to bash a defender out of the way.
- Any manner of sacking or contacting a passer intentionally on his helmet.
This means Jason Pierre Paul CAN'T touch Tom Brady's head with his arms.
He can run into the QB and accidentally knee him in the face,
These changes are the only ones that have been added, and they cover a tiny percentages of situations in the NFL. The only one I disagree with is the final one. I wish it was enforced much less frequently and targeted the Night Train Lane QB facemask technique stuff.
As the subject line says, head to head hits are legal in every possible situation except three.
- When ANY PLAYER (not just a receiver or a "defenseless person") is attempting to catch the football, a defender can't use the crown or eyebrow region of the helmet to hit ANY body part (not just the head) before making contact with ANY other part of the body.
This means that if Heath Miller is streaking across the field, Ed Reed CAN use his head like a battering ram and knock him into next week as long as he makes the effort to reach out with his hands, wrap him up, or use his shoulder first.
Ed Reed CAN'T dive out head first and use the crown of his helmet to bash right into Miller's left knee.
- When any ball carrier (not just runningbacks) use the crown or eyebrow region of the helmet to make first contact with a defender inside the tackle box. First contact being the operative word. After you touch the guy, anything goes.
This means Trent Richardson can't duck his head down to draw a spearing penalty, while increasing the likelyhood of concussions on both sides.
This means Trent Richardson can throw a quick stiff arm, then flick his helmet to bash a defender out of the way.
- Any manner of sacking or contacting a passer intentionally on his helmet.
This means Jason Pierre Paul CAN'T touch Tom Brady's head with his arms.
He can run into the QB and accidentally knee him in the face,
These changes are the only ones that have been added, and they cover a tiny percentages of situations in the NFL. The only one I disagree with is the final one. I wish it was enforced much less frequently and targeted the Night Train Lane QB facemask technique stuff.