Post by icouldblion on Mar 25, 2024 12:30:00 GMT -6
The NFL has officially banned "hip-drop" tackles. The wording of the rule is pretty specific, but be prepared for a bunch of flags based on individual interpretation of the rule that don't follow this specific language:
It is a foul if a player uses the following technique to bring a runner to the ground:
Grabs the runner with both hands or wraps the runner with both arms; and unweights himself by swiveling and dropping his hips and/or lower body, landing on and trapping the runner's leg at or below the knee.
The penalty will be considered unnecessary roughness, which will be 15 yards and an automatic first down.
I suspect any tackle where the tackler falls on the back of the runners legs will get flagged, whether "both hands...wrap the runner" or not. Also see flags coming when the defender doesn't land on the runners leg at or below the knee. We're getting to the point that once a runner is even with the defender, the defender just has to let him pass.
A couple other rules that make perfect sense, but were rejected, because they would either make the refs look bad for not doing their job in the first place, or they would impact QB's:
6. By Competition Committee; amends Rule 15, Section 3, Article 3, to include a ruling of a passer down by contact or out of bounds before throwing a pass as a reviewable play (not approved).
7. By Competition Committee; amends Rule 15, Section 3, Article 9, to allow a replay review when there is clear and obvious visual evidence that the game clock expired before any snap (not approved).
Gonna get to the point where punters are obsolete, because every tackle is going to result in a 15-yard penalty and automatic first down.
It is a foul if a player uses the following technique to bring a runner to the ground:
Grabs the runner with both hands or wraps the runner with both arms; and unweights himself by swiveling and dropping his hips and/or lower body, landing on and trapping the runner's leg at or below the knee.
The penalty will be considered unnecessary roughness, which will be 15 yards and an automatic first down.
I suspect any tackle where the tackler falls on the back of the runners legs will get flagged, whether "both hands...wrap the runner" or not. Also see flags coming when the defender doesn't land on the runners leg at or below the knee. We're getting to the point that once a runner is even with the defender, the defender just has to let him pass.
A couple other rules that make perfect sense, but were rejected, because they would either make the refs look bad for not doing their job in the first place, or they would impact QB's:
6. By Competition Committee; amends Rule 15, Section 3, Article 3, to include a ruling of a passer down by contact or out of bounds before throwing a pass as a reviewable play (not approved).
7. By Competition Committee; amends Rule 15, Section 3, Article 9, to allow a replay review when there is clear and obvious visual evidence that the game clock expired before any snap (not approved).
Gonna get to the point where punters are obsolete, because every tackle is going to result in a 15-yard penalty and automatic first down.
