NFL Must Place Emphasis on Tackling versus Hits

[kozlodoev]

I like "wrap up" tackling rules. Look back at football from back in the day, and it was basically rugby with more play stops and eventually a forward pass; rugby they have to wrap.

There is no "pure" form of football, it was invented and has continually changed.

And if you tweaked the defense to just not allow launch tackles and only wrap tackles, you could make other offensive rule tweaks to balance it out.

I have no problem with launch tackles per se, I have a problem with easy-mode launch tackles that target vulnerable parts and can cause a devastating injury (head, knees, feet).

I see no reason there couldn't be a mixed system where you can launch at the torso/waist/upper legs, but can't hit at the knees or lower, and need to wrap/pull/trip with your hands.

Ideally, I would totally agree.  Realistically, it'd be tough as heck to implement.  A lot of tackling is so bang-bang. Split second, reactionary stuff.

I could just see the amount of penalites called increase exponentially.  That would turn off a lot of people and will making playing defense that much more difficult.

And yet, despite the bang-bang factor players seem to have stopped aiming to the head just fine.

And yes, I think playing defense should be difficult. I somehow can't get warmed up to the idea that it's ok to blow someone's knee out and sideline him for the season because it makes playing defense "easier".

[Moranis]

I like "wrap up" tackling rules. Look back at football from back in the day, and it was basically rugby with more play stops and eventually a forward pass; rugby they have to wrap.

There is no "pure" form of football, it was invented and has continually changed.

And if you tweaked the defense to just not allow launch tackles and only wrap tackles, you could make other offensive rule tweaks to balance it out.

I have no problem with launch tackles per se, I have a problem with easy-mode launch tackles that target vulnerable parts and can cause a devastating injury (head, knees, feet).

I see no reason there couldn't be a mixed system where you can launch at the torso/waist/upper legs, but can't hit at the knees or lower, and need to wrap/pull/trip with your hands.

Ideally, I would totally agree.  Realistically, it'd be tough as heck to implement.  A lot of tackling is so bang-bang. Split second, reactionary stuff.

I could just see the amount of penalites called increase exponentially.  That would turn off a lot of people and will making playing defense that much more difficult.

And yet, despite the bang-bang factor players seem to have stopped aiming to the head just fine.

And yes, I think playing defense should be difficult. I somehow can't get warmed up to the idea that it's ok to blow someone's knee out and sideline him for the season because it makes playing defense "easier".

Very few players aimed for the head.  That was just silly nonsense.  And yeah, there are less helmet to helmet hits because instead of aiming for the chest, players now aim lower to make sure they don't accidentally hit the head (which was the vast majority of helmet to helmet hits).  DB's also as a result of the concussion standards now a days, don't lead with their own head as much when they tackle (so as to avoid coming out of the game).  But this targeting of the head really wasn't a problem, the bigger one that was curbed was targeting a defenseless player, now that was a real issue which has been greatly reduced as a result of flags for it.

[Donoghus]

I like "wrap up" tackling rules. Look back at football from back in the day, and it was basically rugby with more play stops and eventually a forward pass; rugby they have to wrap.

There is no "pure" form of football, it was invented and has continually changed.

And if you tweaked the defense to just not allow launch tackles and only wrap tackles, you could make other offensive rule tweaks to balance it out.

I have no problem with launch tackles per se, I have a problem with easy-mode launch tackles that target vulnerable parts and can cause a devastating injury (head, knees, feet).

I see no reason there couldn't be a mixed system where you can launch at the torso/waist/upper legs, but can't hit at the knees or lower, and need to wrap/pull/trip with your hands.

Ideally, I would totally agree.  Realistically, it'd be tough as heck to implement.  A lot of tackling is so bang-bang. Split second, reactionary stuff.

I could just see the amount of penalites called increase exponentially.  That would turn off a lot of people and will making playing defense that much more difficult.

And yet, despite the bang-bang factor players seem to have stopped aiming to the head just fine.

And yes, I think playing defense should be difficult. I somehow can't get warmed up to the idea that it's ok to blow someone's knee out and sideline him for the season because it makes playing defense "easier".

They're still calling a fair amount of hits above the head and RBs are still getting belted on helmet to helmet. It hasn't been totally eliminated. I'd say the vast majority of those are bang/bang. 

You add another no target zone and make it from shoulder to thigh, it's just gonna get more difficult and make the sport more lopsided.  At some point, the game will reach a breaking point.   I also don't think the majority of these DBs are aiming to blow out someone's knees.  Its just an unfortunate by product of things.  The guys who choose to play the sport know the inherent risks. 

Playing defense has already become much more difficult compared to where things were 20 years ago.  Some reasons are good; the concussion thing.  Some reasons not so good; the Bill Polian stuff from the mid-2000s.  The sport has turned much more into video game type offense.

[kozlodoev]

I like "wrap up" tackling rules. Look back at football from back in the day, and it was basically rugby with more play stops and eventually a forward pass; rugby they have to wrap.

There is no "pure" form of football, it was invented and has continually changed.

And if you tweaked the defense to just not allow launch tackles and only wrap tackles, you could make other offensive rule tweaks to balance it out.

I have no problem with launch tackles per se, I have a problem with easy-mode launch tackles that target vulnerable parts and can cause a devastating injury (head, knees, feet).

I see no reason there couldn't be a mixed system where you can launch at the torso/waist/upper legs, but can't hit at the knees or lower, and need to wrap/pull/trip with your hands.

Ideally, I would totally agree.  Realistically, it'd be tough as heck to implement.  A lot of tackling is so bang-bang. Split second, reactionary stuff.

I could just see the amount of penalites called increase exponentially.  That would turn off a lot of people and will making playing defense that much more difficult.

And yet, despite the bang-bang factor players seem to have stopped aiming to the head just fine.

And yes, I think playing defense should be difficult. I somehow can't get warmed up to the idea that it's ok to blow someone's knee out and sideline him for the season because it makes playing defense "easier".

They're still calling a fair amount of hits above the head and RBs are still getting belted on helmet to helmet. It hasn't been totally eliminated. I'd say the vast majority of those are bang/bang. 

You add another no target zone and make it from shoulder to thigh, it's just gonna get more difficult and make the sport more lopsided.  At some point, the game will reach a breaking point.   I also don't think the majority of these DBs are aiming to blow out someone's knees.  Its just an unfortunate by product of things.  The guys who choose to play the sport know the inherent risks. 

Playing defense has already become much more difficult compared to where things were 20 years ago.  Some reasons are good; the concussion thing.  Some reasons not so good; the Bill Polian stuff from the mid-2000s.  The sport has turned much more into video game type offense.

I may be somewhat new to football (they didn't have it where I grew up), but I can't in good faith accept that a rule that's designed to not let defenders play defense by trying to snap the offensive player's neck or legs makes the sport "lopsided".

A runner, especially in the open field, is a sitting duck. There's no way to run without putting all your weight on each leg consecutively, and if your support leg is targeted by a flying 250 lbs gorilla at such a moment, there is a good reason it will snap like a twig.

This ultimately isn't even a player safety issue (although it really is) -- the NFL has to realize that having its best players sit out entire seasons with knee injuries is not good for the game.

[angryguy77]

Might as well change the name on the back of every jersey to "Nancy" and make the players wear flags.

The NFL is killing itself. I still watch, but it's definitely not as fun to watch as it used to be.

[LooseCannon]

I say screw it and just aim for the knees.

[kozlodoev]

Might as well change the name on the back of every jersey to "Nancy" and make the players wear flags.

That's right, tell them ligaments to toughen up!

[angryguy77]

Might as well change the name on the back of every jersey to "Nancy" and make the players wear flags.

That's right, tell them ligaments to toughen up!

It's a violent sport played by giants where the action happens way quicker than I think some here realize. It's as if some think defenders always have the time to stop and think where they are going to hit the other player. Now we're supposed to allow only 1/3 of the body to be touched while tackling? Ok, tell me how that works out when a smaller CB is meeting a guy like Gronk or Ladarius Green head on in the open field. It plausible these smaller defenders will start getting injured more, or offenses become even more productive than they already are.

Defenses are basically hamstrung as it is, and now you're advocating making it worse.

Injuries are going to happen as long as there is contact. Look at the unintended consequences that have resulted from the recent rule changes. Guys are getting taken out left and right, I don't recall every seeing so many injury TO's before this year. You restrict the area that can be hit even more and I'm sure there will be another hole pop open in the dam.

I'm tired of seeing offenses get another set of downs because their QB received a love tap on the head. I'm equally tired of seeing legs bent backwards because the league overreacted big time. At some point the league needs to just realize this is going to happen and maybe provide more incentive for better tackling techniques.

These guys choose to play the game, they know the risks. Of course there is a place for rules to protect player safety and long-term health, but what's being advocated is going too far.

Like Donohus said, let technology solve this problem.

[LooseCannon]

At some point the league needs to just realize this is going to happen and maybe provide more incentive for better tackling techniques.

Penalizing players more for hits that are too high or too low creates an incentive for better tackling technique if it makes it harder for defensive players with poor form to legally tackle someone.

[kozlodoev]

It's a violent sport played by giants where the action happens way quicker than I think some here realize. It's as if some think defenders always have the time to stop and think where they are going to hit the other player. Now we're supposed to allow only 1/3 of the body to be touched while tackling?

The area of the human body excluding the head and the leg below the knee is closer to 2/3 of the body.

Also, are you telling me that in a game played by GIANTS that's an insufficiently large target?  Bah.