Count Richard Sherman among the many who are not fans of the NFL's new stricter helmet targeting rule. The San Francisco 49ers cornerback posted a series of Tweets on Sunday expressing his opinion on the policy.
"It is a foul if a player lowers his head to initiate and make contact with his helmet against an opponent," reads the new rule. The penalty for committing the foul is a loss of 15 yards. If committed by a defensive player, it will result in an automatic first down and the player may be disqualified.
Sherman's first comment on Sunday was in response to a tweet by Brett Tessler, who is the agent representing 49ers running back Raheem Mostert. Mostert was flagged for a tackle he made on a punt return during the 49ers' exhibition game against the Houston Texans on Saturday night. He was the gunner on special teams and lowered his body while approaching Texans returner Tyler Ervin.
To all those ppl including those who made the rule. I want a video of YOU running full speed and being lead by anything but your head while also attempting to bring down a moving target. You will soon realize it's impossible. https://t.co/QFyENU6LKf
— Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25) August 19, 2018
"They said it was bad form, but I thought it was good technique by me," Mostert said after the game via NBC Sports Bay Area. "But I got to go look at the film. I know I tried to keep my head up, but I got to go check out the film. It is tough, but that's why we have film, so we can go watch it and learn from that."
Defensive end Jeremiah Attaochu was also penalized for unnecessary roughness against Texans right tackle Chad Slade.
"I just tried to put my hands on his chest and turn into him, trying to stay underneath him," Attaochu explained. "I didn't understand [the call]."
Sherman continued to express his frustration by stating there is no way to adjust while trying to make a tackle and would prefer to see the new "idiotic" (in his words) rule eliminated entirely.
There is no "make adjustment" to the way you tackle. Even in a perfect form tackle the body is led by the head. The rule is idiotic And should be dismissed immediately. When you watch rugby players tackle they are still lead by their head. Will be flag football soon.
— Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25) August 19, 2018
Sherman then shared the view of a good tackle in rugby and said such a move would be a penalty in the NFL.
This is considered a good Rugby tackle. It would be a for sure penalty in our league. https://t.co/2EqxrKwgCC
— Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25) August 19, 2018
The 49ers have already been penalized three times in two preseason games under the new rule. The veteran cornerback already shared his opinion on the policy in March.
"It's ridiculous," Sherman told Mike Jones of USA Today. "Like telling a driver if you touch the lane lines, you're getting a ticket. (It's) gonna lead to more lower-extremity injuries."
It would seem that NFL referees are trying to figure out the new policy as well. The penalties that have been called for violating the rule during the preseason have lacked consistency. Even head coach Kyle Shanahan is a little fuzzy on what constitutes a penalty.
"We're all still trying to figure it out," Shanahan said on Saturday night. "We'll see how it goes."