NFL on Tackling / Clay Matthews

Wubbie · 2018-09-18T10:04:17-07:00

Ok guys, so I support the NFL trying to make the game safer, but I do not understand their new tackling rules, especially on QBs. Specifically... the penalty they called on Clay Matthews for sacking Kirk Cousins. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I understand it like this.. (1) Defenders are not able to tackle them and do so in a manner that applies their full body weight... and (2) they can't lift a guy up and drive them into the ground--i.e., a bit of a slamming motion. I believe the NFL has said it wasn't because of the full body weight, but that Clay Matthews lifted him up and drove him to the ground... and they've gone out and said this is a textbook example of what they're going to call as a flag. I'm confused. Thoughts?

Sep 18, 2018 at 10:11 AM

16to87
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Posts: 7,697

NFL is now Flag foolsball league

Sep 18, 2018 at 10:14 AM

Cjez
Hall of Fame
Posts: 170,524

it was the right call under the new rules. He clearly went to drop all of his weight on the QB after lifting him.

Sep 18, 2018 at 10:42 AM

Joecool
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Posts: 70,984

Originally posted by ChazBoner:
it was the right call under the new rules. He clearly went to drop all of his weight on the QB after lifting him.

This. Not sure why anyone can't see that. There are some other tackles at the end of plays when a ball carrier hits the ground that are unnecessary as well.

Sep 18, 2018 at 12:23 PM

DonnieDarko
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Posts: 66,387

driving a qb to the ground should be grounds for suspension as well. that'll f**k up your entire season if your qb breaks his collar bone or shoulder.

Sep 19, 2018 at 11:38 PM

ninerjok
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Posts: 19,318

Watching NFL network replay of this game just when it goes to OT. Beside the point they keep making overtime even worse than it used to be, the referee doesn't even explain the OT rules correctly as they're doing the coin toss. He says "each team will have the opportunity to possess the ball at least once minimum" or something like that. Which is incorrect because if the first team with the ball scores a touchdown it's essentially sudden death and game is over. He completely failed to even mention that little detail. Each team only gets an equal opportunity to have the ball if the first team drives down the field and either punts or gets a field goal (or turns the ball over). That's when the OT becomes sudden death if the first team possessing the ball doesn't score a TD. Stupid refs don't know what the hell roughing the passer is and they didn't even know or explain the overtime rules correctly.

[ Edited by ninerjok on Sep 19, 2018 at 11:40 PM ]

Sep 20, 2018 at 12:43 AM

GEEK
Veteran
Posts: 19,414

LOL for thinking this particular rule change is for player safety. It's a viewership play.

We are in an era of QB-centric football. Fans watch it for Brady, Newton, Rodgers, Brees, etc. Games turn into s**t when Rodgers go down for Hundley. Look at the Texans when Watson went down. And now with Mahomes lighting it up with Darnold, Allen, Rosen, and Mayfield as part of the next-gen, they want to preserve the QB talent to attract the most viewers.

The PR angle is player safety, which is no wonder why it's such a s**t show to enforce.

Sep 20, 2018 at 1:34 AM

English
Moderator
Posts: 41,386

Originally posted by ninerjok:
Watching NFL network replay of this game just when it goes to OT. Beside the point they keep making overtime even worse than it used to be, the referee doesn't even explain the OT rules correctly as they're doing the coin toss. He says "each team will have the opportunity to possess the ball at least once minimum" or something like that. Which is incorrect because if the first team with the ball scores a touchdown it's essentially sudden death and game is over. He completely failed to even mention that little detail. Each team only gets an equal opportunity to have the ball if the first team drives down the field and either punts or gets a field goal (or turns the ball over). That's when the OT becomes sudden death if the first team possessing the ball doesn't score a TD. Stupid refs don't know what the hell roughing the passer is and they didn't even know or explain the overtime rules correctly.

Whilst I don't disagree with you about the refs explaining the rules, these are full time professional footballers. Surely they ought to know the rules? I mean, that is their livelihood.

But if a ref really doesn't know the rules - as opposed to just not explaining them well or missing out a bit under pressure, why does he still have a job? And, in passing, why do so few of the commentators seem to know and understand the rules? It is perfectly ok for a guy on an Internet forum to not know them, but surely someone whose whole job revolves around them ought to make an effort?

Ok rant over.

Sep 20, 2018 at 7:24 AM