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Opinion: How would we adjust the targetting rules?

Posted on 11/15/21 at 10:34 am
Posted by TemperdTiger
Montgomery, AL
Member since Oct 2013
1859 posts
Posted on 11/15/21 at 10:34 am
Here is my take on what needs to be done.

If the ball carrier or "target" has lowered their own upper body/head, within a second of contact, then this should not be called a target as the defenders trajectory cannot account for what the ball carrier would do to defend mid-air.

Defenseless should stay especially for crossing-route-type catches as this is what I believe this rule was mainly created to protect against. This should still only be when it's helmet to helmet, but not helmet to shoulder this is too muddy of an area and allows for bad interpretations. Also the above paragraph applies if the receiver has lowered their own upper body/head.

Plays where the ball carrier is below waist height at the point of target should be ruled fair game for defenders. Once a ball carrier dives or goes low like this they take their own health into their hands, this should not call for targeting at this point.

When tackling a quarterback leading with the crown is still considered targeting, but shoulder or bear-hug type tackles are fair game.

Targeting only gets ejection on the second targeting flag on that individual during the same game. I am not sure about extending the ejection to the next half of the next game. 15 yards if confirmed still, but maybe have ample review at all angles with mal intent taken into account--if the defender is just making a good play with no injuries made then this should not eliminate the defender.
Posted by CorchJay
Member since Nov 2018
16531 posts
Posted on 11/15/21 at 10:39 am to
Sounds reasonable to me but eliminate any ejection. An after the play personal foul doesn't even get an ejection.
Posted by CorchJay
Member since Nov 2018
16531 posts
Posted on 11/15/21 at 10:42 am to
Also I would add any offense that does cause an ejection should have a review board on Sunday and should provide a proper look at what caused the actions leading up to the ejection. Like we have seen multiple times over the years with many teams and player the "second guy to swing or push" gets the flag.
Posted by PubeCrab
Member since May 2014
830 posts
Posted on 11/15/21 at 10:43 am to
Add some common sense to the equation?
Posted by CorchJay
Member since Nov 2018
16531 posts
Posted on 11/15/21 at 10:48 am to
quote:

Add some common sense to the equation?


God no. Leave nothing for gray area. It is either a foul or it isn't. Like a false start
Posted by allin2010
Auburn
Member since Aug 2011
18150 posts
Posted on 11/15/21 at 11:11 am to
Eliminate the rule or simplify. Launching and leading with the crown of the helmet. Done.
Posted by IAmNERD
Member since May 2017
19179 posts
Posted on 11/15/21 at 11:12 am to
Just throw the rule out entirely.

These guys are aware that in the course of a football game, there may be some contact to their head or neck area. Everyone I well aware of the risks. If there is a defender out there intentionally trying to injure opponents, then give him a 15 yd personal foul. If he is flagged again in the same game, then he's ejected. That rule is already in place, I believe. (Maybe that's NFL, but y'all get the idea)
Posted by Ccslimm
DC
Member since Nov 2016
569 posts
Posted on 11/15/21 at 11:28 am to
Targeting aint going away, I would adjust the penalty to only a Quarter
Posted by Rig
BHM
Member since Aug 2011
41856 posts
Posted on 11/15/21 at 11:32 am to
If you take away hard plastic helmets altogether the issue is solved.
Posted by TemperdTiger
Montgomery, AL
Member since Oct 2013
1859 posts
Posted on 11/15/21 at 11:53 am to
It has some hard evidence of reducing head injuries, which was the goal of it. So it needs to stay in some form, but eliminating players for that long immediately with the amount of ambiguity surrounding the calls needs to be updated which it is in review of this year. The head of officiating has already claimed the PSU call was a miscall on ESPN Game day, will that be the case for this one last saturday, I believe so too.
Posted by CorchJay
Member since Nov 2018
16531 posts
Posted on 11/15/21 at 12:02 pm to
I wish there was a database of targeting calls, on the field , and called for review from the both, which calls are upheld and which are overturned.

For the life of me it seems we've been flagged like 20 times of this over the years and more then half stand.

Bama on the other hand seems to have been flagged about 50 times and like 10 may stand.

Maybe it's my bias.
Posted by RockyMtnTigerWDE
War Damn Eagle Dad!
Member since Oct 2010
105376 posts
Posted on 11/15/21 at 12:03 pm to
I just think ejections are dumb, but yes they need to make some changes to include intent.

I think of McClain's targeting call earlier this year and that was as dumb as they come.
Posted by jvilletiger25
jacksonville, fl
Member since Jan 2014
16989 posts
Posted on 11/15/21 at 12:26 pm to
Targeting should be like running into the kicker or roughing the kicker. And nobody should be ejected for it.
Posted by i am dan
NC
Member since Aug 2011
24692 posts
Posted on 11/15/21 at 12:57 pm to
quote:

Sounds reasonable to me but eliminate any ejection. An after the play personal foul doesn't even get an ejection.


At least give the players 2 strikes.
Posted by Tigerman97
Member since Jun 2014
10354 posts
Posted on 11/15/21 at 1:03 pm to
There has to be some adjustment to when the offensive player causes the head to head by dropping, moving, etc...

Ejections shouldn't be part of the foul.
Posted by Nerd
Member since Dec 2019
876 posts
Posted on 11/15/21 at 2:08 pm to
It’s already subjective as hell. A quarter of the targeting calls don’t make any sense.

The McClain and TD targeting calls have been the worst I’ve ever seen. Neither should have been called. We know what targeting is. Refs need to figure it out.
Posted by StringedInstruments
Member since Oct 2013
18327 posts
Posted on 11/15/21 at 2:21 pm to
Targeting is like pornography. You know it when you see it.

That’s how the refs should assess 15 yard penalties and ejections. No one with a fricking brain thought TD’s hit was targeting. Not one person. I don’t care what the letter of the law says. It shouldn’t have been a penalty.
Posted by Fear The Thumb
Coastal, AL
Member since Nov 2012
3368 posts
Posted on 11/15/21 at 3:06 pm to
Either play football line MEN or switch to flag football. Everybody needs to quit nerfing up the world for this younger generation, it’s football, it’s violent and that’s the way it should be. You don’t have to play if you’re scared and if you do play you already know the risk involved. I’m glad my playing days where before all of these pansy safety rules.
Posted by AUWDE
Member since Oct 2013
3187 posts
Posted on 11/15/21 at 3:35 pm to
Eliminate the ejections. The penalty still sucks but in the case of what happened at Penn State and this one, its completely unfair to take 1/2 a game away from a player then say “oops we were wrong”. Case in point: LINK
Posted by Blueline379
Birmingham
Member since Nov 2016
931 posts
Posted on 11/15/21 at 4:36 pm to
Or as a penality make the player sit for a complete 4 down offensive possession.
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