quote:
That was a very bad call. He didn't launch with his head. There might have been incidental contact of the helmets, but if that gets you ejected blockers and tacklers will start targeting the knees, which will cause significant long term damage.

This is all true, but I think the main problem with the call is the fact that the guy being blocked was actively involved in the play at the time. I'm not sure how he could possibly be a "defenseless player" while actively involved in the play, and being a "defenseless player" is a prerequisite for targeting to be called in this instance.

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Posted by NYCAuburn

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Member since Feb 2011

57002 posts

Posted on 11/28/16 at 10:11 am to imjustafatkid

quote:
I'm not sure how he could possibly be a "defenseless player" while actively involved in the play,

its part of the very definition

quote:
Note 2: Defenseless player (Rule 2-27-14):

A player in the act of or just after throwing a pass.
A receiver attempting to catch a forward pass or in position to receive a backward pass, or one who has completed a catch and has not had time to protect himself or has not clearly become a ball carrier.
A kicker in the act of or just after kicking a ball, or during the kick or the return.
A kick returner attempting to catch or recover a kick, or one who has completed a catch or recovery and has not had time to protect himself or has not clearly become a ball carrier.
A player on the ground.
A player obviously out of the play.
A player who receives a blind-side block.
A ball carrier already in the grasp of an opponent and whose forward progress has been stopped.
A quarterback any time after a change of possession.
A ball carrier who has obviously given himself up and is sliding feet-first.