Merged Thread: NFL Bans Drop Hip Tackles

[acehole]

I am wondering if this changes strategies in drafting?


Meaning...

A larger receiver is harder to tackle anyway for a smaller DB.

Would the trend then be larger receivers and larger Cornerbacks to help minimize penalties for this rule?

Good Tackling defenders become a premium ECT?

Hip-drop tackles are much more dangerous than other tackles, according to the NFL executive in charge of health and safety issues.

NFL Executive Vice President Jeff Miller said today that the injury rate on hip-drop tackles is about 20 to 25 times greater than on other tackles. Miller also said defensive players are using hip-drop tackles more than ever before.

Given those concerns, Miller said “it’s certainly my hope” that the NFL will ban hip drops this off-season, according to Judy Battista of NFL Media.

Still, there are real concerns about whether hip-drop tackles can be defined adequately to create a rule that the players understand and the officials call consistently. A hip-drop tackle could loosely be defined as when a tackler grabs a ball carrier and drops his body weight directly onto the ball carrier’s legs or back, but the precise language of the rule will be important.


NFL says injury rate on hip-drop tackles is 20-25 times that of other tackles - NBC Sports

[Historian]

If this is the way the league is going, so be it.

Unfortunately, these tackles are bound to happen by accident, in the normal process of tackling.

I can remember how Bruce Smith used to grab a ballcarrier by the hips, and bring him down on top of himself.

What's a defender supposed to do....let him go?

[Ed]

Beane was on McAfee's show and they discussed this. Beane thinks that it's going to be something that you see guys get fined for, but probably won't get called much during the game unless it's really obvious. He said he doesn't want to see more flags and it's already hard enough for defenders, but they're going to fine players to discourage blatant violations to try and prevent more injuries.

[Turf]

This opens the door for more BS calls by the refs. Imagine a game saving tackle wiped out by a call like this. People will lose their minds. I think this call is too much of a grey area to be interpreted. So now you have to tackle someone without falling on them to be safe?

[sukie]

Can you imagine the game saving tackle wiped out by a hip drop call? Can you wipe out the IR ankle injury as well?

[John Doe]

This will be akin to the old ruling on pornography:

There is vague definition, but the ref will know it when he sees it.

[Mad Max]

Just like every other rule this one will start a little rough and then get adjusted to by the players and the refs.

For example targeting type tackles were once pretty common weren’t they? Once it was outlawed the flags flew fast and furiously then everyone adjusted over time.

[jamze132]

You guys are going to pay $50K+ for a PSL to watch two-hand-touch football.

[Mad Max]

You guys are going to pay $50K+ for a PSL to watch two-hand-touch football.

Terry’s cheap.

[notacon]

Gee...judgement calls will affect games. WOW, what an enlightening idea.

The idea that banning the very dangerous hip drop tackle is akin to the game moving toward "two handed touch football" is ludicrous hyperbole.

There is ZERO DOUBT that drop hip tackles results in more injuries. The facts are undeniable. Of COURSE defensive players are going to whine about it. Of course offensive players (who's health and career on on the line) are going to welcome it.

All-in-all, the instances that it may be badly called, is VASTLY outweighed by the probability that it's banning will result in fewer unnecessary injuries.

It's best to wait to see exactly how the refs call it before making any solid judgements.

Right now (again, let's see how it is implemented), it's a very positive and smart thing for the NFL to adopt.

[Bill Cody]

This opens the door for more BS calls by the refs. Imagine a game saving tackle wiped out by a call like this. People will lose their minds. I think this call is too much of a grey area to be interpreted. So now you have to tackle someone without falling on them to be safe?

not hip drop tackle AND fall on them. The new rule actually allows hip drop tackles as long as you don't land on the players legs. There will be a bit of a learning curve on this for both players and refs. It's exactly like when they outlawed, correctly, the horse collar tackle. Early in the season you saw a bunch of calls on this by the refs. But by mid season there were very few. Why? Because PLAYERS STOPPED USING THE HORSE COLLAR. As they will with the hip drop. Stop the whining.

[Bill Cody]

You guys are going to pay $50K+ for a PSL to watch two-hand-touch football.

Eventually yes. Maybe I'll be dead 1st idk. But despite the fact that the league is a cash machine I see a day of reckoning when half the former players have CTE and the mother of all class action suits gets filed.

[Typ0]

What's a defender supposed to do....let him go?

well yes this is the way our society seems to be going and it's being reflected in the NFL.

They might as well just start playing flag football. I would still watch. There would still be guys making amazing plays.

But cut the ****ing bull**** it is tackle football stop handicapping people from tackling.

I ultimately see this as was stated above...the NFL creating a situation where they are better positioned to decide the outcome of games than players on the field.

[Typ0]

not hip drop tackle AND fall on them. The new rule actually allows hip drop tackles as long as you don't land on the players legs. There will be a bit of a learning curve on this for both players and refs. It's exactly like when they outlawed, correctly, the horse collar tackle. Early in the season you saw a bunch of calls on this by the refs. But by mid season there were very few. Why? Because PLAYERS STOPPED USING THE HORSE COLLAR. As they will with the hip drop. Stop the whining.

how can you tackle a guy and not land on his legs though? Situationally this is a nightmare.

[Historian]

ludicrous hyperbole.

ZERO DOUBT undeniable. Of COURSE . Of course
VASTLY outweighed

Oye...

[notacon]

Oye...

You don't agree with he facts???

Do you seriously believe that the idea that the hip drop tackle rule is a precursor "two handed touch football" and that is NOT ludicrous hyperbole.?!??!

Oy vey

[Typ0]

I really think they should go to a flag football model and let ball handlers defend their flags. That's the problem with having a contact but touch league forms of contact should not end plays.

[Typ0]

What they really should do is do away will all of the rules and just make one simple rule:

If you are involved with a guy getting hurt you get a penalty in the game, possible fine and suspension.

Do away with holding and forward progress rules and let them run around the field more like Rugby.

Play the game with scantily clad hot chicks.

Hey....wait a minute ....

[Bill Cody]

how can you tackle a guy and not land on his legs though? Situationally this is a nightmare.

You do get that this is where guys are getting hurt right? If a player uses the hip drop he's going to get penalized if he lands on the opponents legs. Not a nightmare.

[Woodman]

Bill Belichick: It’s good to get rid of the hip-drop tackle, there’s no place for it

Belichick said in a discussion with Roger Goodell for the Pat McAfee Show that he supports the ban on the hip-drop tackle, which occurs when a defender wraps up a ball carrier, swivels his hips and drops onto the ball carrier’s legs.

“It’s a good thing to get rid of. There’s really no place for it. It’s just good to continue to keep the game safe for the players,” Belichick said.

Goodell said the technique has been responsible for a disproportionate number of injuries, and particularly serious injuries.

“When you see a play that is greater than 20 times the injury rate, and most of those injuries are pretty severe, they’re career ending or season ending, you’ve got to make the change,” Goodell said.