Concussions and football gear

[jobberone]

We've had some recent threads about CTE and concussions as well as posts about football equipment.

I ran across this in a coaching clinic and thought I'd put this up for discussion. Please, note I'm not advocating this equipment or any other. I'm just interested in discussing this issue.

Here's a link to one product which I believe covers a regular football helmet. There's also some data about the numbers of concussions in HS ball and concussions in general. I did not research that data so it is not reviewed. I do not know the efficacy of this particular piece of equipment either. http://www.guardiancaps.com/

Feel free to discuss other newer equipment for football.

I think this subject ties in with the new rule about lowering the head and spearing by RBs. I cringe every time I see Murray do that. I worry about helmet to helmet contact and concussions but I'm also concerned about neck injuries with that as well.

 

[Doomsday101]

I'm interested to see how the refs call these penalties. I think a lot of the lowering of the head is just natural instinct. When a back see a defender about to hit him they lower their heads not stand straight up to take the hit or expose the ball. Everything moves so quickly in the NFL just not sure how this rule will play out.

 

[Future]

Not a bad idea, especially for practice.

 

[DCBoysfan]

Not a bad idea, especially for practice.

That's what I was thinking, try it out in practice and then monitor the results.

 

[jobberone]

I'm interested to see how the refs call these penalties. I think a lot of the lowering of the head is just natural instinct. When a back see a defender about to hit him they lower their heads not stand straight up to take the hit or expose the ball. Everything moves so quickly in the NFL just not sure how this rule will play out.

I agree with that but there IS a difference in lowering your shoulder and spearing a player with your helmet. The problems I see is a RB lowers his shoulder to enter a small hole or before he is hit and ends up spearing a player by accident. I do think the refs can generally tell if a player is spearing an opponent vs three guys gang tackle a RB and one gets speared accidentally.

 

[Doomsday101]

I agree with that but there IS a difference in lowering your shoulder and spearing a player with your helmet. The problems I see is a RB lowers his shoulder to enter a small hole or before he is hit and ends up spearing a player by accident. I do think the refs can generally tell if a player is spearing an opponent vs three guys gang tackle a RB and one gets speared accidentally.

Sure the game is fast and players are moving. It is like many hits to the head on a WR you can be going for the mid section when the WR goes up for the ball by the time he comes down now you are around the head it was not intentional but it is still a penalty. Players do not stand still to get hit they are moving and falling away and these hit will happen. I just hate to see more and more flags.

I guess as fans all we can do is see how it plays out on the field.

 

[jobberone]

Sure the game is fast and players are moving. It is like many hits to the head on a WR you can be going for the mid section when the WR goes up for the ball by the time he comes down now you are around the head it was not intentional but it is still a penalty. Players do not stand still to get hit they are moving and falling away and these hit will happen. I just hate to see more and more flags.

I guess as fans all we can do is see how it plays out on the field.

Oh, I can definitely see the downside of this like you. But they need to try to protect the players if they can. This is a serious problem with devastating sequelae. I think they need to devise helmets that can distribute energy or absorb it. One thing they will not be able to do is stop the contracoup concussions. There is a movable object (brain) inside a non-movable one (cranium).

 

[conner01]

i don't think the new rule will be as bad as some think. it's only outside the tackle, and they have said it does'nt matter if you lower your shoulder, just can't lead with the crown of the helment. there will be some bad calls as with wr's but player safety is a huge concern and while some think the violent hits is what makes the game. that does'nt mean you don't have some responsibility to make the game as safe as possible.
asfor this helment seems like something worth looking into. the nfl has done alot of work with helments and such but alot of these concussions come from the head hitting the ground more than the actual impact of the player. the brain bounces around and thats a much tougher issue to deal with.

 

[xwalker]

We've had some recent threads about CTE and concussions as well as posts about football equipment.

I ran across this in a coaching clinic and thought I'd put this up for discussion. Please, note I'm not advocating this equipment or any other. I'm just interested in discussing this issue.

Here's a link to one product which I believe covers a regular football helmet. There's also some data about the numbers of concussions in HS ball and concussions in general. I did not research that data so it is not reviewed. I do not know the efficacy of this particular piece of equipment either. http://www.guardiancaps.com/

Feel free to discuss other newer equipment for football.

I think this subject ties in with the new rule about lowering the head and spearing by RBs. I cringe every time I see Murray do that. I worry about helmet to helmet contact and concussions but I'm also concerned about neck injuries with that as well.

Back in the nineties, a player for the Buffalo Bills had a helmet with a pop-off cover that was designed to minimize concussions. I think it was WR Andre Reed.

 

[Doomsday101]

Oh, I can definitely see the downside of this like you. But they need to try to protect the players if they can. This is a serious problem with devastating sequelae. I think they need to devise helmets that can distribute energy or absorb it. One thing they will not be able to do is stop the contracoup concussions. There is a movable object (brain) inside a non-movable one (cranium).

I hope the downside is minimal and that games are not flag fest. I just think this is going to be one of those rules that is going to be difficult for the refs. People love to get after the refs but much of it has to do with so many of the rules being judgment calls

 

[Doomsday101]

Back in the nineties, a player for the Buffalo Bills had a helmet with a pop-off cover that was designed to minimize concussions. I think it was WR Andre Reed.

I think that was Steve Tasker

 

[Future]

I think that was Steve Tasker

I think you're right.

I'm pretty sure Steve Young wore it as well.

 

[Doomsday101]

I think you're right.

I'm pretty sure Steve Young wore it as well.

I don't recall Young wearing the bubble on his helmet like Tasker but I could be wrong about that.

 

[xwalker]

It appears that Mark Kelso was the 1st to wear the foam cover known as a "pro cap" with his helmet. I think some other Bills players wore them also, including Tasker.

 

[Doomsday101]

It appears that Mark Kelso was the 1st to wear the foam cover known as a "pro cap" with his helmet. I think some other Bills players wore them also, including Tasker.

I guess he rode on the short team bus . :laugh2:

 

[Future]

I don't recall Young wearing the bubble on his helmet like Tasker but I could be wrong about that.

I don't think it looked like the one in the above picture, but I swear I remember Young wearing one. I think it looked a bit more like a hard hat.

 

[muck4doo]

I don't recall Young wearing the bubble on his helmet like Tasker but I could be wrong about that.

I only remember Wallace wearing one of those on the whiners at that time.

 

[jobberone]

i don't think the new rule will be as bad as some think. it's only outside the tackle, and they have said it does'nt matter if you lower your shoulder, just can't lead with the crown of the helment. there will be some bad calls as with wr's but player safety is a huge concern and while some think the violent hits is what makes the game. that does'nt mean you don't have some responsibility to make the game as safe as possible.
asfor this helment seems like something worth looking into. the nfl has done alot of work with helments and such but alot of these concussions come from the head hitting the ground more than the actual impact of the player. the brain bounces around and thats a much tougher issue to deal with.

Excellent post

Back in the nineties, a player for the Buffalo Bills had a helmet with a pop-off cover that was designed to minimize concussions. I think it was WR Andre Reed.

Now that is interesting. Wonder if they thought it helped.

I hope the downside is minimal and that games are not flag fest. I just think this is going to be one of those rules that is going to be difficult for the refs. People love to get after the refs but much of it has to do with so many of the rules being judgment calls

It's a tough job.

 

[burmafrd]

how many concussions are partially caused by guys not wearing their chin straps, with a helmet not properly fitted because they 'don't like it tight' and so on?

The NFLPA has responsibility here that they have ignored for all their whining about safety. They should be pressuring their players to wear all protective gear possible and make sure it fits right.