Defenseless Receiver Rule/CeeDee Catch

[speedkilz88]

Anyone know why that play wasn't flagged? It was like watching a pre 2011 game. Announcers didn't say a thing.



NFL Health and Safety Related Rules Changes Since 2002

2011​

A receiver who has completed a catch is a "defenseless player" until he has had time to protect himself or has clearly become a runner. A receiver/runner is no longer defenseless if he is able to avoid or ward off the impending contact of an opponent. Previously, the receiver who had completed a catch was protected against an opponent who launched and delivered a blow to the receiver's head.

 

[JayFord]

he was in the air with the ball

 

[speedkilz88]

he was in the air with the ball

That's what defenseless means.

 

[JayFord]

That's what defenseless means.

if youre in the air with the ball in your hands thats a catch its the defense job to dislodge it they can hit you

 

[speedkilz88]

if youre in the air with the ball in your hands thats a catch its the defense job to dislodge it they can hit you

The rules since 2011 says you can't hit a defenseless receiver. He has to be able to land and protect himself.

 

[MarcusRock]

The rules since 2011 says you can't hit a defenseless receiver. He has to be able to land and protect himself.

Wrong. You can't initiate "unnecessary contact" against a defenseless player but you can contact them. Keywords underlined.

RULE 12 PLAYER CONDUCT
SECTION 2 PERSONAL FOULS
ARTICLE 9. PLAYERS IN A DEFENSELESS POSTURE. It is a foul if a player initiates unnecessary contact against a player
who is in a defenseless posture. A player who initiates contact against a defenseless opponent is responsible for avoiding an
illegal act. A standard of strict liability applies for any contact against an opponent, even if his body position is in motion, and
irrespective of any acts by him, such as ducking his head or curling up his body in anticipation of contact.
(a) Players in a defenseless posture are:

(1) A player in the act of or just after throwing a pass (passing posture).​

(2) A receiver running a pass route when the defender approaches from the side or behind. If the receiver becomes a blocker​

or assumes a blocking posture, he is no longer a defenseless player.​

(3) A player attempting to catch a pass who has not had time to clearly become a runner. If the player is capable of avoiding​

or warding off the impending contact of an opponent, he is no longer a defenseless player.​

.
.

(b) Prohibited contact against a player who is in a defenseless posture is listed below. However, these provisions do not prohibit
incidental contact by the mask or helmet in the course of a conventional tackle or block on an opponent:

(1) forcibly hitting the defenseless player’s head or neck area with the helmet, facemask, forearm, or shoulder, even if the​

initial contact is lower than the player’s neck, and regardless of whether the defensive player also uses his arms to tackle​

the defenseless player by encircling or grasping him;​

(2) lowering the head and making forcible contact with any part of the helmet against any part of the defenseless player’s​

body; or​

(3) illegally launching into a defenseless opponent. It is an illegal launch if a player (i) leaves one or both feet prior to contact​

to spring forward and upward into his opponent, and (ii) uses any part of his helmet to initiate forcible contact against any​

part of his opponent’s body. (This does not apply to contact against a runner, unless the runner is still considered to be​

a defenseless player, as defined in Article 9).​

 

[speedkilz88]

Seems like these apply. He was in the air (defenseless) and opponent launched into him.


(3) A player attempting to catch a pass who has not had time to clearly become a runner. If the player is capable of avoiding
or warding off the impending contact of an opponent, he is no longer a defenseless player.



(3) illegally launching into a defenseless opponent. It is an illegal launch if a player (i) leaves one or both feet prior to contact
to spring forward and upward into his opponent, and (ii) uses any part of his helmet to initiate forcible contact against any
part of his opponent’s body. (This does not apply to contact against a runner, unless the runner is still considered to be
a defenseless player, as defined in Article 9).

 

[MarcusRock]

Seems like these apply. He was in the air (defenseless) and opponent launched into him.


(3) A player attempting to catch a pass who has not had time to clearly become a runner. If the player is capable of avoiding
or warding off the impending contact of an opponent, he is no longer a defenseless player.



(3) illegally launching into a defenseless opponent. It is an illegal launch if a player (i) leaves one or both feet prior to contact
to spring forward and upward into his opponent, and (ii) uses any part of his helmet to initiate forcible contact against any
part of his opponent’s body. (This does not apply to contact against a runner, unless the runner is still considered to be
a defenseless player, as defined in Article 9).

The DB was on his feet when he ran into Lamb's legs. Didn't launch.

 

[MarcusRock]

The video.

 

[jrumann59]

The defenseless receiver rule was put in to prevent "kill shot" hits that were famous through 80's-90's and 00's. That was not and should not be a defenseless receiver hit on Lamb

 

[DanA]

The tackler was on his feet, did not use his helmet and did not make contact to the head/neck area. That’s perfectly fine IMO.

 

[BrassCowboy]

It was a fair hit no matter what the rules state imo

Got to be consistent and they are playing football

 

[plymkr]

The video.

Any WR that hangs on to that ball is the real deal. Lamb had a monster game against a monster defense.

 

[MarcusRock]

Any WR that hangs on to that ball is the real deal. Lamb had a monster game against a monster defense.

Lamb has impressed me for sure. Just a year ago people were talking about not extending him and then he went on a tear to finish the season and is now firmly established as "the guy." Haven't heard about the issues with drops anymore either. He's still developing too. I doubted him too but now we have to keep him.

As an aside, I find these threads funny. People are so used to playing "the Cowboys are victim" card that they don't know what to do when they have a legit strong team that's disciplined. Haven't heard a peep about the Goodell-Mara Syndicate but I guess I should wait until we lose. Lol.

 

[erod]

The rules since 2011 says you can't hit a defenseless receiver. He has to be able to land and protect himself.

No, that's not the rule at all. That's just for the head and neck area. The rest is fair game.

 

[erod]

Glad he got up from that.

 

[glimmerman]

Lamb has impressed me for sure. Just a year ago people were talking about not extending him and then he went on a tear to finish the season and is now firmly established as "the guy." Haven't heard about the issues with drops anymore either. He's still developing too. I doubted him too but now we have to keep him.

As an aside, I find these threads funny. People are so used to playing "the Cowboys are victim" card that they don't know what to do when they have a legit strong team that's disciplined. Haven't heard a peep about the Goodell-Mara Syndicate but I guess I should wait until we lose. Lol.

I was not sure he was going to be able to be the guy. But he has shown he can step up. For sure..

 

[DoctorChicken]

That was a hell of a hit, then his back/hip smacked the turf pretty hard. I’m sure he’s feeling it today.

Lamb is becoming a killer WR.