Running QB's are ruining the NFL

[JustChip]

I don't

Agreed (and I say this as a Washington fan, with one of the main offenders). Need to change the popular fan expectation as well.

One of the problems is QBs dancing along the sideline, in sort of a wave-particle duality for a defender as to if he is out or advancing. If a QB wants to go out, go out. But if he goes out at the last second and the defender hits him OOB, it's not a foul if the defender initiated his lunge while the QB was in bounds.

Similarly, the late slides are a joke. I have seen fans cavitating about "dirty hits" when a defender (at the sticks) hit a sliding player whose *** cheeks had not even fallen to the ground hit (i.e. literally not "down" yet). It's not reasonable to expect defenders to defend the sticks and then also be able to arrest their lunge in such a situation.

The league probably does not even need to change a rule on this, but just issue points of emphasis, and do it VERY publicly.

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One area where a specific rule change should be made is after interceptions. I think they say now that QBs are defenseless the entire play. So if a helmet to helmet hit happens during a block it is the defenders fault...even if the QB was going for the man with the ball, even if the blocker is making a legitimate block and even if the QB ducks his head into the contact (like a "defenseless" WR or kick/punt returner ducking his head). This is insane...and is a specific rule ONLY for the QB. Obviously crackback and other personal foul penalties can apply, but with the QB treated the same as every other player on the offense, during an interception.

Kudos for working wave-particle duality into a football discussion.

 

[RodeoJake]

Mahomes is a master of sliding after the defense has committed to stopping him. He takes advantage of the slide rule better than anyone else and gets quite a few calls. Change the rule to say that a QB can't be protected if he slides within 3 yds of a defender.

 

[Hardline]

Mahomes is a master of sliding after the defense has committed to stopping him. He takes advantage of the slide rule better than anyone else and gets quite a few calls. Change the rule to say that a QB can't be protected if he slides within 3 yds of a defender.

I would say the QB loses protection once he crosses the line of scrimmage.