The NFL has changed tackle football forever this year

[nathanlt]

The catch rule change is getting all the attention, but this next rule change will be more destructive to the NFL than the Blandino debacle.

Pssst. You're hearing this from me, someone who has argued the catch rule for months at a time!!!

Running backs and blockers and tackler can no longer lower their head to initiate contact. The NFL is changed forever if this is upheld. Tackle football might as well be flag football now. Get these clowns out of the NFL rule makers circle!

The NFL will be unwatchable as this goes forward, and Directv will feel the financial pain.

 

[NEODOG]

Look an exo skeleton uni with air bladders & some type of rubberized Cushing is the future

No hard shells....helmets are gone, shoulder pads are gone

 

[Nightman]

The catch rule change is getting all the attention, but this next rule change will be more destructive to the NFL than the Blandino debacle.

Pssst. You're hearing this from me, someone who has argued the catch rule for months at a time!!!

Running backs and blockers and tackler can no longer lower their head to initiate contact. The NFL is changed forever if this is upheld. Tackle football might as well be flag football now. Get these clowns out of the NFL rule makers circle!

The NFL will be unwatchable as this goes forward, and Directv will feel the financial pain.

Look for more "Rugby" tackles.......Face to Face and wrap with the arms

SEA has been doing for a couple years

Ejections under the new rule with super controversial

 

[Aviano90]

Get rid of the helmets and pads.

 

[TheCount]

If it means potentially fewer players getting their spines snapped on national television, I think I'll wait one season before making judgement.

I actually think most players already lead with the shoulder anyway. They teach you to tackle with your head up from the start, players just forget as they get stronger.

 

[Sydla]

LOL at having a problem with this.

 

[USMarineVet]

I don't get this rule at all. Naturally I don't want to see anyone get hurt, but how do you play football without being able to lower your head? I'd be more inclined to see them develop some kind of cushioned exo-skeleton for the helmet rather than this dumb rule.

 

[okstateCowboy]

It is probably for the best. I spoke with Lance Briggs last year and I asked him about CTE. Dude told me sometimes he gets out of bed and starts walking and will forget where he is going and why he got up. Said it will take him a few seconds to remember what he was doing. It really changed my opinion on the whole head-collision issue. I will miss the old physicality but these rule changes are necessary.

 

[Jenky]

LOL at having a problem with this.

Honestly, I think its one more variable for refs to screw up. "Initiating contact."

 

[Supercowboy1986]

Op is a dinosaur

 

[Sydla]

Honestly, I think its one more variable for refs to screw up. "Initiating contact."

Possibly, but any rule with the intention of making it safer for players is worth the risk IMO.

 

[Big_D]

More flags.. how great is that?!!

 

[Toruk_Makto]

Everyone just going to complain and ignore the actual risks and disastrous outcomes to head injuries?

I'm not a barbarian so i'm fine with the change.

 

[Nightman]

If it means potentially fewer players getting their spines snapped on national television, I think I'll wait one season before making judgement.

I actually think most players already lead with the shoulder anyway. They teach you to tackle with your head up from the start, players just forget as they get stronger.

Players got sloppy and coaches got lazy......diving at players knees and heads is just bad football and should be coached out of the game....... you can't hit what you can't see

 

[GoCowboysGo]

Roger Goodelle wanted more offense, so one of the rules the rules committee changed was the no hand checking rule. Perhaps it was before him, I can’t remember.

Regardless, in their want to have more scoring, I think the NFL screwed up and made it more dangerous. Hand checking slowed it down just a little, but now they created more collisions.

I’ve been watching since 1969-70, that hand checking rule/emphasis has really changed things for the worse.

 

[DiResta]

Look for more "Rugby" tackles.......Face to Face and wrap with the arms

SEA has been doing for a couple years

Pete supposedly has his team doing this and ive seen the video back then when they were pushing their superior method
so ever since i became very aware to watch their defense tackle and guess what
yeah they lower their heads and go straight up just like most players

its great in theory but not some revolutionary technique they use exclusively

just an example i know but i get tired of reading about it

 

[glimmerman]

If they call it the way it sounds then the NFL won’t make it a half a year. What are they gonna do, just run into each other standing up.

 

[LarryCanadian]

Sorry. Disagree 100% with initial post. I have found for years the quality of tackling and the training/teaching style (the: face opponents chest, hammer him, lift technique - totally unrealistic way to tackle 200-300 pound guys running 4.2 - 5.0 40's and capable of amazing feats of agility) as almost silly. On top of that many players just fling themselves like missiles, head down, eyes often closed to try and "tackle" - actually they aren't tackling they are "bowling" someone over. Result, is many misses, many injuries to both player or players from your own team (how many guys has Heath - sorry to single him out- hurt on the Cowboys when he does this?), and many bounce offs where opposing player doesn't even go down. I have sons that I want to NOT have CTE for the majority of their lives from playing football. Rugby style of tackling, down low, hit with shoulder, head behind opopnent legs/knees, wrap up and twist is far safer and also a BETTER/more effective tackle. The open field tackling in NFL for such high paid elite athletes is often dreadful. In many half-decent tackles, guys hit with shoulder, but still don't wrap up. The kill shots are fun to see, sure - they aren't great for career longevity and a nor a great way of limiting yards after contact.... Case in point - Minni VS New Orleans conference semi-final. Last play of the game - Minni wins because NO DB basically closes eyes, lowers head, and prayed for hard contact. All he had to do is keep eyes open and wrap him up and even just slow him down and NO wins......probably not a perfect example as it wasn't really a kill shot, head down attempt, but the players instinct was to do the wrong thing, not tackle in an effective way. Totally possible to make bone crushing, ego bruising tackles with shoulder and then a wrap up, without risking as much brain damage (the whip-lash is plenty to still risk it)......I am happy that in many places they are implementing training from a young age that teaches a whole new way of tackling in the more rugby style - THAT will keep the game of football going at a high skill and entertainment level instead of literally killing athletes....

 

[Rayman70]

Lets see here...now lets say Zeke lowers his head in the hole and does a typical Zeke run, is that now a penalty? Is a QB sneak now a penalty? These ARSES who come up with this crap are just pandering to the PC pressure being put onto them. Its a gladiator sport.No one is being forced to play. You know what your in for when you get into this profession. I hate this new rule!!!!! The game has been ruined.

 

[Jake]

I don't get this rule at all. Naturally I don't want to see anyone get hurt, but how do you play football without being able to lower your head?

They did it for decades.

No one was leading with their head when the helmet was plastic with foam rubber in it, or worse. It wasn't until they made the helmets sturdy, heavy, and insulated that guys started using it as a weapon.

You never see a rugby player - where tackling in football originated - leading with his head.