LSU 28, Florida 24 (final)

[BengalsAndBucks]

Did you rewatch the link I posted? Cause if you do, there is clearly NO WAY that Tebow could have possibly turned upfield. Making a throw, that would have worked well 6 yards past the line of scrimmage.

Watch the run again, please. He tucks, decides to run it. He gains about 6 yards. Watch when he turns it towards the sideline. If he wanted to gain more yardage, he could have lowered his shoulder and gotten the first down, it was available to him. But he decided that, to avoid the hit, he would turn it towards the sideline. He took 4 steps right along the 35 yardline, then the last step went about 1/2 yard backward.

The other point is, after Tebow turned towards the sideline and slowed down, Highsmith was still only about 1 yard from him. Had Tebow tried in any way to turn it up field, then Highsmith could have literally just shoved him out of bounds. But he thought that he had a chance to take a free shot at injuring Tebow, and he took it.

How could Highsmith have been preparing for a collision with Tebow? Tebow literally had his back completely turned to him. For Tebow to have come at Highsmith with any force, he would have had to plant his feet, go parallel to the ground with his back about 2 feet from the turf, and launch himself with his legs head first towards a defender who was coming full speed at him. If Tebow wanted to hit someone that badly, he could have lowered his shoulder and run over a partially blocked Chevis Jackson to get the first.

While I agree that I want to put as many licks on the opposing quarterback as possible, especially when that QB is as vital to his teams success as Tebow, I dont see how anyone who doesn't have an agenda can defend Highsmith's actions. It was a completely unnecessary attempt to injure the opposing QB, and if it were to happen with an Ohio State player I would demand that Tressel suspend him. But thats what you get from a Les Miles coached team.

Also, you mention the Kiwenuka incident last year, and I agree you cant overprotect the QB. I personally remember the roughing the passer call that Justin Smith got on a sack because he sacked the Tampa Bay quarterback. That play cost us the game. But there is a HUGE difference between overprotecting the QB and protecting any defenseless player who has his back turned to a defender taking an unnecessary and cheap shot at his ankles.

Good discussion btw.

 

[billmac91]

Did you rewatch the link I posted? Cause if you do, there is clearly NO WAY that Tebow could have possibly turned upfield. Making a throw, that would have worked well 6 yards past the line of scrimmage.

Watch the run again, please. He tucks, decides to run it. He gains about 6 yards. Watch when he turns it towards the sideline. If he wanted to gain more yardage, he could have lowered his shoulder and gotten the first down, it was available to him. But he decided that, to avoid the hit, he would turn it towards the sideline. He took 4 steps right along the 35 yardline, then the last step went about 1/2 yard backward.

The other point is, after Tebow turned towards the sideline and slowed down, Highsmith was still only about 1 yard from him. Had Tebow tried in any way to turn it up field, then Highsmith could have literally just shoved him out of bounds. But he thought that he had a chance to take a free shot at injuring Tebow, and he took it.

How could Highsmith have been preparing for a collision with Tebow? Tebow literally had his back completely turned to him. For Tebow to have come at Highsmith with any force, he would have had to plant his feet, go parallel to the ground with his back about 2 feet from the turf, and launch himself with his legs head first towards a defender who was coming full speed at him. If Tebow wanted to hit someone that badly, he could have lowered his shoulder and run over a partially blocked Chevis Jackson to get the first.

While I agree that I want to put as many licks on the opposing quarterback as possible, especially when that QB is as vital to his teams success as Tebow, I dont see how anyone who doesn't have an agenda can defend Highsmith's actions. It was a completely unnecessary attempt to injure the opposing QB, and if it were to happen with an Ohio State player I would demand that Tressel suspend him. But thats what you get from a Les Miles coached team.

Also, you mention the Kiwenuka incident last year, and I agree you cant overprotect the QB. I personally remember the roughing the passer call that Justin Smith got on a sack because he sacked the Tampa Bay quarterback. That play cost us the game. But there is a HUGE difference between overprotecting the QB and protecting any defenseless player who has his back turned to a defender taking an unnecessary and cheap shot at his ankles.

Good discussion btw.

I did re-watch the link, which also shows Highsmith isn't even looking at Tebow as the contact occurs....I understand Tebow looks like he's given up on the play....and he had given up on the play

My beef is that, a player in the middle of a game, defending one of the most physical and mobile QB's in college, shouldn't have to make a decesion on whether or not he's given up on a play...if he is in between the lines, he's fair game, unless he slides

Tebow wasn't out of bounds, Highsmith made sure thats what was going to happen.....and again, even though Tebow looks like he clearly is taking himself out of the play, as a defender u have to make sure you don't give up anything cheap

and that hit, was hardly a hit at all....yes he got some contact, but I don't think it was nearly as malicious as it may appear...there wasn't a ton of contact, and he got hit right below his ass, first in-bounds and the momentun carried them into the sidelines

I just don't think it's a late hit...a late hit is when a player has stepped out of bounds and then contact is made...it shouldn't be called just b/c a player appears to be giving up on the play, gets hit near the sideline, and momentum takes the hit out of bounds.....and the call was unneccasry roughness for a late hit, personal foul

 

[billmac91]

watching it again, I think Gary Daniels makes the situation seem way worse than it was....he calls it intent to hurt...how???

He hit Tebow in the ass/lowerback and it wasn't even a hard hit, more like a nudge....and the contact was created within the boundaries of the field

I'm just failing to see anything wrong with that play....

however, LSU is a pretty dirty team as evidenced by that Gamecock video, and I agree Les Miles is a jackass.....i hope he becomes the next Michigan coach b/c it will set OSU up very well into the future

 

[bkochmc]

I just watched the video and the officials had no choice but to call the penalty. If you watch Tebow's positioning he steps up to the 35 yard line and when he decides to go out of bounds he actually runs backwards about a yard... Highsmith hits Tebow as he is going out of bounds and is obviously slowing down and making no forward movement... unnecessary hit and deserving of the penalty. Officials will protect the quarterback and precedent has been set that if the quarterback is going out of bounds and is hit like Tebow was there will be a penalty called.

billmac91 - If someone made that exact same hit on Boeckman would you be defending that play?

 

[billmac91]

I just watched the video and the officials had no choice but to call the penalty. If you watch Tebow's positioning he steps up to the 35 yard line and when he decides to go out of bounds he actually runs backwards about a yard... Highsmith hits Tebow as he is going out of bounds and is obviously slowing down and making no forward movement... unnecessary hit and deserving of the penalty. Officials will protect the quarterback and precedent has been set that if the quarterback is going out of bounds and is hit like Tebow was there will be a penalty called.

billmac91 - If someone made that exact same hit on Boeckman would you be defending that play?

I would understand if it weren't called....I think the play looked worse than what it was....I could be wrong but I don't think a late hit, personal foul penalty takes into consideration a players intent(Tebow running out of bounds to avoid contact but was hit in bounds)...i may be wrong about that

again, there was hardly much contact, there wasn't intent to hurt anyone as Daniels stated, and as I keep stating the contact occurred in bounds

I just don't think defenders should have to hold back against big-time athletes while in the field of play

 

[bkochmc]

I would understand if it weren't called....I think the play looked worse than what it was....I could be wrong but I don't think a late hit, personal foul penalty takes into consideration a players intent(Tebow running out of bounds to avoid contact but was hit in bounds)...i may be wrong about that

again, there was hardly much contact, there wasn't intent to hurt anyone as Daniels stated, and as I keep stating the contact occurred in bounds

I just don't think defenders should have to hold back against big-time athletes while in the field of play

The bolded part of your reply is the problem. Officials take an oath be fair and not favor one athlete over another. No matter who does what the game should be called the same way. Now we both know that this doesn't always happen but if an official is doing their job correctly they should show no bias to a team, player, coach, etc.