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Targeting/Pussification of football

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exhawg

exhawg

Mirror Guy
Staff member
I understand why there are rules against Targeting and that players need to be protected, but I can't help but feel all of these rules designed to protect players will end up being the end of football. My mind goes back to an old George R. R. Martin (just blew my mind when I found out he wrote it) story I read in high school called "The Last Super Bowl Game". I'm not sure if this was required reading for everyone but the basic gist of the story is why would you want to see the Browns and Jags play a game of two hand touch when you can run a completely real looking simulation of the '92 Cowboys vs. the '14 Pats.

The more I see what would be a great tackle 5-10 years ago turn into a 15 yard penalty and a player ejected the more I worry that we are moving closer to the day of fake games being more entertaining than real ones. I think we are seeing an increase in leg injuries in recent years as players are being penalized for going high so they dive for legs instead. I was lucky to make it through 4 years of high school and 5 years of college without a concussion or any major leg injuries, but I can see both being a detriment to the long term health of players. How many times can you get your knee or ankle shredded before you can't walk by the time you are 40? Sure they have knee and hip replacements, but as soon as you get one of those you pretty much have to give up on anything other than golf.

The biggest problem I've heard of for football right now is that the number of guys going out for the football team in HS is dwindling. I've heard of some schools that used to have large teams having to merge with other schools just to be able to field a full team. Sure I'd love if my son could be a great golfer, swimmer, or basketball player, but if he's anything like me football will be his shot at a college scholarship. How is this going to play out in 10 years when HS football has moved to Arena rules because they can't field 11 man teams? A virtual match-up of the 2002 and 2014 Buckeyes might start looking pretty good by then. Just think about the pop when Zeke and Mike Doss go head to head.
 
The targeting on Cam Williams may have met the rulebook definition of targeting, but that was what I have always recognized as a football play/tackle.

And, my hatred for scUM aside, the targeting called on Joe Bolden was the most ridiculous thing I have seen in a long time. He was thrown into the runner! The B1G office should reverse his suspension.
 
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MaxBuck said:
I look at the 50+ tackles the Buckeyes made that were not called for targeting and wonder why anyone is concerned about the rule. We've had exactly one disqualification for this infraction in 2015.

It just isn't a problem, guys.
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Last night's call may have been the reason @exhawg posted this, but I think every week so far I've noted at least one targeting call in the general games thread that shouldn't have been called at all or a borderline call that may fit the technical letter of the rule, but probably shouldn't be called. It is a good rule in theory, but how it's enforced is still leaving a lot to be desired (in my IMO). It can and should be better.
 
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I will go back to my point in the other thread: Why is it only a penalty for defensive players? Why are ball carriers allowed to drop the helmet into the defender? Why do I see blockers lead with the helmet?
 
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scarletmike said:
Last night's call may have been the reason @exhawg posted this, but I think every week so far I've noted at least one targeting call in the general games thread that shouldn't have been called at all or a borderline call that may fit the technical letter of the rule, but probably shouldn't be called. It is a good rule in theory, but how it's enforced is still leaving a lot to be desired (in my IMO). It can and should be better.
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I think the calls against us and scUM set me over the edge, but it's been brewing for a while. I fully understand that defenseless players need to be protected from unnecessary contact not just to the head, but I feel that was accomplished several years ago with the launching rules. I think they have made changes to concussion protocols to stop concussed players from going back on the field and to make sure they are completely healed before they are allowed to play again. It seems like equipment has also changed over the past couple years to help reduce the injury from big hits. I would love to get my hands on one of these new helmets to see how they compare to the 5 lb's battering rams we used back in the 90's. When are we going to get to the point when they put a little sensor in the helmet to detect contact on the top of the head and penalize based on that?
 
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I agree with the assessment that players diving into legs is up now that they're not going up top, but also feel that the increase in major knee injuries can be attributed to artificial turf, which has now filtered down to middle schools/junior high. The number of times guys blow out a knee without contact is staggering.

I think it'd be an interesting study to chart ligament development/strength over decades for a group of kids that grow up playing on grass and dirt vs kids that grow up playing on field turf.

There's a reason futbol players all over the world refuse to even walk on it.
 
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LitlBuck said:
what is the weight of a soccer ball:huh: Seriously if a ball hit your head enough times sooner or later it is going to do some damage.
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funny_sports_football_soccer_blooper_ball_in_the_head.jpg
 
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My guess is targeting will go the way of the halo rule. They will change the name, merge it with the launching rule and get rid of these bs calls. I high fived those around me when bolden was ejected, but it was a crock of shit call. Late hit and 15 yards ok, ejection targeting was a pile of crap. Cams call fit the current definition but was still not malicious. I still think he was trying to knock the ball out with his helmet and the ballcarrier saw this and lowered his head and turned his body to protect the ball.
 
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Sgt Brutus said:
RUGBY is the future
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FIFY.

A serious answer is that it's a valid response to the increase in both the power of the players and the insulating effects of the equipment. You can't do much about the former, but I have wondered whether some response of dialing back the tech on the latter might be necessary to preserve the game. Less likelihood of leading with your helmet if you're not going to get up after the play.


Sgt Brutus said:
Funny how the player ejected gets cheered on his way out, the people like violence! We want more bloodshed, not less!
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Cheered because in both instances they were playing at home. Had those games been in East Lansing and Rhythmic Slapping Valley, the boos would have been long and loud.
 
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