matt
Let's get weird
- Joined
- Apr 21, 2010
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The targeting call on Howden was not maintained. Howden definitely lowered his helmet before the ball carrier came to him. However, I believe the reason he wasn't called for targeting is that he essentially remained stationary. If you look at the multiple definitions of targeting, many of them talk about making or initiating forcible contact to the head or neck. However, Howden did not initiate or make contact. He remained in place and lowered his head as the ball carrier came to him. Therefore, he did not initiate the contact or really target the ball carrier, and he definitely did not launch at the ball carrier.
I am not advising this as a preferred tackling method as it was not pretty, but it was a play that I thought may initially be called as targeting until I reviewed the definition. For more info on the definition of targeting, here is an SI article on it:
https://www.si.com/college-football/2018/college-football-helmet-targeting-rule-explained
I am not advising this as a preferred tackling method as it was not pretty, but it was a play that I thought may initially be called as targeting until I reviewed the definition. For more info on the definition of targeting, here is an SI article on it:
https://www.si.com/college-football/2018/college-football-helmet-targeting-rule-explained