Targetting rules

[Winnipegopher]

Have been thinking about this since the McGhee hit.

If we have entered a new reality and come to agreement that the game will have to change to limit head shots (I think we have), do we then not need to start thinking about systematic changes to the game to limit injuries?

I wonder if we are on the road to prohibiting plays, primarily throws over the middle of less than 15-20 yards, that lead to head shots. If you look at the McGhee hit on Carr (and Poock's and Rallis'), it is by nature a dangerous play to throw the ball over the middle. The defender and the receiver are both put in jeopardy. As Sawvel noted, they either hit with the facemask or go low and risk injury. Conversely the defensive player risks getting head shots as well. If the defender's slow to the collision, the wr has the opportunity to lay a big hit on the defender.

Long story short- are we a year or so away from developing rules that prohibits dangerous throws? If so, how would that be articulated as a rule?

 

[MaxyJR1]

Claeys said that McGhee was 100% at fault and "deserves" to sit the first half on his radio show. Claeys is 100% in favor of safety rules. He does think that they need to fine tune it and possibly add intent to the rule to possibly limit the ejections. Claeys says that 4 of the 7 targeting calls are in a potential gray area. He invited any media to his practices that think they have a dirty team or don't coach the rule in practice. He said you can't teach to go at knees because you will injure legs or flip a player onto their head. Basically said it's a small target to be legal and safe.

 

[A_Slab_of_Bacon]

I've seen some legit hits on passes over the middle so a prohibition seems unnecessary.

Right or wrong it is on the defender to make sure he doesn't nail someone in the head or lead with their own and etc now.

Players are going to have to balance making a big hit with making a good tackle.

 

[dlw4gophers]

Targeting

Will we eventually be playing flag football. I was on the same thought process about dangerous throws over the middle. Is it to far off that they just say no advancement of the ball on short throws over the middle.

 

[Go Gophers Rah]

I don't mind the targeting as long as it is called consistently.

I think Mitch took a shot to the lid against Iowa - but he's such a tough SOB that he got up and went to the huddle. I think that refs are less prone to throw the flag or a mobile QB rather than a pocket passer who take the exact same shot.

Also, I watched the Louisville/Houston game last Thursday and saw several hits that would've been targeting in the B1G, so some conference's refs seem more likely to throw the hanky.