Automatic Ejection for Hit Above Shoulders WTH??

I hate the rule, because it is open to far too much interpretation. I would eliminate the helmet to helmet rule all together and adopt the rugby wrap rule. If a defender does not attempt to wrap it is an illegal hit. That gets rid of the forearm shivers and blatant helmet ocntant. You can never get rid of helmet ot helmet contact, but you can enforce proper tackling technique.

I agree with the idea behind the rule but the enforcement of it is just not reasonable. I think coda has something there with the rugby wrap rules, too often players show no intent of tackling the ball carrier and seem to just be trying to hurt the other player. A wrap rule would also take another small step to lead players to proper tackling and you might have less defenders completely miss tackles cause they tried to go for a big hit and didn't wrap up.

and now that you have this rule you will see the ball carrier squat or lower the head just a little trying to get the call, samething players do in Basketball flop and try and get calls, this is a terriable rule unless before ejecting a player the review the play that is the only way it will be fair but you know they are not going to do that...

FSUNoles

I watched the video and you are right. That was a horrible call, I can't believe everyone immediately acted like there was no question about it being a bad hit. Talk about rush to judgement. It was a perfectly clean hit. Hard but clean. Can you imagine how many big games will be influenced by this new rule? 

I hate the rule, because it is open to far too much interpretation.

This past bowl season I saw refs make calls on this type of hit maybe six different times in the 15 games I watched.  Two calls were on the same guy.  And I'll admit they errored on at least one hit.  The big whine NOW is the added part of being ejected from the game.  I just don't think anyone from the coaches on down to the players are going to take this seriously until you include something nasty like ejection.  

Sorry, the response I gave was PROFESSIONAL generated(about an age limitation/ or other)

It is a necessary evil. akin to the wearing of a helmet back in the day!

I saw pics of this All AM. from Tulane(name escapes me) but he NEVER wore a helmet and because the numbers on jerseys were optional, at one point in time( they even used to use letters) IT WAS THE ONLY WAY YOU COULD ID A PLAYER FOR SURE WAS TO SEE HIS FACE.
HE HAD THIS LONG FLOWING BLONDE HAIR was the way they described him!  So for exposure and recognition, HE for SURE DIDNT WANT to WEAR his HELMET!
 
No TV back in the day ,but players were HOTDOGS, just like today!  They wanted the BUCKS & BROADS too!  Hahaha! 





Seriously, the calling of the penalty must( REPEAT/MUST) be more consistant!  It is a huge infraction that should be assesed, but come on REFS!
I have seen some disgraceful calls!
Some do look like colusion! 

Yeah, I think this is total BS.  Its too open to interertation.  the whole helmet to helmet rule and how its applied is too inconsistant.  Its getting like the NBA.  I can't watch the NBA now because I can't tell what is and isn't a foul.  With the rule now, its always called on the defender.  If the ball carrier lowers his head and there is a helmet to helmet hit, the defender gets the flag.  Now that player could get ejected? Isn't a bad call and a free 15 yards enough of an impact on the game?  Do we need to throw an ejection on top of it?  It's not like there isn't enough arguing over bad calls as it is.

  the whole helmet to helmet rule and how its applied is too inconsistant

The whole issue comes down to this---if it weren't for the continued cheap shots to the helmet, the "ejection clause" wouldn't be being pushed.  I don't like it anymore than anyone else either but I can see/understand why it's being pushed. 

The problem with teh rule is it goes after the symptom and not the disease. That is why I suggested a "wrap" rule. You can not outlaw helmet to helmet contact. Speed of the game makes that impossible, but you can try to enforce proper tackling techniques that would limit some of the questionable tactics. Concussions will always happen. 200-300 LB body colliding at high speed will guarantee that..

Concussions will always happen. 

I have no problem with this observation, BUT you can minimize the deliberate ones by making kids think/try harder in avoiding the really damaging ones.  Again, that's why the rule is being pushed. 
  

So if a guy like Clowney tries to hit a guy that is 5' 7", he better dive for the guys knees or he'll get suspended. Not going to be many highlights on D this next year.

Codaxx, agree on players not wraping up . Tack, Technique is just not coached much anymore!  Used to begin in the Pee Wee league and continued thru HS

I started playing @ the school I attended in 3 rd grade(organized tackle football with proper equipt) The school I went to was unlike most in La.(SAM BARTHE) we had for our varsity HS coach an ALL American FB from LSU(still holds longest run from scrimmage in SEC, Don Schwaub) also for JV, Freshman, and Jr high Ball we had coaches that were known players at , at least the CFB level.
Most New Orleans Saint players sent thier kids there.
We had facilities to rival a lot of smaller colleges, we had a full time Trainer(later went to Tulane)

We only had 47 students in our HS the 1st year, before that we were up to 9th grade only. Our very 1st year we went to state finals but LOST in a CLASS they dont have anymore because of size. CLASS B

The headmaster was an olympic track star of half Houma Indian decent, He set numerous sEC sprint records, but was hurt running for Tulane, IN HIS PRIME HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE NEXT JIM THORPE!

He never went to the Olympic games, so his real proven speed was never made official!  There  is another school like SAM BARTHE in La. that filled the void here in New orleans after Sam closed the doors to his school  JOHN T CURTIS!
I know the USC guys know that HS as some great trojan brothers came from there and Bama has gotten 1 or 2 thru the years along with LSU and a host of other schools. 

So if a guy like Clowney tries to hit a guy that is 5' 7", he better dive for the guys knees or he'll get suspended.  Not going to be many highlights on D this next year.

The rules get changed for a variety of reasons.  In this case there are still far too many head to head hits that are intentional.  I understand this being a judgement call.  But with the media/pros/collegiate concern about concussions, this rule was indvitable. 

So if a guy like Clowney tries to hit a guy that is 5' 7", he better dive for the guys knees or he'll get suspended.

These rules don't apply to running backs. 

They are going to use instant replay also to decide these.

This is crap.  Do you know how many of those hits come after the WR ducks into the hit?

This.

A lot of times the proper tackling technique can still result in a head to head hit because the ball carrier drops his head.  The tackler's facemask would have hit his chest if not for that.  That's the BALLCARRIER'S fault, but the defender gets penalized every time. 

And this.

This is crap.  Do you know how many of those hits come after the WR ducks into the hit?

A WR isn't lowering his body or his head to create this kind of hit he's doing so to protect the rest of his body.

 

A lot of times the proper tackling technique can still result in a head to head hit because the ball carrier drops his head.  

This ^^^^


I see it all the time.  Especially if the defender is a huge guy coming at high speed....ball carrier need only drop his head at the last second.  What's the defender supposed to do ?  He can't defy the principals of phyics can he ? 

A WR isn't lowering his body or his head to create this kind of hit he's doing so to protect the rest of his body.



Thats not the point.....If I am coming in to make a tackle at chest level or in the shoulder and you duck or lower your body to protect yourself and I contact your helmet I get suspended.....Its a stupid rule.



intentional is one thing....Trying to make a play and contact happens in a contact sport is entirely diffrent.       

Thats not the point.....If I am coming in to make a tackle at chest level or in the shoulder and you duck or lower your body to protect yourself and I contact your helmet I get suspended.....Its a stupid rule.

intentional is one thing....Trying to make a play and contact happens in a contact sport is entirely diffrent.   


And how long before an actual game do defenses "study" how ball carriers move with the ball?  That's why you get film of opponents.  That's all ball carriers.  You study how they run with the ball--the footwork--even how they react to contact.  As a defender by game time, you have a pretty decent idea on how to make a legal stop. 

I'll be the first to admit there is a possibility of "bad" calls, but it's going to be wiser to error on the side of caution.  Again, ejection from the game would not even be considered if there weren't so many intentional hits still being made.