Ellis Hobbs
- Thread starter cyhawkdmb
- Start date
The rule doesn't really protect him in that situation like it would on a reception when he is a "defenseless player". In this situation he is qualified as a ball carrier and technically has the ability to protect himself so it was a legal hit.
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cg8zh-0QG38]YouTube - Ellis Hobbs Helment to Helment - Eagles vs Giants 11/21/10[/ame]
You can't lead with your helmet to make a tackle. Period. It's a rule that applies no matter where you're at on the field. It endangers the hittee and the hitter. He will absolutely be fined, and he should have been penalized as well...
That's what I was thinking, apparently Collinsworth disagrees. I just think he's an idiot. I would rather have John Madden's burhurhurblurbahburBOOMblahbahgerberbum than him.
Thank God. That looked horrible going down.
I certainly wouldn't say that was a dirty hit. It's just one of those things in football......everything happens so fast, and the person you're trying to hit happens to be moving too.
I certainly wouldn't say that was a dirty hit. It's just one of those things in football......everything happens so fast, and the person you're trying to hit happens to be moving too.
The question comes down to whether the use of the helmet there was violent or unnecessary since Hobbs wasn't in a defenseless posture.
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The thing that drives me the most nuts with Collinsworth is, he makes stuff up and expects us to believe it. One case in point, last night after a play he talks about how the quarterback held the ball in the running back's stomach for a good two seconds before he threw it to freeze the defense, then they showed the replay and he barely faked it to the RB. He does that every game. Again, it's not radio.
Well most people lead with their helmet when they tackle since they are running forward and their head is on top of their body. Hell there is a reason the saying is "put your helmet on the ball."
He shouldn't have been penalized and he won't be fined. I say that as a Cyclone fan, an Eagles fan, and a Hobbs fan. There is helmet to helmet action on every single play in football. A lot of times it is a judgement call. Watch the linked video and you see Hobbs is hit from his right and knocked left into the oncoming tackler who has no time to adjust. These are unfortunate but they happen.
Glad Hobbs is walking around.
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Exactly. the rule does not say you cannot tackle by leading with your head. The rule is against spearing butting and ramming or using your helmet as a weapon. This leaves interpretation of the rule to the official and in this case, Hobbs was knocked into the tackler. Unavoidable.
As you point out, the issue isn't "leading with the head" because that is the part of the body that is out in front of everything else. At issue is using the head/helmet as the primary/sole contact point when making the play. Putting your helmet on the ball while driving your shoulder into the ball carrier is much different than spearing.
Regardless of if the helmet-to-helmet contact was intentional, such a play should always be flagged. Lack-of-intent does not absolve a player of responsibility.
It's wonderful that Hobbs is walking around.