Enough is enough with the helmet to helmet...

[ContactBuzz]

penalties. Christian Ponder just got blasted on an option keeper - the tackler could hardly see him until they hit each other. And they called a HTH penalty.

Let them play the game. HTH should only apply to a QB staying in the pocket unless it's absolutely agregious and a defenseless player is put in harm's way. That was not the case with Ponder (just as it wasn't the case on Tyrod Taylor).

 

[gt23eric]

I saw that too. Thats crazy. Just let the kids play some ball. Ponder was fine as he just jumped right back up.

 

[yellowphysics]

Even the normally reserved Troy Polamalu is complaining about something similar it in the NFL. link

Polamalu said that football's essence is being taken away with the NFL's heavy-handed penalties, saying football "just loses so much of its essence when it becomes like a pansy game."

 

[odw]

I have no problem with them calling it. The problem I have is that they seem to pull the call out of their back pocket when they want to. Everytime I've seen it called, it was a momentum changer too.

 

[ContactBuzz]

I have no problem with them calling it. The problem I have is that they seem to pull the call out of their back pocket when they want to. Everytime I've seen it called, it was a momentum changer too.

I think the spirit of the rule is fine - players should be penalized for cheap shots.

 

[MidnightJacket]

Everytime I've seen it called, it was a momentum changer too.

Big time. If the defender looks to be out for blood and intentionally is trying to hurt the QB, throw it ofcourse. But these calls just sour the game.

I like what someone else suggested, if the QB is out of the pocket the rule should no longer apply.

 

[77GTFan]

The helmet to helmet rule as it is interpreted is unfair. Why wear helmets if helmets are not to collide? Indeed many helmet to helmet calls seem to appear at times that change game outcomes. For the record, I didn't like Gardner-Webb being called for helmet to helmet against Booker. He did not even go down.

What is a good call is the old spearing call. When one lowers the head and leads with the headgear, call spearing - 15 yards and a personal foul. The referee has to judge intent - was the player leading with the helmet, using it to spear an opponent? But, tell me they aren't using judgment to decide when to call hemet to helmet now.

I don't care if the player hits another players' helmet, leg, arm, or torso, if the player uses the helmet as a weapon and uses it, call spearing.

But, the game is going to have helmet to helmet contact that is unintended and incidental. I hate the current rule.

 

[JacketDan]

At this point we might as well just put a permanent red jersey on the QB and make you pull the flag out of his belt to "tackle" him.

Between this and the new clock rules so that they can show more commercials (it's true BTW, there are demonstrably fewer plays in games this season, but the air time is exactly the same) the NCAA is absolutely ruining college football. I'm starting to wonder which big school is going to be the first to tell them to f-off and find a way to replace it with something better.

 

[beej67]

I just wish they'd call it when folks do it to us.

It's like they've decided that the triple option doesn't count or something.

 

[kirbee]

I just wish they'd call it when folks do it to us.

It's like they've decided that the triple option doesn't count or something.

I had the same thought last night when I saw that call. Jaybo just got a concussion from a similar blow to the head. Nesbitt has taken some wicked hits as well.

 

[ContactBuzz]

I just wish they'd call it when folks do it to us.

It's like they've decided that the triple option doesn't count or something.

they called it last night on a classic option play - except Ponder (the "heady" QB) was running it

 

[midatlantech]

With the new clock rules, teams are getting 10 snaps on offense less (I'm guessing) and these penalties are standing out more because of it. There is less time to overcome stupid calls now.