Can someone explain why you even have to let the receiver take multiple steps before engaging? It makes no sense to me. I thought as soon as the ball touches their hands your allowed to make a hit. Can some one fill me in on this?
It has to do with deciding whether the player was "defenseless."
There are actually
two NCAA targeting rules, either of which can draw the targeting penalty. One has to do with initiating contact with the crown of the helmet.
Targeting and Initiating Contact With the Crown of the Helmet (Rule 9-1-3): No player shall target and initiate contact against an opponent with the crown (top) of his helmet. When in question, it is a foul.
Moseley very clearly did not do that.
The second rule concerns hitting a defenseless player in the head or neck:
Targeting and Initiating Contact to Head or Neck Area of a Defenseless Player (Rule 9-1-4): No player shall target and initiate contact to the head or neck area of a defenseless opponent with the helmet, forearm, fist, elbow or shoulder. When in question, it is a foul.
So if the player is considered defenseless, hitting him in the head or neck with pretty much any part of your body above the waist is a penalty.
So how does the NCAA define a "defenseless" player? Not very well, the definition is pretty much just a repeat of the word "defenseless." But they do give examples:
Defenseless playera player not in position to defend himself.
Examples:
- A player in the act of or just after throwing a pass.
- A receiver attempting to catch a pass, or one who has completed a catch and has not had time to protect himself or has not clearly become a ball carrier.
- A kicker in the act of or just after kicking a ball, or during the kick or the return.
- A kick returner attempting to catch or recover a kick.
- A player on the ground.
- A player obviously out of the play.
- A player who receives a blind-side block.
- A ball carrier already in the grasp of an opponent and whose forward progress has been stopped.
- A quarterback any time after a change of possession.
I bolded the one that comes closest to applying here.
The bottom line is, the player had time after catching the ball to turn his head forward, adjust his grip on the ball, and take three steps. He was no longer "defenseless" by any reasonable interpretation.
Combine that with the fact that Moseley did not use the crown of his helmet, and it's pretty clear that neither of the rules were violated.
The NCAA should reverse this ruling, and reprimand the replay official.