Could the targeting rule be causing more injuries to CFB?

#1
ptcarter

ptcarter

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#1
Just throwing this out there. Not directed at Tennessee's injury situation. The targeting rule has fundamentally changed tackling in college football. Defenders, are taught to hit lower to avoid head to head collisions, which jeopardize knees, ankles and hips. Lou Holtz was describing how formerly, players tackled with their head in front of the defender. Now there is a technique ( and someone please feel free to clarify) where the player leads with his head behind and uses his arms to sling the runner down. It was a radio show and I had trouble visualizing it.

Thoughts?
 
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#4
#4
ptcarter said:
Just throwing this out there. Not directed at Tennessee's injury situation. The targeting rule has fundamentally changed tackling in college football. Defenders, are taught to hit lower to avoid head to head collisions, which jeopardize knees, ankles and hips. Lou Holtz was describing how formerly, players tackled with their head in front of the defender. Now there is a technique ( and someone please feel free to clarify) where the player leads with his head behind and uses his arms to sling the runner down. It was a radio show and I had trouble visualizing it.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

He was probably speaking of the method taught by Pete Carroll at the Seahawks and previously at USC. This method is used in rugby too. https://youtu.be/t1etzT-Cgho
 
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#6
#6
ptcarter said:
It was Lou Holtz describing it. I couldn't picture it. Apparently it's the new way to hit.
Click to expand...

I would think they are trying to stop players leading with the helmet and shoulder pads. The problem is these techniques won't stop pro level running backs.
 
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#7
#7
ptcarter said:
Just throwing this out there. Not directed at Tennessee's injury situation. The targeting rule has fundamentally changed tackling in college football. Defenders, are taught to hit lower to avoid head to head collisions, which jeopardize knees, ankles and hips. Lou Holtz was describing how formerly, players tackled with their head in front of the defender. Now there is a technique ( and someone please feel free to clarify) where the player leads with his head behind and uses his arms to sling the runner down. It was a radio show and I had trouble visualizing it.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

Probably describing a rugby tackle.
 
#8
#8
It might explain the shoulder injuries, since that would be what you're laying in there, right?
I think that, if there's going to be a rule, it should get called on the offense, too.
 
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#11
#11
TennesseeTarheel said:
It might explain the shoulder injuries, since that would be what you're laying in there, right?
I think that, if there's going to be a rule, it should get called on the offense, too.
Click to expand...

I thought the same after reading the op.
 
#13
#13
Since officials obviously don't know what is or isn't targeting there's no way to tell! The only thing established is that if a UT player hits someone, it's targeting. If a UT player is hit, it isn't
 
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#14
#14
volboy81 said:
Since officials obviously don't know what is or isn't targeting there's no way to tell! The only thing established is that if a UT player hits someone, it's targeting. If a UT player is hit, it isn't
Click to expand...

True
 
#15
#15
Seems to me like it could lead to some shoulder injuries. Maybe not on an epidemic level, but could lead to more problems.

The technique to lead with the head in front would be to place more of your body and stopping power in front of the defender while also making your tackle more accurate. If you were approaching the defender from his right, you would be hitting with your left shoulder and placing your head in front of his body. In the same situation, leading with the head behind means the defender would be hitting with his right shoulder and, thus, the head would be behind the runner. Less substantial of a tackle, likely easier to break, and could put the defender at increased risk of shoulder injury I could imagine.

Edit: I agree, could be referring to rugby style. Different philosophy of running through the defender versus pulling him to the ground.
 
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#16
#16
Looks like exactly the style of tackling that injured Foreman and Moseley against aTm.
 
#17
#17
The rugby tackle is the direction that college football is going to force everyone. The proof is in the pudding. Rugby is as violent as football but there no pads. They don't have near as many injuries. It's going make tackling more challenging but it's the future.
 
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#19
#19
xpsyclonex2002 said:
The rugby tackle is the direction that college football is going to force everyone. The proof is in the pudding. Rugby is as violent as football but there no pads. They don't have near as many injuries. It's going make tackling more challenging but it's the future.
Click to expand...

Oh they have plenty of injuries. But since they don't wear helmets, they try to avoid clashing their heads together.

But if that is the direction they want to take the game, it is going to take a whole lot of retraining of coaches at all levels. More like reverting the game back to 1950, and going from there.

That isn't going to be easy.
 
#20
#20
If all teams are adapting to the new technique then why aren't all teams experiencing the same amount of injuries as we are having? We are having injuries on the O & D sides. Can we blame a new technique? A new Strength Coach? I think we suck it up and play like hell for the rest of the season. Show them we are Tough Volunteer SOB's!
 
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#21
#21
ptcarter said:
Just throwing this out there. Not directed at Tennessee's injury situation. The targeting rule has fundamentally changed tackling in college football. Defenders, are taught to hit lower to avoid head to head collisions, which jeopardize knees, ankles and hips. Lou Holtz was describing how formerly, players tackled with their head in front of the defender. Now there is a technique ( and someone please feel free to clarify) where the player leads with his head behind and uses his arms to sling the runner down. It was a radio show and I had trouble visualizing it.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

Rugby players tackle without their head and lots of NFL teams are adopting that technique:

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1etzT-Cgho[/youtube]
 
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#22
#22
As you guys know, football is a contact sport and is violent. No matter which part of the body you use to tackle, it is going to lead to injuries. When you have two immovable objects hitting each other the force created by their speed and weight, something has to give.
 
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#23
#23
Putting your head behind originates from rugby. It is a safer way of open field tackling but doesn't always mean its the easier way. Seahawks use it
 
#24
#24
TNnative said:
Oh they have plenty of injuries. But since they don't wear helmets, they try to avoid clashing their heads together.

But if that is the direction they want to take the game, it is going to take a whole lot of retraining of coaches at all levels. More like reverting the game back to 1950, and going from there.

That isn't going to be easy.
Click to expand...

Ive played rugby for 10 years now and have not suffered an injury connected to the game (knock on wood). I know people who have for decades and had minimal injury. We have our fair share but most injuries are things that could happen anywhere else. Not trying to prove you wrong but rugby is a safe game if it is played correctly. head injuries are rare believe it or not.
 
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#25
#25
I was at a recent dinner with 2 VFL ledgends and they both expressed concerns over the hitter being at risk and that it will unfortunately take an injury to get anyone's attention to change the current rules. I think they were more concerned about the hitters neck by the way the collisions are now. I feel Common since says not to use the crown of your head as weapon but some of the calls are too much like we need to goto flag football.
 
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