The worst rule in football...

[Forever151]

I was thinking about the **** call they call targeting when half the time it's just a player making a play without any malicious intent

 

[n_huffhines]

Decent rule with horrible implementation. Feels like a bandaid on a gaping wound though. They want to reduce helmet to helmet injuries but only go after a fraction of the instances of it.

The Miami kid last night made every effort to avoid helmet contact, there was slight helmet contact and he got ejected. It's insane. DBs just need to go for knees but that's gonna result in injuries too.

 

[limsol45]

But the offense didn't recover it either, they shouldn't be able to get the ball back. I propose a jump ball and reintroduce the XFL scramble for the ball to determine who gets the ball.

Seriously, it's not like they don't know the rules. When a player tries to hurdle the pile and tries to stick the ball across the goal line and it gets knocked away into the end zone, should they get the ball back at the one again??

 

[Bryan1]

actually benefited us today. I have stated year after year how terrible and stupid the "fumble out of the end zone is a touchback to the defensive team," rule is. It makes no sense at all. If a fumble goes out of bounds on the 50 yard line, it goes back to the offense. Why does the goal line have to be different? The defense should have to recover the ball to earn possession. It shouldn't be given to them.

The rule should be: if the ball is fumbled forward, goes into the end zone and out of bounds, the ball will be spotted at the point of the fumble. That's what they do if the ball is fumbled forward and goes out of bounds anywhere else on the field. It should be the same for the goal line.

Stupid rule, always hated it. Yes, we benefited from it tonight, but I can think of a few times off the top of my head when it has killed our team something horrible in the past.

Except that the goal line is not out of bounds. If the ball is fumbled into the end zone it is a live ball recoverable by either team. If it crosses the goal line and then goes out of bounds it is a touch back and the opposing team takes over possession. I have no problem with the rule... don't fumble it through the end zone!

 

[BenGrimm]

I see the OP's viewpoint. The 2005 Bama game was the first time I had ever heard of the rule. Since then it's bit TN a few more times which is why I'm not a fan of the rule. Total bias on my pet.

Yesterday was the first time I can remember TN benefiting from the rule so as of right now I'm ok with it. 😁

 

[KoachKrab127]

No. If the offense crosses the goal line, it's a touchdown and ball goes to the other team. Same concept on the fumble, minus the points.


It's like complaining that field goals should be worth the same as XP's. They're both kicks, right?

The endzone produces touchdowns, safeties, and touchbacks. That spans offense and defense.

Penalties change based on field position. Half the distance inside the 10.

The ball being live on kickoffs vs. not live until touched on punts.


The entire fabric of the game is that each situation is different depending on where it happens. It's weird you pick this one situation out.

I think a change of possession should be earned, not given to you just because an arbitrary rule says so. I don't agree with you analogies. Think about getting a first down - the nose of the ball has to get past the line to gain for it to be a first down. Same for a TD - the nose of the ball has to cross the goal line (which is the line to gain, in a goal line situation). That rule is consistent. The ball rolling out of bounds going back to the offense in one instance and not in the other is inconsistent.

IMO, you should have to earn the possession by either recovering a fumble, getting an interception, turnover on downs, or punt situation. It just doesn't make sense to reward the defense the way the rule does. Think about it. Your defense was so bad that the ball went through your own end zone. Therefore you deserve a possession gain and the other team gets no points when you didn't even recover the ball? Doesn't make sense. Now, if the rule was any fumble that goes out of bounds is rewarded to the defense, at least that would be consistent.

 

[KoachKrab127]

I see the OP's viewpoint. The 2005 Bama game was the first time I had ever heard of the rule. Since then it's bit TN a few more times which is why I'm not a fan of the rule. Total bias on my pet.

Yesterday was the first time I can remember TN benefiting from the rule so as of right now I'm ok with it. 😁

The first time I ever saw that rule implemented was in a Bills/Cowboys super bowl back in the early 90s. The Cowboys already were up big, then they intercepted a pass and almost got a TD, but fumbled at the one yard line and the Bills were awarded possession. I was only like 7 years old at the time, but I remember telling my dad that it was a stupid rule back then. I still think it's a stupid rule today.

 

[Orangedogsrule]

I don't think it does, because it's inconsistent with the rules at any other point on the field.

The endzone, or "the touch" is not just any other point on the field. Special rules apply there. You know, like during any down of a series, you're able to possess the ball in the opponents touch, you have a "touch down".

That's not consistent with the rules for any other point. Let's change that.

 

[GAVol]

Targeting is definitely the worst rule...not because the intent is dumb but because in practice it's total chaos.

Wish they'd take targeting out of the hands of the on field officials and have suspensions handled after the game by the SEC office. It's an impossible determination to make a lot of times in real time.

 

[GAVol]

One change I do think they should make... A fumble through the endzone should be a touchback. It should be a change in possession with the ball going back to wherever the official threw the beanbag.

 

[ButchPlz]

Intent has nothing to do with the rule. The rule is in place to stop hits to the head, regardless of intent.

Then the Aggies should have four or five players suspended for next game.