Topic: College Football's Targeting Rule

[FreebirdSTF]

Is being applied as badly as everyone feared knew it would be.

Here's the latest one.

http://deadspin.com/big-hit-is-not-a-disqualification-still-a-penalty-1417541744

[RealMarchHare]

Huh that would have drawn a defenseless receiver flag in the NFL.  Was still in the air when hit.  Led with the shoulder though which was good.

[FreebirdSTF]

In college an automatic ejection is also attached to the penalty.  Except they can review that and if they determine it wasn't a foul after all then the guy stays in...but the penalty yardage stands.  That's what happened here and it makes no sense.

In this case it was a clean hit anyway and the officials apparently agreed on review.  It's an awful rule and the officials are awful at enforcing it.  Worst part is that everyone said the day they announced it that it would be a clusterf*ck and the officials have only proved us all right.

I'm not an expert on the NFL rule, but I don't believe that would rightly be flagged there either.

[RealMarchHare]

From my understanding with the NFL is that while a receiver is in the air still catching the ball they can not be touched as they are considered defenseless.  It has been driving Safety's and Cornerbacks nuts as it practically is guaranteeing yardage for the offense with no way to defend against it.  As such this would have qualified under the defenseless receiver rule.

[FreebirdSTF]

Then minus the ejection the NFL's rule is worse then.  Either way this was a blown call where the player got to stay in the game, but was still assessed a bullshit 15 yard penalty that the officials essentially admit is bullshit.  Dumb rule. 

Watching the BAMA game tonight a guy got a flag for this where he ran into a wide receiver who was lowering his head.  The DB went low, but the WR brought his head down into the target range.  They collide, the DB is flagged, the whole thing is reviewed and he stays in the game, but they still assess the foul. 

The absolute worst part is that they have told the officials, "If there is any doubt then throw the flag."  That's a pretty terrible standard to use imho especially when an ejection is warranted for that penalty.

[RealMarchHare]

Luckily in the NFL if the receiver/running back lowers his head then any contact is not penalized.  That's viewed as the player willfully putting themselves in harms way.  Either way the NFL, and NCAA from the sounds of it, are really kicking into high gear on player safety but jesus christ are they doing it in some really odd ways