The future of the football kickoff return (HS, NCAA, NFL)

[Smoke68]

Hits like this make me cringe. UA's Christian Jones had a full head of steam from running down the field and came straight into defenseless Brandon Holloway coming to the ball. The fact that Holloway checked up just before the hit likely allowed him to walk off the field. Even though there was some helmet-helmet contact, I think it's pretty obvious that Jones' only intention was to knock the ever-livin crap out of Holloway. He lowered his shoulder and centered his upper chest. It was legal, and I think the refs did the right thing by keeping flags in their pockets. Hits like these can happen in all areas of the game, but no situation in football consistently puts players on a full sprint (from both directions) impact like kickoffs.

My prediction is that the kickoff will be a thing of the past within the next 5 years at all levels. A part of me hates to see it go, and while I love seeing my team land huge hits against an opponent, I have to remember that this is a sport. And there is a line between this being a naturally violent sport and allowing situations which consistently put players at an abnormally high risk of life-impacting injuries.

On the flip side, Holloway should have called for a fair catch.

My $0.02.

[Greenhead22]

He still would've been laid out, even on a fair catch. The hit should've been flagged and Jones ejected from the game.

[Smoke68]

He still would've been laid out, even on a fair catch. The hit should've been flagged and Jones ejected from the game.

Agreed that he still would have been hit. Agree to disagree on the flag, but the point is that it's the nature of the kickoff itself that creates these situations on a consistent basis. They could make a rule that gives the opposing team 3 points on these types of plays, plus ejecting the offending player + another player of the opposing team's choice, and they will still happen.

[SWAG]

Think he was catching that ball on a bounce if I remember correctly. Punt? Do not think you would call a fair catch on a ball that had already hit the ground. That is one of the times when you better stay away from it. Nothing good was going to happen by catching it. Lucky it was not a fumble. On the flip side, I have disagreed with many "targeting" calls this season and said that it is just part of football in most circumstances. In this case, that is CLEAR targeting of a DEFENSELESS player, in which what the rule was written for in the first place. Only reason Bama player slowed up was to position himself to lay the lick. I think it was an awkward play....ball bouncing, player going for it near sideline, unbelievable hit....refs never threw flag because it all happened so quick and out of the oridnary. Should have been a flag right there.

[Smoke68]

Think he was catching that ball on a bounce if I remember correctly. Punt? Do not think you would call a fair catch on a ball that had already hit the ground. That is one of the times when you better stay away from it. Nothing good was going to happen by catching it. Lucky it was not a fumble. On the flip side, I have disagreed with many "targeting" calls this season and said that it is just part of football in most circumstances. In this case, that is CLEAR targeting of a DEFENSELESS player, in which what the rule was written for in the first place. Only reason Bama player slowed up was to position himself to lay the lick. I think it was an awkward play....ball bouncing, player going for it near sideline, unbelievable hit....refs never threw flag because it all happened so quick and out of the oridnary. Should have been a flag right there.

Watched the whole replay. You're right it was off a bounce, so no fair catch was allowed. It was not a punt, it was a kickoff. If he didn't go for it, it's a live ball.

Anyways, the targeting rule specifically states that the hit has to be above the shoulders, meaning head or neck area. The blow was received primarily to the upper chest. While it was a huge hit on a defenseless player, technically it shouldn't have been targeting.

That being said, I could care less about this play specifically. Didn't mean to emphasize this play as much, just using it as an example of a common occurrence on kickoffs, including hits that don't involve the ball carrier.

[SNOT]

I've seen FAR less on a lot of targeting penalties this year-----the refs this year have definitely thrown the flag for targeting if there was any question about it and most times they'll review the play, not eject the player but the penalty still stands....I can't believe they didn't make the call on Jones....and props to Holloway for standing there and taking the lick----he knew what was gonna happen but didn't budge----and for him to be that small and do that is even more impressive---I bet he earned some respect from his team for that...

Check out Georgia defensive end Ray Drew as he shoves Vanderbilt quarterback Austyn Carta-Samuels just above the shoulder pads after the latter delivers a pass in Saturday’s second quarter.
Drew was ejected in the first half against Vanderbilt, meaning he’ll miss the remainder of the game but return for Georgia’s neutral-site date with Florida on Nov. 2.

http://www.sportingnews.com/ncaa-footba ... -video-gif

Oklahoma guy gets called with BS targeting:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6F3fwRuEUU

Texas A&M guy ejected for targeting:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bvLkL3-eFk


There have been so many terrible targeting calls this year that I can't believe Jones wasn't called for targeting.

[mfalkner]

I'm with Snot on this call. I hate the whole targeting penalty as it is currently being enforced, but I've seen at least 3 flagged with much less helmet-helmet contact. Keith Lewis from OM got flagged for it against A&M - the replay clearly showed his facemask right in the numbers, then he slid up and the hat contact was made. Textbook tackling technique, flag, drama, he's back in - but still 15 yd penalty that led to an A&M touchdown.

Jones was clearly out to crunch the return man, nothing more. As I understand the rule, the refs are supposed to flag it even if it's borderline.

I hope they fix the rule next year so that it can be enforced sensibly. It's needed, but it's a joke right now.

[skywalker]

it's football.......should all football teams get a trophy at the end of the year as well? Hard hit, right in the chest and there is still crying. He didnt lead with the crown of his head and the only helmet to helmet was due to the dudes neck 'snappin' on impact. If this had been an MSU player laying the hit on a Bama player there would be no discussion. Good lick, nothing to see, carry on.

[SNOT]

I absolutely hate the new targeting penalty----I wasn't saying Jones really did anything wrong---it's just that I've seen a ton of hits that were half as hard and weren't helmet to helmet that were flagged.....but this is where it could've easily applied to Jones:
No player shall target and initiate contact to the head or neck area of a defenseless opponent.

He seemed pretty defenseless to me....

Whoever made the rule up should never have any input in football rules again---a player can get flagged for targeting another and it's an automatic ejection---but the play is automatically reviewed to see if the player actually targeted the other player and if the review shows he didn't then he can stay in the game but the penalty STILL STANDS.....how f'in stupid is that.

[mshunter77]

I have disagreed with many of the targeting penalties that I have seen but I would not have had an issue with it on this one. Also I thought Craig Loston should have been flagged for his hit on Kevin Norwood last weekend. Jones was no doubt trying to lay a big hit on him but I don't think he was trying to make a dirty hit. As far as the original intent of the post I agree that there will be many changes to kickoffs and punts I the next few years.

[420 racin]

It's called football, it is a contact sport, if he doesn't want to get hit "hard" he should have played golf. They all know they could be hit or hit someones else "hard" like this on every play, it's the nature of the game THEY CHOOSE to play. I agree with trying to make the equipment and all safer, but to try to change the way the game is played...I don't agree with...but to the OP, it will change drastically in the future years.

[mfalkner]

I don't think anybody is saying don't pass a lick. BUT if they are gonna have a penalty on the books, then call it when it happens (and don't call it when it isn't there...).

There is a difference between a good solid lick and headhunting. And like it or not, the lawyers have changed everything else and they will eventually change this too.