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View Full Version : Tackling the issue of 'proper' tackling



stillers4me
12-10-2010, 05:27 PM
Friday, December 10, 2010
By Bill Brink, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
http://www.post-gazette.com/images5/20101210combo_harrison_tackle_500.jpg
The right way and the wrong way: On the left, James Harrison's hit on Joe Flacco is a textbook example of a proper form tackle, sliding his head to the side of the quarterback's waist and wrapping him up to slam him down. On the right, once a condoned hit, when Harrison's helmet smashed into Bills' quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick's sternum, it was ruled outside of the NFL's new standards and Harrison was fined $25,000. (Peter Diana/Post-Gazette; Mark Mulville/Buffalo News)

Steelers linebacker James Harrison flew unblocked through the Buffalo Bills' offensive line during a football game on Nov. 28 but reached quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick just after he passed the ball. His momentum forced him to hit Fitzpatrick anyway, and the front of Harrison's helmet smashed into Fitzpatrick's chest as he drove him to the ground.
A few years ago, that was a textbook tackle. Now, it's a $25,000 fine for Harrison.
Every level of football is dealing with the ramifications of new information regarding concussions and their causes and effects. The National Football League, in an effort to curb brain-rattling hits and other injuries, increased its enforcement of rules governing hits to the head and leading with the helmet and began fining players who violate those rules. At the center of both issues lies the tackle, the main culprit in recent injuries and fines and yet an irreplaceable part of the game.
NFL rules say a dead ball, or the end of a play, occurs when "a runner is contacted by a defensive player and he touches the ground."
"Tackling is tackling," Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau said. "A good solid tackle can only be done one way."



Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10344/1109646-66.stm#ixzz17kpp8vEI

salamander
12-10-2010, 05:31 PM
Oh come on. He was just giving Fitzpatrick a hug.

Steeldude
12-10-2010, 06:26 PM
it's just not so. the tackle on flacco is the same as the tackle on young. so why is one illegal and the other legal?

also, harrison's helmet is touching flacco's torso. shouldn't it be illegal?