Championship Playoff

[BATCAB27]

There is another present for Alabama. A free fumble.

yep, and the reception before that for the 1st down looked like it hit may have hit the ground.

[ozark trout fisher]

Obviously pushing down the pussie QB is now targeting.

I thought you had to lead with the helmet.

I'm the biggest Mizzou homer ever. But that was literally the definition of targeting. It was just a dumb play by Shane Ray.

That said, the choice not to review the fumble was insane. Gary Danielson hates Mizzou, and even he thought that was bad. What was going on there?

Nice TD to get back in it though. Keeping it interesting, at least.

[Chief Grey Bear]

Target is not leading and making contact with your hands.

Even the comontators said it wasn't targeting and agreed worse hits have been made and not called.

[Chief Grey Bear]

If Bammer wants to win, I would suggest not rushing Mauk out of the pocket.

[Chief Grey Bear]

I should say continue leading.

[Flysmallie]

Roll Tide

[Chief Grey Bear]

Yeah, it's over now.

Congrats to Alabama.

[Chief Grey Bear]

http://www.afca.com/article/article.php?id=2342

Targeting and Crown-of-Helmet Guidelines

TARGETING AND CROWN-OF-HELMET GUIDELINES FOR COACHES, PLAYERS AND OFFICIALS

INTRODUCTION

With the 2013 rule change that makes ejection from the game a part of the penalty for targeting fouls coaches, players and officials need to have a clear understanding of Rules 9-1-3 and 9-1-4. It is very important to understand that these fouls have not changed from previous years, and officials should officiate these plays as in the past. The characterization of defenseless players has been expanded (see below), but otherwise these rules for the fouls remain as they have been. It is the penalty that has changed.

These guidelines are intended to assist everyone involved in the game to understand these rules, which are so important in protecting the safety of the student-athlete.

RULES

Targeting and Initiating Contact With the Crown of the Helmet (Rule 9-1-3)

No player shall target and initiate contact against an opponent with the crown (top) of his helmet. When in question, it is a foul.

Targeting and Initiating Contact to Head or Neck Area of a Defenseless Player (Rule 9-1-4)

No player shall target and initiate contact to the head or neck area of a defenseless opponent with the helmet, forearm, fist, elbow or shoulder. When in question, it is a foul. (Rule 2-27-14)

Note: Beginning in 2013, ejection from the game is a part of the penalty for violation of both Rule 9-1-3 and Rule 9-1-4.

KEY ELEMENTS

Targetto take aim at an opponent for purposes of attacking with an apparent intent that goes beyond making a legal tackle or a legal block or playing the ball.

Crown of the Helmetthe top portion of the helmet.

Contact to the head or neck areanot only with the helmet, but also with the forearm, fist, elbow, or shoulderthese can all lead to a foul.

Defenseless playera player not in position to defend himself.

Examples (Rule 2-27-14):

A player in the act of or just after throwing a pass.

A receiver attempting to catch a pass, or one who has completed a catch and has not had time to protect himself or has not clearly become a ball carrier.

A kicker in the act of or just after kicking a ball, or during the kick or the return.

A kick returner attempting to catch or recover a kick.

A player on the ground.

A player obviously out of the play.

A player who receives a blind-side block.

A ball carrier already in the grasp of an opponent and whose forward progress has been stopped.

A quarterback any time after a change of possession.

KEY INDICATORS

Risk of a foul is high with one or more of these:

Launcha player leaving his feet to attack an opponent by an upward and forward thrust of the body to make contact in the head or neck area

A crouch followed by an upward and forward thrust to attack with contact at the head or neck areaeven though one or both feet are still on the ground

Leading with helmet, forearm, fist, hand or elbow to attack with contact at the head or neck area

Lowering the head before attacking by initiating contact with the crown of the helmet

These indicate less risk of a foul:

Heads-up tackle in which the crown of the helmet does not strike above the shoulders

Wrap-up tackle

Head is to the side rather than being used to initiate contact

Incidental helmet contact that is not part of targeting but is due to the players changing position during the course of play

HINTS FOR PLAYERS

Dont lead with your head

Lower your target--dont go for the head or neck area with anything

Tackle: Heads-up and wrap-up

Rogers Redding

National Coordinator of Football Officials

As I read this rule and what I saw, he hit him in the chest area with his hands first. Right - wrong?? He was not leading with his helmet that I saw. Initial contact was not made to Sims helmet including the face mask.

[Al Agnew]

There was helmet to helmet contact, and it was pretty hard contact. However, I agree with you that initial contact was Ray's hands. I think he was caught in an unfortunate position. Charging hard straight toward the qb, no time to stop, qb is at full height just after releasing the pass while Ray is leaning forward a bit as he's charging. His helmet is automatically a little beneath the qb's helmet. He was going to get called for roughing the passer no matter what, but I really believe he had no chance to avoid what happened. He was not leading with the crown of his helmet, but as it happened the upper part of his helmet made hard contact. Borderline call, and probably shouldn't have resulted in his ejection in a championship game.

[Flysmallie]

He had time to avoid it. But it should not have been an ejection.