Game Thread: CFP SEMIFINAL: Clemson (13-0) vs Ohio State (13-0) 8pm ET ESPN

[WizardHawk]

Making contact is irrelevant, we're talking about leading with it. So is this targeting?

Clearly his head is ahead of his shoulder on this tackle. Must've been targeting, right?

This is a still frame you fuck stick. And what I see in it is a helmet that is more than 50% off the side of the carriers body toward the camera. From this angle you cannot clearly see where the tacklers left shoulder is, but it looks like it may be making contact with the body.

This example fails on so many levels that it just smells of desperation to keep blaming the wrong thing for your pain in a loss.

 

[osubuckeye89]

Under the current rules 'incidental' helmet to helmet is going to be called targeting 95% of the time. That it won't be called that 100% is part of the problem. That unintentional contact can be called at all is part of the problem. That this was called under this current rule is not where the problem lies.

Again, this will probably be brought up by your fans for years to come. The issue is the rule, not the enforcement of it.

Eh the enforcement is a issue though because it’s still a judgement call in a way and not all refs call it the same. That being said the ejection part is the worst and can absolutely be game altering if it happens to be one of your best defensive players who gets tossed on a incidental bang bang play that was deemed to be targeting by the specific refs that day.

 

[michaeljordan_fan]

He also launched head-first. Completely different from what we were talking about.

Launching with the helmet is targeting.
Leading with the crown of the helmet is targeting.

 

[michaeljordan_fan]

Eh the enforcement is a issue though because it’s still a judgement call in a way and not all refs call it the same. That being said the ejection part is the worst and can absolutely be game altering if it happens to be one of your best defensive players who gets tossed on a incidental bang bang play that was deemed to be targeting by the specific refs that day.

Agree that the ejection is the most egregious part of the rule.

 

[Across The Field]

This is a still frame you fuck stick. And what I see in it is a helmet that is more than 50% off the side of the carriers body toward the camera. From this angle you cannot clearly see where the tacklers left shoulder is, but it looks like it may be making contact with the body.

This example fails on so many levels that it just smells of desperation to keep blaming the wrong thing for your pain in a loss.

His helmet is ahead of his shoulder pads. What if the offensive player altered his body and his helmet made contact first? Isn't that targeting then?

 

[The Oldtimer]

That's where I started my first point. OSU had all kinds of chances to create enough separation and win, and lost the game on a pick that was entirely their own fault.

The refs didn't screw them out of this game, they lost it on their own.

Good point and where was Ohio State's defense on that last scoring drive, that put Clemson ahead with a minute and half left in the game?

 

[michaeljordan_fan]

His helmet is ahead of his shoulder pads. What if the offensive player altered his body and his helmet made contact first? Isn't that targeting then?

Why are you playing the what if? game...show us a video and we will tell you if it is targeting or not. No replay official is only looking at a still frame.

 

[michaeljordan_fan]

It's now been about 13 hours since OSU choked against Clemson...and their fans are still blaming the refs.

How much longer will this continue?

 

[Across The Field]

Launching with the helmet is targeting.
Leading with the crown of the helmet is targeting.

Again, what Wade did was a natural form tackle where it's physically impossible for your head to not be in front of your shoulders due to human anatomy. It was called targeting because Lawrence lowered his helmet level to meet Wade's. It's physically impossible for your helmet to not be ahead of your shoulders. That's the point.

 

[michaeljordan_fan]

Again, what Wade did was a natural form tackle where it's physically impossible for your head to not be in front of your shoulders due to human anatomy. It was called targeting because Lawrence lowered his helmet level to meet Wade's. It's physically impossible for your helmet to not be ahead of your shoulders. That's the point.

See 1:20 for an example of what the NCAA wants in the tackles:

 

[WizardHawk]

Eh the enforcement is a issue though because it’s still a judgement call in a way and not all refs call it the same. That being said the ejection part is the worst and can absolutely be game altering if it happens to be one of your best defensive players who gets tossed on a incidental bang bang play that was deemed to be targeting by the specific refs that day.

Again, that was the point. The issue isn't whether or not the booth review got the call right under the current rule, it is the current rule has way too much room for wrong interpretation and can lead to ejections from unintentional contact.

The rule was meant to protect players from actual dirty play. And it moved toward always making rough contact with a helmet a crime. It went too far IMO and many fans agree. They aren't likely to dial it back because of the focus on player safety and the threat of law suits from kids as they get older and deal with the effects of brain injury.

They won't change it out of fear of future lawsuits, but it sucks to watch these calls as fans. This is modern football.

 

[Across The Field]

Why are you playing the what if? game...show us a video and we will tell you if it is targeting or not. No replay official is only looking at a still frame.

Clearly Davis' head is out front of his shoulders. This is what Wade did, but Lawrence ducked down and Wade made incidental helmet contact. Just watch Davis' helmet and shoulders. It's nearly identical.

 

[michaeljordan_fan]

Clearly Davis' head is out front of his shoulders. This is what Wade did, but Lawrence ducked down and Wade made incidental helmet contact. Just watch Davis' helmet and shoulders. It's nearly identical.

Looks like he is leading with the shoulder, but multiple angles would provide clarity.

 

[WizardHawk]

Again, what Wade did was a natural form tackle where it's physically impossible for your head to not be in front of your shoulders due to human anatomy. It was called targeting because Lawrence lowered his helmet level to meet Wade's. It's physically impossible for your helmet to not be ahead of your shoulders. That's the point.

See 1:20 for an example of what the NCAA wants in the tackles:

Yes, and I'm sure you have seen some of the same drills at Oregon teaching this. ATF is just being a blind homer to suggest you can't hit with your shoulder into a tackle. I guarantee you it is also taught at OSU, but in the heat of the play proper technique can't always apply and sometimes shit happens where unintended incidental contact happens. Those are going to still be called targeting under the rules today.

 

[Across The Field]

See 1:20 for an example of what the NCAA wants in the tackles:

This is a horrible comparison. The DB here is not in a sprint and is making a tackle from basically a stand-still. So Wade should've stopped his full-on sprint right before he got to Lawrence? That's horrible technique that would've likely resulted in Lawrence easily breaking the tackle. Very, very different situations.

 

[michaeljordan_fan]

This is a horrible comparison. The DB here is not in a sprint and is making a tackle from basically a stand-still. So Wade should've stopped his full-on sprint right before he got to Lawrence? That's horrible technique that would've likely resulted in Lawrence easily breaking the tackle. Very, very different situations.

Sounds like OSU needs to coach its players better on proper tackling form. Sorry that coaching cost you the game.

 

[Across The Field]

Looks like he is leading with the shoulder, but multiple angles would provide clarity.

LOL, his head is literally ahead of his shoulders. It even notes that this is how he caused the fumble. Unfortunately for Wade, Lawrence ducked down and caused the helmet-to-helmet contact. It's literally the exact same form.

 

[Across The Field]

Sounds like OSU needs to coach its players better on proper tackling form. Sorry that coaching cost you the game.

I mean, if we're at this point where you're reaching like this, the conversation is over. It was a perfect form tackle that was called targeting because of what Lawrence did, and then he sold it by acting like he was dazed.

 

[michaeljordan_fan]

LOL, his head is literally ahead of his shoulders. It even notes that this is how he caused the fumble. Unfortunately for Wade, Lawrence ducked down and caused the helmet-to-helmet contact. It's literally the exact same form.

No, but I can see how your peabrain might think it is.

 

[michaeljordan_fan]

I mean, if we're at this point where you're reaching like this, the conversation is over. It was a perfect form tackle that was called targeting because of what Lawrence did, and then he sold it by acting like he was dazed.

Womp, womp. You lost, get over it.

Maybe OSU will hire better defensive coaches to teach their players proper form.