Fiesta Bowl: #3 Clemson 29, #2 Ohio State 23 (Postgame)

[Hawkinole]

My final post on this topic involves, what is a defenseless player?

Defenseless players can be defined as any of the following, but not limited to:

• a player in the act of or just after throwing a pass.
• a receiver attempting to catch a forward pass or in position to receive a backward 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, or one who has completed a catch or recovery and has not had time to protect himself or has not clearly become a ball carrier.
• 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.
• a ball carrier who has obviously given himself up and is sliding feet-first.

https://www.si.com/college/2018/08/21/college-football-helmet-targeting-rule-explained

How was Trevor Lawrence defenseless in any of these definitional examples? Plus, Trevor Lawrence was defending by choosing to lower his shoulder and helmet. This call was not as bad as the pass completion, fumble scoop and score, but this call was bumbled. Not a good day for SEC officiating. Someone sitting in the luxury box with video screens ought to be fired.

[Kris60]

No one is arguing Lawrence was defenseless. He wasn’t. The rule itself is bad. It puts defenders in a terrible spot if the if the ball carrier changes their head level at the last second. 

But a lot of this can be avoided if the defender simply doesn’t duck their head and lead with the crown of their helmet.  The old adage is “see what you hit.”  Wade didn’t and it cost him. If his face mask is what makes contact with Lawrence’s helmet then he isn’t tossed. I saw WVU guys get tossed several times this year for hits similar to that on ball carriers.

And can we stop with the “rigged” stuff?  A bad call doesn’t mean it was done on purpose.

[MaximumSam]

My biggest problem with it is it engaged in endless rules following.  This is the biggest game of the kid's life, no flag was thrown, you need to be very certain before ejecting him.  Sure, you can defend the decision based on the rule (and say it was wrong based on the rule) but in a holistic sense the rule was not put in to end that kind of play.  Following it like that makes everyone mad, talk about changing the rules when really you just need to apply common sense to the situation.  It's like when they changed the celebration rules and then refs started flagging every kid that smiled after a touchdown.

[847badgerfan]

No one is arguing Lawrence was defenseless. He wasn’t. The rule itself is bad. It puts defenders in a terrible spot if the if the ball carrier changes their head level at the last second.

But a lot of this can be avoided if the defender simply doesn’t duck their head and lead with the crown of their helmet.  The old adage is “see what you hit.”  Wade didn’t and it cost him. If his face mask is what makes contact with Lawrence’s helmet then he isn’t tossed. I saw WVU guys get tossed several times this year for hits similar to that on ball carriers.

And can we stop with the “rigged” stuff?  A bad call doesn’t mean it was done on purpose.

There are lots of coincidences here, K.

[Benthere2]

I didn't like either call on the field but the targeting rule sucks as it is written as the intention is for safety, but only takes the guy getting hit into account.
  
in this play if Wade would have had his head up he could have done injury to himself as his head would have been in a bad position.  He was not going after the QB's head he aimed at his midsection. A RB can lower his head to prevent a head injury but others cannot?  this is where I have the most problems with the rule.  if the rule is for safety then Wade did what he did to keep his own health intact. the QB endangered himself by attempting to curl up for the hit

the rule needs to be further defined this off season

the Catch/fumble was horrible and the NCAA needs to explain how it could overturn that video with clear and definite evidence

[847badgerfan]

The NCAA has nothing to do with the playoffs and does not sponsor a championship. It's all ESecPN.

[bayareabadger]

The NCAA has nothing to do with the playoffs and does not sponsor a championship. It's all ESecPN.

This seems not true. The NCAA has a great deal to do with the playoff. If might not outright own the thing, but the thing is in the hands of its sub-entities and corporate partners. Plus this game is played by its rules with officials it blesses. 

[Kris60]

There are lots of coincidences here, K.

There really aren’t. There was a questionable call in the catch/fumble. And the more I think about the whole “completing the process of a catch” thing the more I’m starting to think it may have been the correct call.

[FearlessF]

it was a bad overturn

if it adheres to the rule of completing the catch, the rule needs to be changed

IMO

[847badgerfan]

I linked a twitter post above, from a respected former NFL official. He does the booth work for NBC Sunday night now.

[Kris60]

I linked a twitter post above, from a respected former NFL official. He does the booth work for NBC Sunday night now.

I get it but the in game expert on the game disagreed right from the start. Even before it was  overturned he was saying it should be overturned.

And even if it was a bad overturn it doesn’t mean  it was done with bad intentions.

[847badgerfan]

I get it but the in game expert on the game disagreed right from the start. Even before it was  overturned he was saying it should be overturned.

And even if it was a bad overturn it doesn’t mean  it was done with bad intentions.

You mean, the expert from ESecPN?


Gotcha.

[MrNubbz]

The rule itself is bad. It puts defenders in a terrible spot if the if the ball carrier changes their head level at the last second.

Lock the thread

[Kris60]

You mean, the expert from ESecPN?


Gotcha.

C’mon Badge. Really?