09-10-2018, 11:21 AM
(09-10-2018, 10:40 AM)shanebo Wrote: This. I don't like it either, but the "pancaking" penalty was a correct interpretation of the new rule as written. They've been calling this all preseason, and hit Grady Jarrett with the same call on Thursday night. Nice explanation of the rule by Collinsworth:
https://deadspin.com/falcons-grady-jarrett-gets-flagged-for-not-levitating-a-1828874308
They got Myles Garrett v. Steelers, too, negated a 4th down stop. I guess they expect the defenders to roll off the QB after the hit. Here's the rule:
A rushing defender is prohibited from committing such intimidating and punishing acts as “stuffing” a passer into the ground or unnecessarily wrestling or driving him down after the passer has thrown the ball, even if the rusher makes his initial contact with the passer within the one-step limitation provided for in (a) above. When tackling a passer who is in a defenseless posture (e.g., during or just after throwing a pass), a defensive player must not unnecessarily or violently throw him down or land on top of him with all or most of the defender’s weight. Instead, the defensive player must strive to wrap up the passer with the defensive player’s arms and not land on the passer with all or most of his body weight.
There appears to be two schools of thought on the penalty ...
1. it was called because of the "driving him to the ground" interpretation; OR
2. it was called because of contact to the head/neck area at the start of the sack.
Personally, I think it was #2 (above) but still, the whole thing was a big, steaming #2.
