Understanding Hard-Hitting Rules

[mlmpetert]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

You would basically be taking away any passes over the middle. I just don't see that as a practical solution. The NFL isn't going to put in a rule like that as the end result would hamper offenses.

It would cut down on passes over the middle, but only on over the middle passes where the receiver continues to the outside (the hit was made around where the 40 was painted). And if you watch the video Maclin was open well before running into the CB zone. But I do agree with you in that it could dramatically cut down on offense, which the NFL prizes over anything, potentially even player safety.

The funny thing is that the only thing to deter coaches from putting their WR’s in these defenseless positions is that there was a good chance the wide out would get jacked up and fumble the ball. Now a coach can say if he gets jacked up and fumbles it doesn’t matter cause we just got a additional 15 yards. If anything I would say we are going to see more of these kind of hits as coaches exploit the defenseless receiver rule…..