James Harrison at Media Day (1 Viewer)

[Carolina Hustler]

Where was there any spearing, going for knees, hitting after a guy was down or eye gouging with Harrison ? Football is a gladiator sport, the goal of a defensive player is to knock the sh## out of your opponent and take their heart out of the game, so they don't want to get hit like that again, Harrison does that. The notion that hitting people hard isn't the goal is

The Al Bundy Keyboard Warrior mentality isn't something we'll ever be able to eliminate, so I won't even try. I'm glad the league is cracking down on plays that could injure players and shorten careers, no matter how many people whine about it.

Wait, you're telling me the goal of a defensive player is to not to knock the hell out of someone everytime they touch the ball? I'm glad the game hasn't gotten to the sissified state you think it should be.

No, that's not the primary goal... Defensive players make hard hits when they have the opportunity, but thats not the objective..Also, there is a difference between a clean hard hit and a dirty one, you don't seem to be able to make the distinction..And BTW, "everybody does it" is an exaggeration and a poor excuse..

 

[Carolina Hustler]

No offense, but this sounds like the kind of schtick used by Little League parents who want to live vicariously through their children. The goal of a defense is to help the team win. Any coach at any level will tell you if your first concern is to hit someone as hard as you can, you're likely to miss making a clean tackle, wrapping up and stopping someone from gaining a few extra yards or a first down. The fundamentals of the game require hitting hard, and that will never change. But the people who think "hitting as hard as you can" is the main goal of a defense are the ones who contribute to the highlight reels where a player side-steps or bounces off a tackler. One guy was going for Sportscenter, and the other was going for the end zone.

The NFL is not a safe game and never will be. But trying to protect players and their careers is not sissyfying the game.

It's not shtick, I jumped out of my seat when Harrison knocked Cibbs and Massiquoi out on those plays(as I'm sure many more people did that won't admit it), that is the essence of a football hit. Did I want them dead or dribbling into a spittle cup, no, but that is the risk they take when they play football, and get paid handsomely for it. Pro players are trying to knock someones lights out on every tackle if they can, this isn't just a chess match as you like to think, it's about imposing your will and physically dominating another human being.

On every tackle they can? Does that mean there are plays in which they aren't trying to hit hard, but more trying to make the tackle? Are you back off your previous position?

You said something to someone earlier about not ever playing a down of football since they didn't agree that hitting someone as hard as they can was the goal on every play.. That person obviously wouldn't have played professional sports, you didn't either.. I've coached football, we taught the kids to wrap up and bring down the ball carrier.. I've never heard any of the coaches I coached with, nor any of the opposing coaches revert to hitting as hard as they could.. The job of the defender was to give up as few yards as possible, defend the pass, and/or make a clean tackle.. Tackling and hitting are 2 different things.

Clean fundamental tackling beats "hit as hard as you can" every time...

Most fumbles are a result of stripping the ball rather than "hitting as hard as you can"

 

[Sheriff66]

Where was there any spearing, going for knees, hitting after a guy was down or eye gouging with Harrison ?

Football is a gladiator sport, the goal of a defensive player is to knock the sh## out of your opponent and take their heart out of the game, so they don't want to get hit like that again, Harrison does that. The notion that hitting people hard isn't the goal is

The Al Bundy Keyboard Warrior mentality isn't something we'll ever be able to eliminate, so I won't even try. I'm glad the league is cracking down on plays that could injure players and shorten careers, no matter how many people whine about it.

Wait, you're telling me the goal of a defensive player is to not to knock the hell out of someone everytime they touch the ball? I'm glad the game hasn't gotten to the sissified state you think it should be.

No, that's not the primary goal... Defensive plays make hard hits when they have the opportunity, but thats not the objective.. You said primary goal, I didn't

Also, there is a difference between a clean hard hit and a dirty one, you don't seem to be able to make the distinction..

I don't believe those where dirty hits

And BTW, "everybody does it" is an exaggeration and a poor excuse..

It's no exaggeration, and you have zero examples, not shocked

 

[treat88]

I must have missed the litany of illegal hits that Harrison has dished out.

Prior to the first Cleveland match-up this season I really hadn't heard much about Harrison being a dirty player.

 

[Sheriff66]

No offense, but this sounds like the kind of schtick used by Little League parents who want to live vicariously through their children. The goal of a defense is to help the team win. Any coach at any level will tell you if your first concern is to hit someone as hard as you can, you're likely to miss making a clean tackle, wrapping up and stopping someone from gaining a few extra yards or a first down. The fundamentals of the game require hitting hard, and that will never change. But the people who think "hitting as hard as you can" is the main goal of a defense are the ones who contribute to the highlight reels where a player side-steps or bounces off a tackler. One guy was going for Sportscenter, and the other was going for the end zone.

The NFL is not a safe game and never will be. But trying to protect players and their careers is not sissyfying the game.

It's not shtick, I jumped out of my seat when Harrison knocked Cibbs and Massiquoi out on those plays(as I'm sure many more people did that won't admit it), that is the essence of a football hit. Did I want them dead or dribbling into a spittle cup, no, but that is the risk they take when they play football, and get paid handsomely for it. Pro players are trying to knock someones lights out on every tackle if they can, this isn't just a chess match as you like to think, it's about imposing your will and physically dominating another human being.

On every tackle they can? Does that mean there are plays in which they aren't trying to hit hard, but more trying to make the tackle? Are you back off your previous position?

You said something to someone earlier about not ever playing a down of football since they didn't agree that hitting someone as hard as they can was the goal on every play.. That person obviously wouldn't have played professional sports, you didn't either.. I've coached football, we taught the kids to wrap up and bring down the ball carrier.. I've never heard any of the coaches I coached with, nor any of the opposing coaches revert to hitting as hard as they could.. The job of the defender was to give up as few yards as possible, defend the pass, and/or make a clean tackle.. Tackling and hitting are 2 different things.

Clean fundamental tackling beats "hit as hard as you can" every time...

Most fumbles are a result of stripping the ball rather than "hitting as hard as you can"

When a defender makes a tackle, he wants to lay the lumber on every play, but sometimes you can't, obviously. Let's see, if an NFL defender has a choice to...A. Knock the ever loving sh## out of someone and make the tackle

or

B. wrap him up and bring him down like I'm at pratice on a nice soft tackling dummy

What way do you think any NFL player is going to choose to do it?

 

[Sheriff66]

I must have missed the litany of illegal hits that Harrison has dished out.Prior to the first Cleveland match-up this season I really hadn't heard much about Harrison being a dirty player.

We need to lay a nice pillow down for the QB for some of these pansies around here

 

[Carolina Hustler]

No, that's not the primary goal... Defensive plays make hard hits when they have the opportunity, but thats not the objective..

You said primary goal, I didn't

You said:
In Western Pa. that is called football, you hit your opponent as hard as you can everytime they touch the ballFootball is about downs, yards, scoring and tackling.. The objective of the defense is to stop the offense so priority "everytime" would be to stop progress, not to hit hard. If given the choice of whether to make a good tackle or hit someone hard, the coaching staff wants the tackle..

Wait, you're telling me the goal of a defensive player is to not to knock the hell out of someone everytime they touch the ball?

Nope, thats not the goal, the goal is to stop forward progress, impede the 1st down, or prevent the score..

Football is a gladiator sport, the goal of a defensive player is to knock the sh## out of your opponent and take their heart out of the game, so they don't want to get hit like that again, Harrison does that. The notion that hitting people hard isn't the goal is  :lmao: :lmao: :lmao:

Nope, the goal is to stop the offense from scoring and put your offense back on the field, if in the process of doing that the defensive player can make a hard hit he will, but that's not the goal.

That's why its taught that way from high school on up.

Solid fundamental tackling is what high school coaches are looking for, like I said, I've never in my life heard a coach teach players on any level to "Hit as hard as you can"

Also, there is a difference between a clean hard hit and a dirty one, you don't seem to be able to make the distinction..

I don't believe those where dirty hits

I never pointed to any specific hits and said they were dirty, so which hits are you talking about? And do you think Harrison has never made a dirty hit?

And BTW, "everybody does it" is an exaggeration and a poor excuse..

It's no exaggeration, and you have zero examples, not shocked

Example of what? of a defensive player not trying to take someones head off? Of a defensive player trying to make a clean tackle rather than a hard hit? Do you not watch football?

 

[Sheriff66]

Go fish someone else, later

 

[Andrew Garda]

No offense, but this sounds like the kind of schtick used by Little League parents who want to live vicariously through their children. The goal of a defense is to help the team win. Any coach at any level will tell you if your first concern is to hit someone as hard as you can, you're likely to miss making a clean tackle, wrapping up and stopping someone from gaining a few extra yards or a first down. The fundamentals of the game require hitting hard, and that will never change. But the people who think "hitting as hard as you can" is the main goal of a defense are the ones who contribute to the highlight reels where a player side-steps or bounces off a tackler. One guy was going for Sportscenter, and the other was going for the end zone.

The NFL is not a safe game and never will be. But trying to protect players and their careers is not sissyfying the game.

It's not shtick, I jumped out of my seat when Harrison knocked Cibbs and Massiquoi out on those plays(as I'm sure many more people did that won't admit it), that is the essence of a football hit. Did I want them dead or dribbling into a spittle cup, no, but that is the risk they take when they play football, and get paid handsomely for it. Pro players are trying to knock someones lights out on every tackle if they can, this isn't just a chess match as you like to think, it's about imposing your will and physically dominating another human being.

On every tackle they can? Does that mean there are plays in which they aren't trying to hit hard, but more trying to make the tackle? Are you back off your previous position?

You said something to someone earlier about not ever playing a down of football since they didn't agree that hitting someone as hard as they can was the goal on every play.. That person obviously wouldn't have played professional sports, you didn't either.. I've coached football, we taught the kids to wrap up and bring down the ball carrier.. I've never heard any of the coaches I coached with, nor any of the opposing coaches revert to hitting as hard as they could.. The job of the defender was to give up as few yards as possible, defend the pass, and/or make a clean tackle.. Tackling and hitting are 2 different things.

Clean fundamental tackling beats "hit as hard as you can" every time...

Most fumbles are a result of stripping the ball rather than "hitting as hard as you can"

When a defender makes a tackle, he wants to lay the lumber on every play, but sometimes you can't, obviously. Let's see, if an NFL defender has a choice to...A. Knock the ever loving sh## out of someone and make the tackle

or

B. wrap him up and bring him down like I'm at pratice on a nice soft tackling dummy

What way do you think any NFL player is going to choose to do it?

FWIW the tackling has been horrid across the board in the NFl for a few years. Watch as the defensive players ram into player A and hope to G_D the dude goes down. Too many players don't bother wrapping up a player on a tackle, just hammering into a ball carrier in the hopes that he'll knock the guy down.I'm all for hard hits - as long as a player actually tackles.

 

[Carolina Hustler]

No offense, but this sounds like the kind of schtick used by Little League parents who want to live vicariously through their children. The goal of a defense is to help the team win. Any coach at any level will tell you if your first concern is to hit someone as hard as you can, you're likely to miss making a clean tackle, wrapping up and stopping someone from gaining a few extra yards or a first down. The fundamentals of the game require hitting hard, and that will never change. But the people who think "hitting as hard as you can" is the main goal of a defense are the ones who contribute to the highlight reels where a player side-steps or bounces off a tackler. One guy was going for Sportscenter, and the other was going for the end zone.

The NFL is not a safe game and never will be. But trying to protect players and their careers is not sissyfying the game.

It's not shtick, I jumped out of my seat when Harrison knocked Cibbs and Massiquoi out on those plays(as I'm sure many more people did that won't admit it), that is the essence of a football hit. Did I want them dead or dribbling into a spittle cup, no, but that is the risk they take when they play football, and get paid handsomely for it. Pro players are trying to knock someones lights out on every tackle if they can, this isn't just a chess match as you like to think, it's about imposing your will and physically dominating another human being.

On every tackle they can? Does that mean there are plays in which they aren't trying to hit hard, but more trying to make the tackle? Are you back off your previous position?

You said something to someone earlier about not ever playing a down of football since they didn't agree that hitting someone as hard as they can was the goal on every play.. That person obviously wouldn't have played professional sports, you didn't either.. I've coached football, we taught the kids to wrap up and bring down the ball carrier.. I've never heard any of the coaches I coached with, nor any of the opposing coaches revert to hitting as hard as they could.. The job of the defender was to give up as few yards as possible, defend the pass, and/or make a clean tackle.. Tackling and hitting are 2 different things.

Clean fundamental tackling beats "hit as hard as you can" every time...

Most fumbles are a result of stripping the ball rather than "hitting as hard as you can"

When a defender makes a tackle, he wants to lay the lumber on every play, but sometimes you can't, obviously. Let's see, if an NFL defender has a choice to...A. Knock the ever loving sh## out of someone and make the tackle

or

B. wrap him up and bring him down like I'm at pratice on a nice soft tackling dummy

What way do you think any NFL player is going to choose to do it?

The clean tackle was the objective.. to stop progress And more often times, bottling the carrier up and gang tackling was more likely get him down and more likely to force a fumble...

 

[Sheriff66]

FWIW the tackling has been horrid across the board in the NFl for a few years. Watch as the defensive players ram into player A and hope to G_D the dude goes down. Too many players don't bother wrapping up a player on a tackle, just hammering into a ball carrier in the hopes that he'll knock the guy down.

I'm all for hard hits - as long as a player actually tackles.

Agreed, but these pansies acting like these guys shouldn't be and aren't trying to knock the daylights out of someone when they are making a tackle is a joke. Football is as much about physical and psychological domination as X's and O's, and you know Rodgers is going to be well aware of where Harrison is at all times during the game. You know why? It is all about big, punishing hits, hopefully Harrison lays a good one on him early and sends him to the sideline.

 

[treat88]

FWIW the tackling has been horrid across the board in the NFl for a few years. Watch as the defensive players ram into player A and hope to G_D the dude goes down. Too many players don't bother wrapping up a player on a tackle, just hammering into a ball carrier in the hopes that he'll knock the guy down.I'm all for hard hits - as long as a player actually tackles.

Absolutely agree.The highlight reel has fueled a general lack of fundamentals.

 

[Carolina Hustler]

Go fish someone else, later

I said I like Harrison, he plays hard, hits hard, plays with emotion, but I can understand Goodell trying to make the league safer.You argue that Harrison never made a dirty hit, the goal of every defensive player is to hit as hard as they can on every play, and trying to make football safer is sissifing it.. All of which is ridiculous..But I'm fishing when I tell you that... Ok, whatever..

 

[Carolina Hustler]

FWIW the tackling has been horrid across the board in the NFl for a few years. Watch as the defensive players ram into player A and hope to G_D the dude goes down. Too many players don't bother wrapping up a player on a tackle, just hammering into a ball carrier in the hopes that he'll knock the guy down.

I'm all for hard hits - as long as a player actually tackles.

Agreed, but these pansies acting like these guys shouldn't be and aren't trying to knock the daylights out of someone when they are making a tackle is a joke. Football is as much about physical and psychological domination as X's and O's, and you know Rodgers is going to be well aware of where Harrison is at all times during the game. You know why? It is all about big, punishing hits, hopefully Harrison lays a good one on him early and sends him to the sideline.

Why? Cause you can't beat them fair and square? You gotta hurt players and take them out of the game to win?Let me guess, that's the goal of every defensive player... lmao

 

[Sheriff66]

FWIW the tackling has been horrid across the board in the NFl for a few years. Watch as the defensive players ram into player A and hope to G_D the dude goes down. Too many players don't bother wrapping up a player on a tackle, just hammering into a ball carrier in the hopes that he'll knock the guy down.

I'm all for hard hits - as long as a player actually tackles.

Agreed, but these pansies acting like these guys shouldn't be and aren't trying to knock the daylights out of someone when they are making a tackle is a joke. Football is as much about physical and psychological domination as X's and O's, and you know Rodgers is going to be well aware of where Harrison is at all times during the game. You know why? It is all about big, punishing hits, hopefully Harrison lays a good one on him early and sends him to the sideline.

Why? Cause you can't beat them fair and square? You gotta hurt players and take them out of the game to win?Let me guess, that's the goal of every defensive player... lmao

No, because that is football, hit him so hard that he can't continue. You think knocking someones QB out is a bad thing? Ask the Saints last year about Brett Favre in the playoffs. If Harrison or Woodley knocked him out of the game I would stand up and

 

[Carolina Hustler]

FWIW the tackling has been horrid across the board in the NFl for a few years. Watch as the defensive players ram into player A and hope to G_D the dude goes down. Too many players don't bother wrapping up a player on a tackle, just hammering into a ball carrier in the hopes that he'll knock the guy down.

I'm all for hard hits - as long as a player actually tackles.

Agreed, but these pansies acting like these guys shouldn't be and aren't trying to knock the daylights out of someone when they are making a tackle is a joke. Football is as much about physical and psychological domination as X's and O's, and you know Rodgers is going to be well aware of where Harrison is at all times during the game. You know why? It is all about big, punishing hits, hopefully Harrison lays a good one on him early and sends him to the sideline.

Why? Cause you can't beat them fair and square? You gotta hurt players and take them out of the game to win?Let me guess, that's the goal of every defensive player... lmao

No, because that is football, hit him so hard that he can't continue. You think knocking someones QB out is a bad thing? Ask the Saints last year about Brett Favre in the playoffs. If Harrison or Woodley knocked him out of the game I would stand up and

You are strengthening my point actually... That is the behavior the NFL is trying to stop..

Basically you're saying the goal is to hurt someone and that is how you win. That happens, and that is the attitude some defensive players take, but that's not what football is about, and it is the perfect example of what Goodell is trying to stop. If knocking players out of the game was what it was about, then there wouldn't be rules against HTH hits, hitting defenseless players, etc..

 

[STEADYMOBBIN 22]

You wanna make the game safer? Figure out a way to catch these guys from doping. The league was 10 X dirtier 25 years ago. You know what has changed? HGH.

I love everything Harrison stands for and wish I had 11 guys like him on defense. With that being said, you have to be blind not to see he's a HGH or steroid (or both) abusing junkie. He couldn't even make a team for four years, now he's a top 3 LB who suddenly turns into a superstar at age 30?

GTFO.

ETA - To be fair, he isn't the only guy abusing.

 

[Sheriff66]

FWIW the tackling has been horrid across the board in the NFl for a few years. Watch as the defensive players ram into player A and hope to G_D the dude goes down. Too many players don't bother wrapping up a player on a tackle, just hammering into a ball carrier in the hopes that he'll knock the guy down.

I'm all for hard hits - as long as a player actually tackles.

Agreed, but these pansies acting like these guys shouldn't be and aren't trying to knock the daylights out of someone when they are making a tackle is a joke. Football is as much about physical and psychological domination as X's and O's, and you know Rodgers is going to be well aware of where Harrison is at all times during the game. You know why? It is all about big, punishing hits, hopefully Harrison lays a good one on him early and sends him to the sideline.

Why? Cause you can't beat them fair and square? You gotta hurt players and take them out of the game to win?Let me guess, that's the goal of every defensive player... lmao

No, because that is football, hit him so hard that he can't continue. You think knocking someones QB out is a bad thing? Ask the Saints last year about Brett Favre in the playoffs. If Harrison or Woodley knocked him out of the game I would stand up and

You are strengthening my point actually... That is the behavior the NFL is trying to stop..

The game is violent, and I'm sure Matthews would love to turn the corner and knock the snot out of Ben and put him out of the game too, that is the nature of football. The Steelers will try to hit Rodgers as much as possible, and inflict pain on him, and I hope the do early and often.

 

[Stillers Jr.]

The game is violent, and I'm sure Matthews would love to turn the corner and knock the snot out of Ben and put him out of the game too, that is the nature of football. The Steelers will try to hit Rodgers as much as possible, and inflict pain on him, and I hope the do early and often. :(

Dude, do yourself a favor...do not get sucked into the Carolina Hustler vortex.

 

[BigSteelThrill]

The game is violent, and I'm sure Matthews would love to turn the corner and knock the snot out of Ben and put him out of the game too, that is the nature of football. The Steelers will try to hit Rodgers as much as possible, and inflict pain on him, and I hope the do early and often.

Dude, do yourself a favor...do not get sucked into the Carolina Hustler vortex.

A big yellow patch in the middle of the Shark Pool.

 

[Carolina Hustler]

The game is violent, and I'm sure Matthews would love to turn the corner and knock the snot out of Ben and put him out of the game too, that is the nature of football. The Steelers will try to hit Rodgers as much as possible, and inflict pain on him, and I hope the do early and often.

Dude, do yourself a favor...do not get sucked into the Carolina Hustler vortex.

A big yellow patch in the middle of the Shark Pool.

When it comes to you 3, it's Black & Yellow..At least some of the other Steelers fans around here can look at things objectively.. I don't expect all football fans to not be 's but you 3 in particular take the cake when it comes to the SteelersHomers...

 

[BigSteelThrill]

The game is violent, and I'm sure Matthews would love to turn the corner and knock the snot out of Ben and put him out of the game too, that is the nature of football. The Steelers will try to hit Rodgers as much as possible, and inflict pain on him, and I hope the do early and often.

Dude, do yourself a favor...do not get sucked into the Carolina Hustler vortex.

A big yellow patch in the middle of the Shark Pool.

When it comes to you 3, it's Black & Yellow..At least some of the other Steelers fans around here can look at things objectively.. I don't expect all football fans to not be 's but you 3 in particular take the cake when it comes to the SteelersHomers...

That's fine, avid fans of their OWN teams should be expected; but you are a troll. A blight on these forums.

 

[Carolina Hustler]

The game is violent, and I'm sure Matthews would love to turn the corner and knock the snot out of Ben and put him out of the game too, that is the nature of football. The Steelers will try to hit Rodgers as much as possible, and inflict pain on him, and I hope the do early and often.

Dude, do yourself a favor...do not get sucked into the Carolina Hustler vortex.

A big yellow patch in the middle of the Shark Pool.

When it comes to you 3, it's Black & Yellow..At least some of the other Steelers fans around here can look at things objectively.. I don't expect all football fans to not be 's but you 3 in particular take the cake when it comes to the SteelersHomers...

That's fine, avid fans of their OWN teams should be expected; but you are a troll. A blight on these forums.

Calling me a Troll is your only defense/attack/comeback.... Because typically you're exposing the overzealous nature of your homerism with a lack of objectivity... Being such an "avid fan" is usually your undoing when trying to have any meaningful discussion as it relates to the Steelers or any of their players..So go ahead and call me whatever you want, it only shows you haven't anything better to say..

 

[Stillers Jr.]

The game is violent, and I'm sure Matthews would love to turn the corner and knock the snot out of Ben and put him out of the game too, that is the nature of football. The Steelers will try to hit Rodgers as much as possible, and inflict pain on him, and I hope the do early and often.

Dude, do yourself a favor...do not get sucked into the Carolina Hustler vortex.

A big yellow patch in the middle of the Shark Pool.

When it comes to you 3, it's Black & Yellow..At least some of the other Steelers fans around here can look at things objectively.. I don't expect all football fans to not be 's but you 3 in particular take the cake when it comes to the SteelersHomers...

That's fine, avid fans of their OWN teams should be expected; but you are a troll. A blight on these forums.

I like to jab people with a sharp stick every now and again CH, but dude, you've taken it to a complete other level. Relentless in your pursuit of trolling Steeler fans...Hopefully you're laughing at home about the pot you're stirring with a canoe paddle, but if all this is for real? Man, seriously, you need help.

 

[Carolina Hustler]

I like to jab people with a sharp stick every now and again CH, but dude, you've taken it to a complete other level. Relentless in your pursuit of trolling Steeler fans...Hopefully you're laughing at home about the pot you're stirring with a canoe paddle, but if all this is for real? Man, seriously, you need help.

For the record, I don't hate the Steelers. There isn't a player on that team I dislike outside of Rothlisberger. He plays great, fine ball player. I dislike him for his Character/moral/integrity issues... It would be really had for anyone to keep their heads screwed on straight given the situation NFL players are typically in.. But he has been wrong, and a few homers here just refuse to see it. I used to enjoy watching him play. Likely at this point what has driven me further away would be some of the obnoxious, blind, BigBen apologists I read in this forum... Harrison is actually a player I like, he and Troy are fun to watch and I expect I'll enjoy watching them both in the Superbowl.We have built a rivalry, a few Steelers fans and I, that started with Bens issues and my position on them. I don't mind it, I actually enjoy it. But it's not intended to be a hate/hate rivalry.. Godsbrother and I seem to be able to have decent conversations, and I enjoy that as well.. I think he realizes Ben has made mistakes. A few others refuse to even entertain the idea, so usually attacks on me whenever the discussion comes up would be the outcome. I give it back with a jab here and there.Some are sharp enough to separate what I post into "he doesn't really mean that, he's just clowning around" and "that's a solid post with intent for real discussion"Yes I do razz a few Steelers fans, but not because I hate/dislike.. Because a few of them are just fun to BS with... (And some take the discussion a bit far... name calling and such)

 

[Dr. Awesome]

You wanna make the game safer? Figure out a way to catch these guys from doping. The league was 10 X dirtier 25 years ago. You know what has changed? HGH. I love everything Harrison stands for and wish I had 11 guys like him on defense. With that being said, you have to be blind not to see he's a HGH or steroid (or both) abusing junkie. He couldn't even make a team for four years, now he's a top 3 LB who suddenly turns into a superstar at age 30? GTFO.ETA - To be fair, he isn't the only guy abusing.

 

[Neil Beaufort Zod]

No offense, but this sounds like the kind of schtick used by Little League parents who want to live vicariously through their children. The goal of a defense is to help the team win. Any coach at any level will tell you if your first concern is to hit someone as hard as you can, you're likely to miss making a clean tackle, wrapping up and stopping someone from gaining a few extra yards or a first down. The fundamentals of the game require hitting hard, and that will never change. But the people who think "hitting as hard as you can" is the main goal of a defense are the ones who contribute to the highlight reels where a player side-steps or bounces off a tackler. One guy was going for Sportscenter, and the other was going for the end zone.

The NFL is not a safe game and never will be. But trying to protect players and their careers is not sissyfying the game.

It's not shtick, I jumped out of my seat when Harrison knocked Cibbs and Massiquoi out on those plays(as I'm sure many more people did that won't admit it), that is the essence of a football hit. Did I want them dead or dribbling into a spittle cup, no, but that is the risk they take when they play football, and get paid handsomely for it. Pro players are trying to knock someones lights out on every tackle if they can, this isn't just a chess match as you like to think, it's about imposing your will and physically dominating another human being.

On every tackle they can? Does that mean there are plays in which they aren't trying to hit hard, but more trying to make the tackle? Are you back off your previous position?

You said something to someone earlier about not ever playing a down of football since they didn't agree that hitting someone as hard as they can was the goal on every play.. That person obviously wouldn't have played professional sports, you didn't either.. I've coached football, we taught the kids to wrap up and bring down the ball carrier.. I've never heard any of the coaches I coached with, nor any of the opposing coaches revert to hitting as hard as they could.. The job of the defender was to give up as few yards as possible, defend the pass, and/or make a clean tackle.. Tackling and hitting are 2 different things.

Clean fundamental tackling beats "hit as hard as you can" every time...

Most fumbles are a result of stripping the ball rather than "hitting as hard as you can"

That's what I've been saying. It's amazing that people can watch and really think the goal is to hit someone as hard as they can. The best defenses (including the Steelers) aren't great because they hit the hardest. Every defense in the NFL hits hard. Every starter on every defense is one of the best 350 defensive players on the planet, or close to it.

They're great because they give you NOTHING you don't earn. They make open field tackles. They close the gap on receivers quickly, forcing near-perfect passes. They get their hands up on the line. They pressure the QB and force him to throw a half-second earlier than they wanted. They wrap up and swarm to the ball. You don't see sloppy arm tackles. They make it very hard to get past even one guy, because that guy is doing all the right things to tackle you and make it hard to get away from him...and several are about to be right there to assist.

Yes, they hit hard. So do the Bengals and the Rams and the Panthers. But the Steelers are coached better and their players execute better. Even if they do actually hit a little bit harder, that wouldn't be what makes them so great. It's everything else I mentioned, done consistently over the course of a game and a season.

Capers and LeBeau aren't great because they preach "hit harder!" They're superior coaches at their positions. They don't teach "hit as hard as you can." They teach how to win a game, not allow points, limit red zone touchdowns, strip the ball, and game plan for each offense.

Again, the goal is NOT to hit as hard as you can, or hurt your opponent. The goal is to help the team win the game, and if that's by forcing a young QB into mistakes, or limiting a talented QB's opportunities, or taking away the best offensive player, or playing prevent and let the clock work in their favor, or whatever...they do it. But they win by wrapping up, tackling and not allowing second chances or long gains on broken tackles.

But I must admit that I never played pro ball and I never scored four touchdowns in a single high school game like a famous shoe salesman. So they got me there.

 

[renesauz]

It's a violent sport, but protecting the players does not hurt the game or the goal in any way. I'm not sure Harrison gets that.

I can show you clips of vicious hits that were not penalized or fined and some plays where a QB just barely gets grazed and flags are flying. One play in particular turned a fumble recovery by the Eagles into a 15 yard gain for the Colts because of an absolute BS roughing the passer call. I can't stand the Eagles but I was outraged by that call (and others like it). If you don't think that hurts the game or the goal of winning then I am not sure what to tell you.The league has gone absolutely nuts with these fines and it does nothing to help protect players. It was a knee-jerk reaction instituted by a crappy commissioner to give the appearance that he is doing something about player safety.ETA: the adjective crappy in front of the word commissioner.

I actually agree with you to a very large degree. Grazing a QB's helmet while attempting to block a pass should NOT be flagged. Many "defenseless receiver" flags are bogus.Unfortunately, many are not. Some guys are not trying to make a tackle, or even trying to hit hard. A handful of players have it in their minds to actually no poop hurt someone. Harrison has, on multiple occassions, hit someone in such a way that it left no doubt that his intent was NOT a simnple tackle, or even to hit hard, but to cause bodily harm. A flying elbow clearly aimed at a PRONE QB's head is just such an example. The guy's a dirtbag, plain and simple.(BTW...I have no ill will towards the Steelers whatsoever, just Harrison)ALso...I did clearly mistype earlier this thread...correcting now.

 

[Stillers Jr.]

Yes I do razz a few Steelers fans, but not because I hate/dislike.. Because a few of them are just fun to BS with... (And some take the discussion a bit far... name calling and such)

I get it CH, you are moved by our passion.That's why I despise you so......

 

[Carolina Hustler]

Yes I do razz a few Steelers fans, but not because I hate/dislike.. Because a few of them are just fun to BS with... (And some take the discussion a bit far... name calling and such)

I get it CH, you are moved by our passion.That's why I despise you so......

Just wait till the Packers win tomorrow.. You'll really hate me then

 

[Shermanator]

To sum it all up...

Steelers fans = love Harrison and his Shtick

Everyone else = hates his idiocy and dirty play

//thread