Boo....how much more will you limit the defense?
All of the rule changes to help out offenses.
Why don't you ask Ray Lewis what he thinks about a WR coming for a crack/stalk block or lineman taking out his knees...while he has to tackle RB's with a nerf helmet.
When do all of those big time collisions happen? Not with a RB in general....b/c the defender should be taking them lower/taking their legs out. QB's can't get hit high or low already.
So that leaves us with WR's going over the middle....yes that happens....the wedge busters.....but they made rule changes to help that....and onside kicks.....they made changes to that.
I thinks its B.S. that Brian Dawkins and other great Safteys/other defenders get paid millions but have to be careful when they hit a WR. B/c when the ball gets to the WR....what is his job? Help out the defense...make that paycheck....win a ring....knock that ball out. But wait I can't go full speed b/c even when I do...It might so happen my helmet hits the WR's helmet and thats a penalty. OK lets hug and I will then take them to the ground.
Its getting ridiculous....and this is coming from an offensive coach.
You are not supposed to tackle with your head, so I don't see the relevance. Will it change the way the game is played? I would that it is likely, and for the better if it means players know they better not lead with their head and actually tackle with proper form.I agree with the hypothesis that a hard helmet has the advantage of allowing a glancing blow whereas a soft helmet may "stick" and induce a moment to the neck which is a well known factor in neck injury. (I work in human anatomy/injury in the automotive field). Other than that, a soft shell *should* be better at reducing the acceleration based injuries to the head (concussions).
Players are taught to tackle with their helmets though. They put the facemask on the ball, shoulder into the ball carrier, and wrap up.It gives the defensive players an advantage in causing turnovers.
Offense is limited by:
1) Not being able to crack back block at the knee or lower.
2) Not being able to come off the edge(WR's mainly) and cut in the interior.
3) Not being able to have a blocker engaged with a defender and have another blocker cut/go low on a defender.
Defense is limited by:
1) Not being able to touch a Reciever beyond 5 yards.
2) Not being able to seperate the reciever from the ball...if the helmet is involved. Try hitting a moving(very athletic) target running full speed, while you are running full speed and see if on accident the helmet(which is in the middle of where you are trying hit players(your shoulders) ) gets involved.
3) Not being able to tackle a full speed target ball carrier anywhere around the neck or head...even though they will can duck and junk.....which could just so happen to adjust where you were originally trying to tackle.
4) Not being able to hit a QB late, at the head, or below the knee.
Does that seem fair how they are limited to what the offense is limited?
The funny part about the last point...is defenders have to give full out effort trying to get to the QB when they can be grabbed, pushed, cut, blocked in the back(if you don't think this happens then you simply don't watch what OT's do to DE's), double/triple teamed. Which could lead them at lunging/diving at the QB but then all of these rules are in place.
But now defenders will have the only advantage taken away from them, with this helmet deal, which helps them do their job and create turnovers.