CFB: Rule changes should improve safety
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By Jeremy Fowler
The Orlando Sentinel
ORLANDO, Fla. — For every moment of triumph and glory in college football, there might be a chop, an eye gouge, an after-the-whistle gang tackle, a leg twist, a yank of the dreads or, in the spirit of Dallas Cowboys safety Roy Williams, a horse-collar tackle. Dirty plays have become as much a reality in the game as pep rallies, but the NCAA aims to prevent potential injuries at all costs by tightening its grip on what's considered a penalty.
A horse-collar grab is now good for 15 yards as of last week, thanks largely to the trend popularized by Williams that forced the hand of the NFL rules committee in 2005. Variations of facemask grabbing or twisting are also 15 yards.
As players tote the line between playing physical and down-right cheap, some say the always-changing rules of the game shouldn't affect an assumed code of ethics.
Even if your style of play is perceived as cheap.
"You can play really physical like I do, but you should never have any intent to hurt anybody," USF senior offensive lineman Ryan Schmidt said.
Perhaps it wouldn't be the game we love without compromising body contortions, abrasive reactions and offensive and defensive lineman bickering over who's the dirtiest.
That's typical stuff. What might not be as typical is a defensive player giving props to the NCAA for making it harder to tackle.
UCF defensive tackle Torrell Troup doesn't mind.
"I actually think all the rule changes are a good idea," Troup said. "I know a lot of guys like to use the horse tackle, but I don't mind the change. You never want to hurt another player and there are a lot of other ways to tackle someone."
Safety aside, the difficulty of tackling a player without penalty is becoming "a little out of hand" these days, Florida defensive line coach Dan McCarney said.
Gators strong safety Ahmad Black said playing efficient defense is taking more and more improvisation.
"You find a way to get him on the ground," Black said. "People think an aggressive player is a dirty player — when it's football, it's football."
Here are five of the "dirtiest" plays you'll see in college football, with the criterion based on the likelihood to injury.
HORSE COLLAR
By definition: When a player grabs either the inside back collar or the side of the shoulder pads or jersey and immediately pulls the runner down. This does not apply to a runner who is inside the tackle box or to a quarterback who is in the pocket.
Penalty: Personal foul, 15 yards
Ruleworthy because of: Its element of surprise and the potential leg or knee injuries to the ball carrier as his legs gets swept from under him. "That's straight-up intent to injure somebody," Schmidt said. "The guy's running full speed and there's nowhere for his legs to go but under him."
Famous incident: The rule was basically implemented for one man: Roy Williams. In 2005, the Dallas Cowboys safety forced the hand of the NFL rules committee for his reputation of the one-arm grab that belongs in the WWE ring. Then-Philadelphia Eagles receiver Terrell Owens sat out part of the 2004 season with a fractured fibula after Williams got ahold of him.
CHOP BLOCK
By definition: Any high-low combination block by any two players against an opponent other than the runner, anywhere on the field, any time in the game and with or without a delay between the hits.
Penalty: Personal foul, 15 yards
Ruleworthy because: A helmet to the knee is just asking for a sprain or a torn Anterior Cruciate Ligament.
Famous incident: Last season, Auburn offensive lineman Chaz Ramsey could have cost LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey millions in the NFL draft with his nasty chop-block work. Ramsey went lower than Flo Rida into the knees of the Tigers' beast while his teammate was blocking his upper body. It was so obvious that even Auburn Coach Tommy Tuberville issued an apology. Dorsey left the game with a right knee sprain but returned in time to lead the Tigers to the national championship.
THE PILEUP
By definition: When an opposing player grabs, pulls, pokes, gouges or attempts to take away another player's ability to have children inside the pile surrounding a gang tackle or fumble.
Penalty: Depends on the foul, but unsportsmanlike conduct is worth 15 yards.
Ruleworthy because: It's just a dirty way of doing things.
Famous incident: Florida fans will never forget about Florida State nose tackle Darnell Dockett, who allegedly grabbed UF running back Earnest Graham's knee and twisted it with the intent to hurt. Graham suffered a sprained knee, prompting former Gators coach Steve Spurrier to go as far as suggesting that FSU coaches instructed this sort of behavior. Bowden said Spurrier's comments were "sad." A former Florida Today correspondent reported that Dockett bragged to teammates during a postgame locker-room scene about his hit on Graham.
CLOTHESLINE OR KARATE CHOP
By definition: Something that wouldn't make Mr. Miyagi from The Karate Kid proud.
Penalty: Unnecessary roughness or striking an opponent with a fist, both 15 yards.
Ruleworthy because: You might as well spend your Saturdays at a dojo.
Famous incident: This might seem like an obscure tactic, but it's a way defensive lineman fake a random arm flare while coming down on a quarterback. Take LSU defensive end Tyson Jackson, who waited until Kentucky quarterback Andre Woodson was practically on his knees before coming down on his neck with a Cobra Kai chop last year. Kentucky got even in the worst way: It defeated LSU 43-37.
FACEMASK
By definition:Grabby, grabby . . . keep those fingers away from the helmet.
Penalty: Facemask, 15 yards.
</B>Ruleworthy because: </B>It's relatively easy to rip off a guy's helmet, and by that point it's just unfair. Oh yeah, you can also break someone's neck.
Famous incident: There were at least two facemask incidents in 2007 that invaded the personal privacy of players. Ohio State's Ross Homan tried to rip the head off of Washington QB Jake Locker with the traditional grab-and-twist move. Notre Dame's Travis Thomas and Mike Ragone roughed up Penn State's Jerome Hayes after they had pulled off his helmet. HONORABLE MENTION: Tripping, clipping, head-first tackles, hair tackle (Larry Johnson grabbing Troy Polamalu's locks).
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By Jeremy Fowler
The Orlando Sentinel
ORLANDO, Fla. — For every moment of triumph and glory in college football, there might be a chop, an eye gouge, an after-the-whistle gang tackle, a leg twist, a yank of the dreads or, in the spirit of Dallas Cowboys safety Roy Williams, a horse-collar tackle. Dirty plays have become as much a reality in the game as pep rallies, but the NCAA aims to prevent potential injuries at all costs by tightening its grip on what's considered a penalty.
A horse-collar grab is now good for 15 yards as of last week, thanks largely to the trend popularized by Williams that forced the hand of the NFL rules committee in 2005. Variations of facemask grabbing or twisting are also 15 yards.
As players tote the line between playing physical and down-right cheap, some say the always-changing rules of the game shouldn't affect an assumed code of ethics.
Even if your style of play is perceived as cheap.
"You can play really physical like I do, but you should never have any intent to hurt anybody," USF senior offensive lineman Ryan Schmidt said.
Perhaps it wouldn't be the game we love without compromising body contortions, abrasive reactions and offensive and defensive lineman bickering over who's the dirtiest.
That's typical stuff. What might not be as typical is a defensive player giving props to the NCAA for making it harder to tackle.
UCF defensive tackle Torrell Troup doesn't mind.
"I actually think all the rule changes are a good idea," Troup said. "I know a lot of guys like to use the horse tackle, but I don't mind the change. You never want to hurt another player and there are a lot of other ways to tackle someone."
Safety aside, the difficulty of tackling a player without penalty is becoming "a little out of hand" these days, Florida defensive line coach Dan McCarney said.
Gators strong safety Ahmad Black said playing efficient defense is taking more and more improvisation.
"You find a way to get him on the ground," Black said. "People think an aggressive player is a dirty player — when it's football, it's football."
Here are five of the "dirtiest" plays you'll see in college football, with the criterion based on the likelihood to injury.
HORSE COLLAR
By definition: When a player grabs either the inside back collar or the side of the shoulder pads or jersey and immediately pulls the runner down. This does not apply to a runner who is inside the tackle box or to a quarterback who is in the pocket.
Penalty: Personal foul, 15 yards
Ruleworthy because of: Its element of surprise and the potential leg or knee injuries to the ball carrier as his legs gets swept from under him. "That's straight-up intent to injure somebody," Schmidt said. "The guy's running full speed and there's nowhere for his legs to go but under him."
Famous incident: The rule was basically implemented for one man: Roy Williams. In 2005, the Dallas Cowboys safety forced the hand of the NFL rules committee for his reputation of the one-arm grab that belongs in the WWE ring. Then-Philadelphia Eagles receiver Terrell Owens sat out part of the 2004 season with a fractured fibula after Williams got ahold of him.
CHOP BLOCK
By definition: Any high-low combination block by any two players against an opponent other than the runner, anywhere on the field, any time in the game and with or without a delay between the hits.
Penalty: Personal foul, 15 yards
Ruleworthy because: A helmet to the knee is just asking for a sprain or a torn Anterior Cruciate Ligament.
Famous incident: Last season, Auburn offensive lineman Chaz Ramsey could have cost LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey millions in the NFL draft with his nasty chop-block work. Ramsey went lower than Flo Rida into the knees of the Tigers' beast while his teammate was blocking his upper body. It was so obvious that even Auburn Coach Tommy Tuberville issued an apology. Dorsey left the game with a right knee sprain but returned in time to lead the Tigers to the national championship.
THE PILEUP
By definition: When an opposing player grabs, pulls, pokes, gouges or attempts to take away another player's ability to have children inside the pile surrounding a gang tackle or fumble.
Penalty: Depends on the foul, but unsportsmanlike conduct is worth 15 yards.
Ruleworthy because: It's just a dirty way of doing things.
Famous incident: Florida fans will never forget about Florida State nose tackle Darnell Dockett, who allegedly grabbed UF running back Earnest Graham's knee and twisted it with the intent to hurt. Graham suffered a sprained knee, prompting former Gators coach Steve Spurrier to go as far as suggesting that FSU coaches instructed this sort of behavior. Bowden said Spurrier's comments were "sad." A former Florida Today correspondent reported that Dockett bragged to teammates during a postgame locker-room scene about his hit on Graham.
CLOTHESLINE OR KARATE CHOP
By definition: Something that wouldn't make Mr. Miyagi from The Karate Kid proud.
Penalty: Unnecessary roughness or striking an opponent with a fist, both 15 yards.
Ruleworthy because: You might as well spend your Saturdays at a dojo.
Famous incident: This might seem like an obscure tactic, but it's a way defensive lineman fake a random arm flare while coming down on a quarterback. Take LSU defensive end Tyson Jackson, who waited until Kentucky quarterback Andre Woodson was practically on his knees before coming down on his neck with a Cobra Kai chop last year. Kentucky got even in the worst way: It defeated LSU 43-37.
FACEMASK
By definition:Grabby, grabby . . . keep those fingers away from the helmet.
Penalty: Facemask, 15 yards.
</B>Ruleworthy because: </B>It's relatively easy to rip off a guy's helmet, and by that point it's just unfair. Oh yeah, you can also break someone's neck.
Famous incident: There were at least two facemask incidents in 2007 that invaded the personal privacy of players. Ohio State's Ross Homan tried to rip the head off of Washington QB Jake Locker with the traditional grab-and-twist move. Notre Dame's Travis Thomas and Mike Ragone roughed up Penn State's Jerome Hayes after they had pulled off his helmet. HONORABLE MENTION: Tripping, clipping, head-first tackles, hair tackle (Larry Johnson grabbing Troy Polamalu's locks).
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Rule Changes for the 2008 - 2009 Year
The NCAA recently revealed some of the rule changes agreed upon by the coaches this year. You might notice a college game feels a little bit more like an NFL game this year and it won't be for the money that college guys make this time. New rules include:
The NCAA recently revealed some of the rule changes agreed upon by the coaches this year. You might notice a college game feels a little bit more like an NFL game this year and it won't be for the money that college guys make this time. New rules include:
- 5 Yard Penalty for Horse Collar Tackle: This is a rule that the NFL previously added and one that I support. Defensive players can no longer grab an offensive player by the back neck of his jersey on a tackle. Purely a rule aimed at increasing player safety, my only complaint is that I would like to see it be at least a 10 yard penalty.
- New Clock Rules: Here is the other spot where you feel like you are watching an NFL game.
- 40 Second Play Clock: In most cases the play clock will now be set to 40 seconds and will begin running at the conclusion of the previous play.
- 25 Second Play Clock: The traditional 25 second play clock will only be used after timeouts, injuries, and penalties.
- Out of bounds Restart: In most cases the game clock will restart once the ball is placed on the field instead of when the ball is snapped. The only exceptions to this rule are in the last 2 minutes of the halves when it will start on the snap.
- Instant Replay Additions: A couple of new plays are now available for review:
- Fumble after whistle: Replay officials will now have the ability to replay these calls
- FG Kicks: Replay officials will now be able to review cases of above or below the crossbar as well as inside or outside the uprights.
- Coaches Challenge: Coaches will now receive 1 additional challenge if their first one is successful. It's important to note that every play is still reviewed though but coaches do still have the option to challenge.
- Automatic 15 Yard Face Mask Penalty: Gone are the days of referees having to make a judgment on the intent of the face mask penalty. This rule surprised me as I didn't think it was that hard of a determination. With players flying all over the place, incidental face mask penalties are bound to occur. In these such cases, there is no reason for it to be a 15 yard penalty. This rule feels like overkill to me.
DIRECT FROM NEVADA WITH NICK BOGDANOVICH
SHARPS ACT QUICKLY ON COLLEGE RULES CHANGES
Many in Las Vegas and Reno were wondering how the sharps would bet college football totals once they came up.
You have probably heard by now that there were rules changes involving the game clock and out-of-bounds plays that could significantly influence scoring in college games this year. I’ve heard a lot of debate about this the past few days. The media was talking about it. Coaches were talking about it. And, Nevada oddsmakers were trying to figure out how to anticipate the betting action based on what gamblers were most likely thinking.
If the early returns are any indication, the oddsmakers didn’t adjust enough!
Some Unders have just been nailed this week by Las Vegas professionals. Here’s a sampling from some of the Thursday and Friday games:
*UTEP/Buffalo opened at 64 and dropped to 59
*NC State/South Carolina opened at 50.5, and dropped to 45.5
*Wake Forest/Baylor opened at 52.5 and dropped to 50.5
*Oregon State/Stanford opened at 49 and dropped to 46
*Troy/Middle Tennessee opened at 58.5 and dropped to 53
We haven’t seen many moves of that size in the Saturday games. That could mean a few different things. Most likely, many of the sharps want to see what happens Thursday Night before investing more in the Saturday action. If Thursday and Friday are low scoring, you can bet that Saturday totals will be dropping like a rock.
What strikes me most from that listing is that it runs the full gamut of styles. Totals dropped in games involving conservative teams. Totals dropped in games involving wide open teams. Totals dropped in games involving experienced quarterbacks. Totals dropped in games involving new starting quarterbacks. And, of course, there weren’t any totals going up!
This suggests very strongly that professional wagerers see a HUGE impact coming from the changes. That would surprise many coaches and TV reporters. I heard a lot of guys saying that this would allow fast-paced teams to go even faster. Officials would all be hurrying to get the ball in play quickly every down because the play clock was running. This would all up-tempo teams to squeeze in even more plays than they were getting. Some pundits thought more and more teams would go to a no-huddle offense, leading to a wild and crazy year.
That’s not what I was hearing from sharps I respect.
They agree that a handful of up-tempo teams might do this, at least in the first half or when playing from behind. But, most tended to agree that scoring would go down, and total play volume would go down. The changes make it very easy for the team with a lead to run out the clock. They just have to keep moving the chains and taking the full 40 seconds off the play clock. Should a kid make a mistake and run out of bounds, that’s not much of a penalty any more. They still get to run 25 seconds off the clock after the ball is ready for play.
Think about the NFL for a second. Almost every offense takes as much time off the clock as they can. The goal is to shorten the game, and have a lead when that quick game ends. Indianapolis runs a no-huddle offense. But, it’s not a wild and crazy offense with a million plays. They just get set up without a huddle, then run the clock down as far as possible unless they’re playing from behind. College football will start trending toward that style of play.
You can just imagine conservative coaches thrilled at the chance to take 10 minutes off the clock in the fourth quarter without even driving the whole field. Not all coaches will do this. I can think of 15-20 off the top of my head who are going to be trying to do that even if the game is tied or they’re trailing. Limiting the other team’s possessions is a key hallmark of good defense.
Should you run to the nearest sportsbook and start betting Unders? Well, most of the value is obviously gone in those games that have moved five points. It could turn out that the rules changes are so dramatic the moves needed to be 10 points instead. I’d rather wait to see some evidence of that before betting that far behind the early curve. And, it could turn out that some teams pick up their pace in a way that increases scoring. Some of those five-point moves may have been mistakes…and the value is betting Over right now.
To me, the best approach is to assume the sharps are probably right, then react with more confidence once you see some games being played. This is just the first week of the season after all. There will be plenty of time to exploit this advantage the rest of the way. Sure, oddsmakers will be posting lower totals if they need to. They’re likely to miss the nuances though…as certain coaches and certain styles of play will skew scoring totals in very dramatic ways.
I’d say it this way:
*We may start to see a lot of 16-13 type defensive struggles. It’s going to take a long time to drop totals in the mid 40’s down to the mid 30’s. And, the mid 30’s may not be enough of a drop in games involving the most conservative defensive-minded teams.
*We may start to see high scoring shootouts that end 31-28 rather than the crazy 45-42 type games we’ve see saw last year when spread offenses played each other (many games were even higher than that). It will take awhile for the public to accept that those games with totals of 72 or more should now be in the low 60’s.
*We may start to see a lot of 24-3 first halve that lead to a 31-3 final score. The first half was played like last year’s style, but then the leading team focused on grinding out the clock instead. Guys who bet first halves and second halves will be able to take advantage of that easily. And, the full game totals will be tough to gauge because it’s hard to have a high team side spread and a low total on the same game. Blowouts that used to end up in the 50’s may now end up in the high 30’s or low 40’s. Be patient, and look for edges as they present themselves. The fact that you missed the the first five or six big totals moves of the season doesn’t mean the train left the station without you
SHARPS ACT QUICKLY ON COLLEGE RULES CHANGES
Many in Las Vegas and Reno were wondering how the sharps would bet college football totals once they came up.
You have probably heard by now that there were rules changes involving the game clock and out-of-bounds plays that could significantly influence scoring in college games this year. I’ve heard a lot of debate about this the past few days. The media was talking about it. Coaches were talking about it. And, Nevada oddsmakers were trying to figure out how to anticipate the betting action based on what gamblers were most likely thinking.
If the early returns are any indication, the oddsmakers didn’t adjust enough!
Some Unders have just been nailed this week by Las Vegas professionals. Here’s a sampling from some of the Thursday and Friday games:
*UTEP/Buffalo opened at 64 and dropped to 59
*NC State/South Carolina opened at 50.5, and dropped to 45.5
*Wake Forest/Baylor opened at 52.5 and dropped to 50.5
*Oregon State/Stanford opened at 49 and dropped to 46
*Troy/Middle Tennessee opened at 58.5 and dropped to 53
We haven’t seen many moves of that size in the Saturday games. That could mean a few different things. Most likely, many of the sharps want to see what happens Thursday Night before investing more in the Saturday action. If Thursday and Friday are low scoring, you can bet that Saturday totals will be dropping like a rock.
What strikes me most from that listing is that it runs the full gamut of styles. Totals dropped in games involving conservative teams. Totals dropped in games involving wide open teams. Totals dropped in games involving experienced quarterbacks. Totals dropped in games involving new starting quarterbacks. And, of course, there weren’t any totals going up!
This suggests very strongly that professional wagerers see a HUGE impact coming from the changes. That would surprise many coaches and TV reporters. I heard a lot of guys saying that this would allow fast-paced teams to go even faster. Officials would all be hurrying to get the ball in play quickly every down because the play clock was running. This would all up-tempo teams to squeeze in even more plays than they were getting. Some pundits thought more and more teams would go to a no-huddle offense, leading to a wild and crazy year.
That’s not what I was hearing from sharps I respect.
They agree that a handful of up-tempo teams might do this, at least in the first half or when playing from behind. But, most tended to agree that scoring would go down, and total play volume would go down. The changes make it very easy for the team with a lead to run out the clock. They just have to keep moving the chains and taking the full 40 seconds off the play clock. Should a kid make a mistake and run out of bounds, that’s not much of a penalty any more. They still get to run 25 seconds off the clock after the ball is ready for play.
Think about the NFL for a second. Almost every offense takes as much time off the clock as they can. The goal is to shorten the game, and have a lead when that quick game ends. Indianapolis runs a no-huddle offense. But, it’s not a wild and crazy offense with a million plays. They just get set up without a huddle, then run the clock down as far as possible unless they’re playing from behind. College football will start trending toward that style of play.
You can just imagine conservative coaches thrilled at the chance to take 10 minutes off the clock in the fourth quarter without even driving the whole field. Not all coaches will do this. I can think of 15-20 off the top of my head who are going to be trying to do that even if the game is tied or they’re trailing. Limiting the other team’s possessions is a key hallmark of good defense.
Should you run to the nearest sportsbook and start betting Unders? Well, most of the value is obviously gone in those games that have moved five points. It could turn out that the rules changes are so dramatic the moves needed to be 10 points instead. I’d rather wait to see some evidence of that before betting that far behind the early curve. And, it could turn out that some teams pick up their pace in a way that increases scoring. Some of those five-point moves may have been mistakes…and the value is betting Over right now.
To me, the best approach is to assume the sharps are probably right, then react with more confidence once you see some games being played. This is just the first week of the season after all. There will be plenty of time to exploit this advantage the rest of the way. Sure, oddsmakers will be posting lower totals if they need to. They’re likely to miss the nuances though…as certain coaches and certain styles of play will skew scoring totals in very dramatic ways.
I’d say it this way:
*We may start to see a lot of 16-13 type defensive struggles. It’s going to take a long time to drop totals in the mid 40’s down to the mid 30’s. And, the mid 30’s may not be enough of a drop in games involving the most conservative defensive-minded teams.
*We may start to see high scoring shootouts that end 31-28 rather than the crazy 45-42 type games we’ve see saw last year when spread offenses played each other (many games were even higher than that). It will take awhile for the public to accept that those games with totals of 72 or more should now be in the low 60’s.
*We may start to see a lot of 24-3 first halve that lead to a 31-3 final score. The first half was played like last year’s style, but then the leading team focused on grinding out the clock instead. Guys who bet first halves and second halves will be able to take advantage of that easily. And, the full game totals will be tough to gauge because it’s hard to have a high team side spread and a low total on the same game. Blowouts that used to end up in the 50’s may now end up in the high 30’s or low 40’s. Be patient, and look for edges as they present themselves. The fact that you missed the the first five or six big totals moves of the season doesn’t mean the train left the station without you
Are you sure? I thought the new rule said the clock will keep running in out-of-bounds situations until there's 2:00 left in half or game.
Out of bounds Restart: In most cases the game clock will restart once the ball is placed on the field instead of when the ball is snapped. The only exceptions to this rule are in the last 2 minutes of the halves when it will start on the snap.
