fake slide - will it now be open season on running qbs?

[dupuyer griz]

It should always be open season on running quarterbacks.

 

[argh!]

then you will have no problem with defenders taking qb's heads off when they slide, instead of pulling up, like the defenders in the video clearly did. also, by rule i think he's down the moment he starts to slide, so it wasn't called correctly on the field. watch the frames - he clearly went into "slide position", and if any defender had launched, they would've been tossed from the game for an illegal hit. seems like a cheater move to me.

I agree. My question is, why should it be legal for a running quarterback, and not a running back or receiver?? Seems to me that they keep making it more and more and more difficult for the defenses to do their job, and easier and easier and easier for offenses to work the system. Out of balance IMHO.

i think the rule is the same for anyone who slides, it just doesn't happen unless it is the qb. i agree, the rule is out of balance, and needs to be addressed.

 

[HelenaHandBasket]

No, he faked the slide, he did not actually start to slide. Within the rule, his actions are fine.

look closely. yeah, he 'faked it', but his butt went down and back foot slid, indicating that he was indeed sliding. look at about 1:23 of this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2tVpYPpAWg

Once again, he didn't slide, he faked a slide. Does the rule say the ball will be placed where he intends to slide or where he begins to slide? And remember, he didn't slide.

 

[argh!]

+1. Once the QB takes off running he should be treated just like any other running back. Some of these rules make it impossible for the defense.

I have no problem with complaints about the rule, I just don't see his action of faking the slide as illegal under the current rule. Football is a game of deception, and if something is legal under the rules, not sure how someone would think it is cheating.

i think that way because he clearly started to slide, so the rule should have been invoked at that moment. but i understand what you are saying, he used a somewhat grey area of the rulebook to fool the defense. and while football is indeed a game of deception, it is also supposed to be a game of sportsmanship. it is in situations like now, when it becomes a game of opinion (obviously we have different views) that problems arise.

 

[HelenaHandBasket]

I have no problem with complaints about the rule, I just don't see his action of faking the slide as illegal under the current rule. Football is a game of deception, and if something is legal under the rules, not sure how someone would think it is cheating.

i think that way because he clearly started to slide, so the rule should have been invoked at that moment. but i understand what you are saying, he used a somewhat grey area of the rulebook to fool the defense. and while football is indeed a game of deception, it is also supposed to be a game of sportsmanship. it is in situations like now, when it becomes a game of opinion (obviously we have different views) that problems arise.

But if you don't actually slide, there is not a start to the slide.

 

[uofmman1122]

Not a huge fan, but those defenders sure gave up easily on that one.

You're not gonna get a flag if you simply follow the QB to the ground and just put some soft hands on him, or something.

That said, the slide is there for safety purposes in a game that defenders are more penalized for physicality than ever before, and to me it seems like baiting a defender to avoid contact because the rule says they have to goes against why the rule is there in the first place. I could see the argument for ruling him down, since his intent was to indicate to the other team that he had given himself up (even though he didn't).

On the other hand, it's also a lot like when a player looks like he's going out of bounds, then fakes out and tries to sprint up the sideline for extra yards, and people don't seem to have a problem with that.

 

[CDAGRIZ]

Should be kind of like the QB’s arm moving forward and the ball getting knocked out by a tackler. Incomplete pass because he began the throwing motion, but didn’t actually throw.

Also, if the defender had dropped the Pitt QB while in the fake slide position it would 99% be called targeting. Interesting discussion.

 

[HelenaHandBasket]

Should be kind of like the QB’s arm moving forward and the ball getting knocked out by a tackler. Incomplete pass because he began the throwing motion, but didn’t actually throw.

Also, if the defender had dropped the Pitt QB while in the fake slide position it would 99% be called targeting. Interesting discussion.

My thoughts on the defenders, you have to make sure he slides, don't assume he is sliding.

 

[CDAGRIZ]

Should be kind of like the QB’s arm moving forward and the ball getting knocked out by a tackler. Incomplete pass because he began the throwing motion, but didn’t actually throw.

Also, if the defender had dropped the Pitt QB while in the fake slide position it would 99% be called targeting. Interesting discussion.

My thoughts on the defenders, you have to make sure he slides, don't assume he is sliding.

I get where you’re coming from, but then would it be OK to lay him out in the position because his ass isn’t on the ground? Maybe I’ve been watching too much BSC because I think it would’ve drawn a flag. So the moral of the story is: begin the sliding motion, if they pull up, run. If they lay you out, tack on 15.

 

[HelenaHandBasket]

My thoughts on the defenders, you have to make sure he slides, don't assume he is sliding.

I get where you’re coming from, but then would it be OK to lay him out in the position because his ass isn’t on the ground? Maybe I’ve been watching too much BSC because I think it would’ve drawn a flag. So the moral of the story is: begin the sliding motion, if they pull up, run. If they lay you out, tack on 15.

If the defender goes head hunting, I am sure he gets flagged, but there is middle ground between that and what did happen.

 

[stilwtrgrizz]

Should be kind of like the QB’s arm moving forward and the ball getting knocked out by a tackler. Incomplete pass because he began the throwing motion, but didn’t actually throw.

Also, if the defender had dropped the Pitt QB while in the fake slide position it would 99% be called targeting. Interesting discussion.

My thoughts on the defenders, you have to make sure he slides, don't assume he is sliding.

Seems to me, that kind of logic would be akin to catching a burglar in your house and when he cocks and points his gun at you, you have to be sure and wait till he pulls the trigger before you do anything!!!! Whatever you do, don't assume that his actions mean he is going to shoot.

 

[Da Boyz Mom]

I get where you’re coming from, but then would it be OK to lay him out in the position because his ass isn’t on the ground? Maybe I’ve been watching too much BSC because I think it would’ve drawn a flag. So the moral of the story is: begin the sliding motion, if they pull up, run. If they lay you out, tack on 15.

If the defender goes head hunting, I am sure he gets flagged, but there is middle ground between that and what did happen.

That middle ground is a very thin line.

 

[#15 Fan]

I get where you’re coming from, but then would it be OK to lay him out in the position because his ass isn’t on the ground? Maybe I’ve been watching too much BSC because I think it would’ve drawn a flag. So the moral of the story is: begin the sliding motion, if they pull up, run. If they lay you out, tack on 15.

If the defender goes head hunting, I am sure he gets flagged, but there is middle ground between that and what did happen.

You and I must watch different football, cuz 99.9% of the time had a defender hit Pickett on that play, it's flagged for a hit on a QB giving himself up. It's happened numerous times where dudes hit a QB right as he starts the slide, and it's flagged. I think we all get your point, but the fact he began his slide is irrelevant to finishing his slide IF HE WERE HIT. I guarantee because of that play, it'll be talked about and changed. 100% kudos to him gaming the game, but it'll get addressed or you'll have defenses teeing up on QBs, especially Pickett, saying they couldn't guarantee he was going to slide.

 

[CDAGRIZ]

I get where you’re coming from, but then would it be OK to lay him out in the position because his ass isn’t on the ground? Maybe I’ve been watching too much BSC because I think it would’ve drawn a flag. So the moral of the story is: begin the sliding motion, if they pull up, run. If they lay you out, tack on 15.

If the defender goes head hunting, I am sure he gets flagged, but there is middle ground between that and what did happen.

I don’t think you have to go head hunting to draw a flag in that situation. Isn’t it just hitting a player in that position? I think the “middle ground” still gets a flag.

 

[HelenaHandBasket]

My thoughts on the defenders, you have to make sure he slides, don't assume he is sliding.

Seems to me, that kind of logic would be akin to catching a burglar in your house and when he cocks and points his gun at you, you have to be sure and wait till he pulls the trigger before you do anything!!!! Whatever you do, don't assume that his actions mean he is going to shoot.

Yeah, because those are anywhere near the same.

 

[HelenaHandBasket]

If the defender goes head hunting, I am sure he gets flagged, but there is middle ground between that and what did happen.

You and I must watch different football, cuz 99.9% of the time had a defender hit Pickett on that play, it's flagged for a hit on a QB giving himself up. It's happened numerous times where dudes hit a QB right as he starts the slide, and it's flagged. I think we all get your point, but the fact he began his slide is irrelevant to finishing his slide IF HE WERE HIT. I guarantee because of that play, it'll be talked about and changed. 100% kudos to him gaming the game, but it'll get addressed or you'll have defenses teeing up on QBs, especially Pickett, saying they couldn't guarantee he was going to slide.

because you always would have to hit him as opposed to assuming he really is sliding....

 

[HelenaHandBasket]

But you are all correct, the defense had no other choice than to give up while being 5 or more yards away from him.

 

[AllWeatherFan]

If it’s Tom Brady, hit him, slide or no slide.

 

[CDAGRIZ]

But you are all correct, the defense had no other choice than to give up while being 5 or more yards away from him.

Could have chosen to hit him and tack on 15 yards, I guess.

 

[HelenaHandBasket]

But you are all correct, the defense had no other choice than to give up while being 5 or more yards away from him.

Could have chosen to hit him and tack on 15 yards, I guess.

Yeah, but that isn't the only other option.