Was the targeting of Johnson intentional?

[Spanky2]

Yes, it was intentional!

 

[mthoopsfan]

Wasn’t intentional. Wasn’t dirty and this whole conversation is ridiculous. Watch the replay of the young man who made the hit. Specifically when he made it to the Sac State sideline. He was alone on an island. Nobody saying “it’s ok” patting him on the shoulder or even talking to him. He was standing there alone and didn’t look like he was having a good time. I suspect he was doing what every decent college player does - he tried to make a play. Over aggressive and out of control maybe, but don’t think for a second the Sac State coaches would condone that behavior. BTW - how many Sac State coaches are former Griz? Are posters actually making the assertion that Sac State coaches would tell one of the players to take LJ out of the game through injury? Unbelievable. All I have seen on this damn board the last few weeks is excuses. Great teams find ways to win. Great teams overcome adversity. Great coaches reflect on their poor decisions and what needs to be changed. Don’t blame the refs, dirty plays, injuries or anything else. They find a way to win. Griz will win out and make the playoffs. Until then have some class and stop these nonsensical arguments. It’s embarrassing.

It was a very dirty play. Name-show any more dirty in college football.

 

[Spanky2]

I didn’t say the coaches told him to do it. I said it was intentional and planned.

 

[HelenaHandBasket]

It was a shitty hit, but I don't believe it was planned or the intent was to knock him out.

 

[kemajic]

It was a shitty hit, but I don't believe it was planned or the intent was to knock him out.

Someone earlier nailed it. A crime of opportunity. Any premeditation was about a second.

 

[grizare#1]

:lol: :clap:

Targeting calls usually take forever to confirm in the review booth. This took about a nanosecond.

The bigger question was Ray Charles or Stevie Wonder in the booth for reviews on that play?

 

[Spanky2]

It was a shitty hit, but I don't believe it was planned or the intent was to knock him out.

I just listed a bridge. I’ll send you the information.

 

[HelenaHandBasket]

It was a shitty hit, but I don't believe it was planned or the intent was to knock him out.

I just listed a bridge. I’ll send you the information.

Sounds good Q.

 

[putter]

One thing I noticed, when the refs were talking to replay to confirm targeting, ESPN showed a replay from behind Johnson. Look at the eyes of the SAC player, the were 100% focused on Johnson's head and never moved. He put his head down right into his facemask. He easily could have put his helmet into Johnson's shoulder instead of his head.

 

[mthoopsfan]

One thing I noticed, when the refs were talking to replay to confirm targeting, ESPN showed a replay from behind Johnson. Look at the eyes of the SAC player, the were 100% focused on Johnson's head and never moved. He put his head down right into his facemask. He easily could have put his helmet into Johnson's shoulder instead of his head.

Yup. The defender shouldn't have hit Johnson, as the pass had been throw. Late hit too. There was no for the defender to put his head down. Johnson wasn't moving and didn't put his head down. The defender could have put his arms/hands up, instead of head down.

Whether or not with intent to hurt, it was an intentional hit. There was absolutely no reason for 46 to put his head down and hit Johnson up high and into the helmet. On replay, it looked to me that the ball was at least 2/3 of the way to the receiver at the time of the contact.

46 is listed at 6'1", 250. Played in 25 games at Texas with 10 starts.

 

[MrMischief]

Someone earlier nailed it. A crime of opportunity. Any premeditation was about a second.

I might as well jump in on this dumpster fire. I disagree with you when you say premeditation was about a second. Previously on that same drive that same player had another hit on Johnson that I thought should have been a targeting call. But I do not believe there was any intent by #46 to injure Johnson in such a way. I do think he had made the decision to play hard and to make Johnson be aware of his presence. I would not be surprised if he was told something similar by his coaches. We see that idea, and encourage it, all of the time in college football. I just think that #46 was pushing either beyond his ability or knowledge/care/appreciation of the rule. His hits were intentionally hard, but I do not think he was intentionally violating rules or attempting to injure someone. For lack of a better way of phrasing it, the beast inside of him just got a little out of hand and his hits were getting sloppy. The real shame is that he was not called for it earlier in the drive.

To answer OP's question about an eye for an eye rule... that's dumb.

 

[grizfan07]

Absolutely it was. Like others have said, I don’t think players now a days would do that but I have to wonder. What everyone needs to do is go watch the play before the hit. That same guy tried to do it the first time but stopped. Then he did it the play right after it and took him out. What’s interesting is he put his hands up to Johnson’s chest as if to stop him but he still dropped his helmet and hit him in the face mask. He knew exactly what he was doing. The other players reactions tell me they also may have known he was gonna do it. No one was telling him “it’s ok.” I’ve heard he was their best defender, however, the way the offense was moving the ball, it seemed not to matter who was playing for Sac’s defense. If it was intentional, Sac should be suspended as a program for the season, investigated, and the whole coaching staff fired.

 

[Walkon79]

I've watched a lot more than you, and played in a lot more too. Feel free to point out any dirtier play in college football.

This one a late hit and targeting, of a qb who was being held by 2 other SS players.

You really should stick to up with Montana Boys & drop the excuses. I'd say this is one of the most stupid things you're ever posted, but in reality it's only in the top 10 for this week.

:lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[uofmman1122]

It was a shitty hit, but I don't believe it was planned or the intent was to knock him out.

Yeah, I'd call it cheap, dirty, and unnecessary, but I don't think the guy planned to do it or did it with any intent to injure Lucas.

It would've been cheap, dirty and unnecessary to hit any QB like that after he threw the ball, even if he ended up fine afterwards.

 

[mthoopsfan]

It was a shitty hit, but I don't believe it was planned or the intent was to knock him out.

Yeah, I'd call it cheap, dirty, and unnecessary, but I don't think the guy planned to do it or did it with any intent to injure Lucas.

It would've been cheap, dirty and unnecessary to hit any QB like that after he threw the ball, even if he ended up fine afterwards.

I agree, but 46 intentionally kept going with the play after the ball was thrown and the qb was held up, and then lowered his head/helmet, and then hit Johnson right in the head/helmet. In this day and age, who hits a qb in the head/helmet, with anything, let alone with the crown of his helmet, let alone after the ball has been thrown. There is no reason or excuse for that hit.

 

[grizpsych]

Honestly, I never thought the targeting was intentional. I though he was intentionally trying to lay a big hit on Johnson's mid center. But right after he made his move to make the tackle, Johnson went into a semi slide that brought his head down to where they made helmet to helmet contact.

Edit: Lol. Just watched it again and I'm obviously describing a different play above. The play in question was definitely intentional targeting. No question.

 

[MikeyGriz]

Of course it was! Ask any true Griz fan!

 

[Spanky2]

It was a shitty hit, but I don't believe it was planned or the intent was to knock him out.

Yeah, I'd call it cheap, dirty, and unnecessary, but I don't think the guy planned to do it or did it with any intent to injure Lucas.

It would've been cheap, dirty and unnecessary to hit any QB like that after he threw the ball, even if he ended up fine afterwards.

If he didn’t plan to do it, why did he do it?

 

[HelenaHandBasket]

Yeah, I'd call it cheap, dirty, and unnecessary, but I don't think the guy planned to do it or did it with any intent to injure Lucas.

It would've been cheap, dirty and unnecessary to hit any QB like that after he threw the ball, even if he ended up fine afterwards.

If he didn’t plan to do it, why did he do it?

Well, it is tackle football. Just because he made a shitty decision that led to an even shittier conclusion doesn't mean it was premeditated with the goal of concussing the guy and knocking him out of the game.

 

[mthoopsfan]

If he didn’t plan to do it, why did he do it?

Well, it is tackle football. Just because he made a shitty decision that led to an even shittier conclusion doesn't mean it was premeditated with the goal of concussing the guy and knocking him out of the game.

Did 46 intend to hit Johnson in the head with his (46's) head? Obviously, he did. Johnson didn't move or duck or get knocked partially down. I wish nothing but bad luck to 46. Dirty play and dirty player.