Steve Shaw Speaks at Media Days

If QB's are off limits after an interception, then they need to be penalized if they try and make a tackle or go after the player that intercepted the ball.

TiderMan said:

If QB's are off limits after an interception, then they need to be penalized if they try and make a tackle or go after the player that intercepted the ball.

Click to expand...

Totally agree...this is football by the way and not a dance recital. There is a reason coaches tell you to keep your head up and on a swivel when you are on the field. There is a great difference in a hard hit and one where someone is targeted.

Tide Rev said:

Totally agree...this is football by the way and not a dance recital. There is a reason coaches tell you to keep your head up and on a swivel when you are on the field. There is a great difference in a hard hit and one where someone is targeted.

Click to expand...

I thought Cecil Hurt's take on the rule was interesting.

@CecilHurt: If I am a strong safety who just listened to Steve Shaw, I might just go Jack Tatum on guys because I am going to get tossed anyway.

Click to expand...

If I'm going to get tossed anyway I might as well do some damage.

RTR91 said:

Here are some tweets from various Media Days folks:

Steve Shaw on targeting rule: This rule change is probably the most significant rule change during my tenure, ever.
'Targeting' foul (hitting with crown of helmet on defenseless player) in the SEC will now lead to ejection (mimics fighting rule).
SEC coordinator of officials Steve Shaw said quarterbacks after INT and punters after punt are now considered "defenseless" players. The Aaron Murray rule?

Click to expand...

Murray didn't get hit with the crown of the helmet...he got busted with a facemask in the chest/shoulder area.

I hate this rule because it'll be enforced on hits that are clean just because some of our boys are bigger than most!

"Spearing" as it used to be called is one thing, which I understand is leading with the head like a missile, but if "targeting" is going to be called on head up, tackling with your facemask in somebody's body then football as we know it is about to get ruined!!!

RTR91 said:

Here are some tweets from various Media Days folks:

Steve Shaw on targeting rule: This rule change is probably the most significant rule change during my tenure, ever.
'Targeting' foul (hitting with crown of helmet on defenseless player) in the SEC will now lead to ejection (mimics fighting rule).
SEC coordinator of officials Steve Shaw said quarterbacks after INT and punters after punt are now considered "defenseless" players. The Aaron Murray rule?

Click to expand...

What's next QBs & punters wearing the black non-contact jersey during games?

TiderMan said:

If QB's are off limits after an interception, then they need to be penalized if they try and make a tackle or go after the player that intercepted the ball.

Click to expand...

That was my first thought. They should have to lay down on the ground like a little girl in the fetal position. The punter should also have to kick the ball and then run to the sidelines.

Also I would hardly say that Lane Bearden or PJ Fitzgerald are defenseless. They both made tackles as a punter. How about Andrew Luck when he blew up that safety for USC. This is just sad.

bamagradinATL said:

What's next QBs & punters wearing the black non-contact jersey during games?

Click to expand...

I'd be OK with this, then if they got involved in the play in any physical way they would be flagged for illeagle participation. That includes running the ball, they have to either throw it or hand it off. They wear flags so we know when it is a sack. No more running QB's.

Bamafaninco1 said:

I'd be OK with this, then if they got involved in the play in any physical way they would be flagged for illeagle participation. That includes running the ball, they have to either throw it or hand it off. They wear flags so we know when it is a sack. No more running QB's.

Click to expand...

Surely you're kidding...right???

BamaMoon said:

Surely you're kidding...right???

Click to expand...

Of course, I forgot the smiley. But lets face it, this is where the rule changes are taking us if the powers to be are not careful.

bamagradinATL said:

What's next QBs & punters wearing the black non-contact jersey during games?

Click to expand...

Yep, with skirts and flags.

TiderMan said:

If QB's are off limits after an interception, then they need to be penalized if they try and make a tackle or go after the player that intercepted the ball.

Click to expand...

I listened to Slive talk about the rule, and it made me sick to hear how happy he was with it. This is bad news.

If it was a rule that said you deliberately do something to try and injure a player, or what not, ok that makes some sense. But, basically saying touch a QB or punter and get kicked out? Really? Try to stop a receiver from making a game winning catch, and they get the first down automatically (plus an ejection?). I'm all for safety, but this is supposed to be football. It's a contact sport, if you can't withstand the contact, get off the field.

Great thing about being an old ****. I'll be dead before they completely ruin the game. I'd rather be dead than watch the game you young guys are going to have to watch.

Will be interesting to hear what the coach's have to say about this.

Luvubama said:

Will be interesting to hear what the coach's have to say about this.

Click to expand...

Nothing...or they'll get fined.

ALA2262 said:

Great thing about being an old ****. I'll be dead before they completely ruin the game. I'd rather be dead than watch the game you young guys are going to have to watch.

Click to expand...

Concur.

I remember Jack Lambert of the Steel Curtain Steeler defenses being asked if he thought that they were protecting QB's too much right after he had retired. His reply, "yes, I think you ought to put dresses on them!"

Maybe that is what is coming to with all these crazy rules. We have to protect the kids as much as possible, but football is at its core a contact sport.

Guys I think it's just another in a long line of anti Alabama rules. Who in the SEC plays the most physical brand of football, not dirty but physical?

This rule has the potential of getting out of control. This is going to be controversial probably at the mid point of the season. I fully expect to see at least one player from every team to miss a game. It could be epidemic if not careful. Shaw and Co. better have a plan to manage something that is going easily be the most subjective call made in the game.

What I dont understand why they didnt just sit a guy for a minimum number of plays - 20 plays. I dont see this being any different that an unsportsmanlike penalty or a flagrant foul call in basketball. The problem with this call is that in most cases it takes 2 players to create the situation where that call is likely to be made. Will you start seeing some offensive players positioning themselves to sustain a hit to the head?

I tell you one thing if they are going to call this penalty, the officials better start calling the mouthpiece and chinstrap violations on the offensive players. If your helmet comes off during play you only have to sit out one play. But a player may loosen his helmet to come off on contact even if it comes off if it might contribute to getting the defensive player ejected because it makes it look more vicious on review. Seems to me there is some basic in equity here.

Something tells me the conference hasnt really thought this out very well...