2 ms·

They should make the field slower.

by LanceH 8y ago

mlthoughts2018 8y ago
For example, maybe they could adopt something like ultimate frisbee rules? A receiver is marked down at the spot where a catch is made. Eliminate running backs and tackling from the game entirely. Defenders can try to jockey for position to intercept the ball or deflect passes (but still can result in pass interference), or they can rush the quarterback from the line of scrimmage, where pass blocking operates mostly unchanged from how it is today. Perhaps tackling the quarterback (with continued improvements on protecting a defenseless QB) is the only place where tackling is still allowed. This would get rid of about 99% of the situations where there are violent, high-speed collisions, and where tacklers coming from the linebacker or safety positions end up involving the head in violent tackles. The obvious downside is that it eliminates rushing or yards-after-catch from receivers, especially long, wide-open touchdown sprints. But I don’t see how open field running and tackling can possibly coexist with concussion safety in the future of the sport. There will be some type of huge reckoning I think.
soared 8y ago
Then we just get bigger offensive and defensive lines, who still take big hits. Making the field faster might be a solution - moving the game towards hockey rather than rugby speed.
- LanceH 8y ago
  Speed makes hits catastrophic. A slower field means those linemen (who are taking hits every play) are doing so with less impact. A faster field and those linemen launch into each other with even greater force and impact. The running backs up the middle are going even faster when they get stuffed by a faster linebacker. Make the field slower. No three point stance. Extreme version would be no runs inside the tackles so we see mostly lateral movement and pass plays. Step one is to stop funding football with the schools. Private clubs can show proof of insurance.
  - lostapathy 8y ago
    If you move the game along faster and reduce the resting time between plays, the average player is going to shrink back closer to something more closely resembling a normal human, so the reaction mass (and thus severity of collisions) will drop a lot as well.

They should make the field slower.

by LanceH 8y ago

They should make the field slower.

mlthoughts2018 8y ago

For example, maybe they could adopt something like ultimate frisbee rules? A receiver is marked down at the spot where a catch is made. Eliminate running backs and tackling from the game entirely. Defenders can try to jockey for position to intercept the ball or deflect passes (but still can result in pass interference), or they can rush the quarterback from the line of scrimmage, where pass blocking operates mostly unchanged from how it is today. Perhaps tackling the quarterback (with continued improvements on protecting a defenseless QB) is the only place where tackling is still allowed. This would get rid of about 99% of the situations where there are violent, high-speed collisions, and where tacklers coming from the linebacker or safety positions end up involving the head in violent tackles. The obvious downside is that it eliminates rushing or yards-after-catch from receivers, especially long, wide-open touchdown sprints. But I don’t see how open field running and tackling can possibly coexist with concussion safety in the future of the sport. There will be some type of huge reckoning I think.

soared 8y ago

Then we just get bigger offensive and defensive lines, who still take big hits. Making the field faster might be a solution - moving the game towards hockey rather than rugby speed.

LanceH 8y ago
Speed makes hits catastrophic. A slower field means those linemen (who are taking hits every play) are doing so with less impact. A faster field and those linemen launch into each other with even greater force and impact. The running backs up the middle are going even faster when they get stuffed by a faster linebacker. Make the field slower. No three point stance. Extreme version would be no runs inside the tackles so we see mostly lateral movement and pass plays. Step one is to stop funding football with the schools. Private clubs can show proof of insurance.
- lostapathy 8y ago
  If you move the game along faster and reduce the resting time between plays, the average player is going to shrink back closer to something more closely resembling a normal human, so the reaction mass (and thus severity of collisions) will drop a lot as well.