The ‘Defenseless Player’ Rule: Making the QB a Danger to the Defense

Some of the ‘defenseless player’ rule makes sense.  Most does not.  What should be called the ‘offensive player advantage’ rule, every single part of that rule goes in favor of the offensive player.  Ok, fine.  You want to stop receivers from getting mauled while trying to haul in a pass, and you want to stop excessive hits on a player who’s clearly out of the play (on the ground, etc.).  But the ‘protections’ of quarterbacks have gone too far, and Michael Vick gave us Exhibit A last Thursday night.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcmndwiCLTY

As the YouTube video shows, Troy Polamalu was in good position to intercept a tipped Vick pass.  As he returns the ball, Vick comes untouched and lays out Polamalu.  Some call it a dirty hit because it was too close to the knees.  Though I think the hit is clean for the most part, there are two problems with that hit.  1) Vick came in untouched  2) The way Vick tackled.

Here is a huge problem with the part of the defenseless player rule that includes QB’s and kickers.  The rule states that you aren’t really allowed to hit/block a QB or kicker when there is a change in possession.  Seems like a petty ‘baby’ rule to most of us.  But, it has turned the QB and kicker into dangerous players themselves.  As you can see in the video Vick comes in untouched.  If you watch closely enough, you can see Pittman (#30) look downfield at Vick and not make a move towards him.  Vick has a wide open shot at Polamalu and cuts him off at the knees.  Pittman looks him off.  Why?  Because he didn’t want to get called for hitting a defenseless player – even though there was absolutely nothing defenseless about Michael Vick.

Vick left untouched pretty much just created what the league is trying to quash with the kickoff rule – two large bodies colliding at high speeds.  Vick, protecting himself in the process (because let’s get real, if he hit Polamalu head on he would have been blasted into next week), went low and turned his back to Polamalu – not the most proper way but got the job done.  This leads to my other beef about this – QB’s and kickers don’t know how to tackle and will ultimately tackle in a way that protects themselves.  By going low into Polamalu with his back and helmet, Vick had the potential to blow out a knee.  He was lucky and took Polamalu just above the knees – and don’t be fooled to think that was a calculated move.  Thankfully, Polamalu went unscathed, but the collision was huge.

So by not letting anyone touch a QB or kicker, the NFL has left the door open for the ‘return’ man to get hurt should he find his way in the path of a QB or kicker.  Am I being to apocalyptic about this?  Am I giving too much credit to most QB’s who would usually wimp out at trying to tackle? (I admit I give props to Vick for even squaring up)  Well either way, I feel very strongly that if you can’t block/hit a player during any point in the game, then the rule should be that a kicker or QB must leave the field and out of play when there is a change in possession. Period.

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