Quote:
Originally Posted by mbcrowder
I almost always have the following question on these plays...
If B's helmet hit A's helmet --- didn't A's helmet hit B's helmet? If B lowered himself to lead with his helmet, and hit A's helmet, wasn't A also lowering himself and leading with his helmet?
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A is running south-to-north (12 o'clock).
B is running northwest-to-southeast (5 o'clock).
They collide. If:
1) A makes no attempt to avoid the collision, and B lowers his shoulder into A, first making contact with pad onto torso, we have a perfectly legitimate tackle--B chose to attack A in the chest.
2) A makes no attempt to avoid the collision, and B lowers the crown of his helmet such that his helmet first makes contact with A, you have spearing on B. B chose to hit A with his own helmet, A chose to play football.
3) A makes no attempt to avoid the collision, and B leads with his shoulder such that his shoulder first makes contact with A's helmet, you have a illegal helmet contact on B. B chose to attack A's head. A chose to play football.
4) A makes no attempt to avoid the collision, and B lowers the crown of his helmet such that his helmet first makes contact with A's helmet, you have a helmet-to-helmet hit on B. B chose to attack A's head. A chose to play football.
5) A turns his head and shoulders towards B, lowering the crown of his head into B, and B lowers the crown of his helmet into A, then we have helmet-to-helmet hits on A and B. Both players chose to make contact using their heads.
There have been really good mechanics videos floating around that highlight the differences. But even though A's helmet MUST TOUCH B's helmet for helmet-to-helmet contact to occur does not mean that A moved his helmet into B's helmet. Depending on A's action, there may or may not be a foul on each player.
Under lights, helmets that are shined so as to produce a specular reflection make it easier, because you can actually see a "halo" of lights on the top of a helmet when the crown is lowered enough. If the player voluntarily moved the helmet into that position then you have one of the elements for a foul.