horse collar
 

Can a horse collar be called against the offense?

College situation: Offensive Left tackle is obviously beat on a pass rush but reaches out and grabs the defensive lineman and horse collar's him. Obviously holding, but could this be called a horse collar or does that only apply to the runner against a tackling defender.

Good question, but my understanding is the NCAA Horse collar rule is meant to protect the ball carrier only. Also keep in mind if the RB or QB is horsecollared behind the LOS it is not a penalty. I think in your example it's simply Holding.

It doesn't make much difference as I'd probably call that a personal foul -- especially if the lineman slid under the defender -- since the HC is a PF penalty anyway. Technically, the HC rule applies to bringing down the "runner."

Remember, if the lineman grabs his facemask and pulls him down, you aren't going to just call holding on that. I realize the FM rule isn't specific to a type of player, but I think the same principle applies.

Maybe you do have to be a rocket scientist. How can you take a rule, that specifies what action cannot be taken against a "runner", and extend it to a different player, because you think, "the same principle applies", as a situation you acknowledge "isn't specific to a type of player" and is completely different from the question at hand.