More Banjo: Week 6 @ Minnesota

[Harlan Huckleby]

The only reason to hit a QB who has already thrown a ball is to hurt him.

No, the goal is to keep the QB nervous and his feet happy. Pressure. If you shake him up- good. But the idea is not to break his collar bone, that is just a delightful possibility.

I remember in high school football, when we played an option team, the defensive end was instructed to tackle the QB hard every play, whether he pitched the ball or not. The goal was to wear the QB down, as well as remove one option. Idea is not to create an injury. (OK, maybe 1970s high school football is a little different than 2017 NFL.)

[pbmax]

No, the goal is to keep the QB nervous and his feet happy. Pressure. If you shake him up- good. But the idea is not to break his collar bone, that is just a delightful possibility.

I remember in high school football, when we played an option team, the defensive end was instructed to tackle the QB hard every play, whether he pitched the ball or not. The goal was to wear the QB down, as well as remove one option. Idea is not to create an injury. (OK, maybe 1970s high school football is a little different than 2017 NFL.)

I feel like you are artificially increasing the distance between causing fear/nervousness and causing injury in your explication.

[Harlan Huckleby]

I feel like you are artificially increasing the distance between causing fear/nervousness and causing injury in your explication.

What is the point of any hard tackling in football?

It's a game of emotion and aggression and domination, snowflake.

you want to rattle the opponent, make them hesitant.

[pbmax]

What is the point of any hard tackling in football?

It's a game of emotion and aggression and domination, snowflake.

you want to rattle the opponent, make them hesitant.

Of course, but that renders the space between fear/intimidation and trying to hurt them very small. Saying players aren't trying to hurt them is not true.

Most are probably not trying to end their year though.

[mraynrand]

Most are probably not trying to end their year though.

But that is a delightful possibility.

[pbmax]

But that is a delightful possibility.

To some definitely. Thankfully, it wasn't to Tommie Harris. But plenty of "good guys" are trying to do it: Matthews, Reggie White

When I played, just to complete the circle Harlan started, I would have happily hit you hard enough to knock you out for a couple plays. But I wasn't looking for an injury to cause. You would have had to make it very personal to get that response. One kid did this, but I never got the chance.

[Harlan Huckleby]

When I played, just to complete the circle Harlan started, I would have happily hit you hard enough to knock you out for a couple plays. But I wasn't looking for an injury to cause.

I assume most athletes are like this. I remember in football, hockey, sometimes wrestling, it was just pleasurable to hit someone. Or boxing with those gloves our parents foolishly got us for Christmas. It is fun to crash into somebody. The thought of the opponent breaking a bone or ligament is the furthest thing from your mind.

When there is an injury in pro sports, I see players on both teams look genuinely concerned. I think there is a real brotherhood of competitors.