A Hater's Take

[KYPack]

Isn't there a play that used to be run in football (way, way back, like Teddy Roosevelt as the precursor to the NCAA back) where teammates would pull a back through or around a line of scrimmage?

I seem to recall reading about such a play, or maybe it was from Rugby or other alternate forms of this game. Because of the convoluted way the rules are written, it almost seems like they are trying to prevent something specific, rather than ban assistance altogether.

Someone (vince? Tar?) had some great information on the early days of football and its precursors. Maybe someone can confirm or debunk my memory.

You are right. Back in the caveman days of football, they used to bind onto the man with the ball and drag him. I saw an ancient jersey with actual handles on it that they used to use to drag the runner in the College Football HOF when it used to be at Kings Island. The rules we have today descend from the time when they made it illegal to assist the runner.

[pbmax]

You are right. Back in the caveman days of football, they used to bind onto the man with the ball and drag him. I saw an ancient jersey with actual handles on it that they used to use to drag the runner in the College Football HOF when it used to be at Kings Island. The rules we have today descend from the time when they made it illegal to assist the runner.

You put Darren Sproles in that jersey (or maybe Reggie Bush) and you could toss him like a hand grenade for a first down.

[Harlan Huckleby]

And 'she' wouldn't even harm a fly!

I try and give Madtown a chuckle but usually only get anger or a blank stare, I wonder if that movie ever plays on Telemundo.

[mraynrand]

I try and give Madtown a chuckle but usually only get anger or a blank stare, I wonder if that movie ever plays on Telemundo.

Sure it does, but there it's called "Normal Guy"

[swede]

Nice post, Nutz. I don't think I've had any trouble figuring out where you are coming from as a football fan. You've explained it clearly at least twice.

As far as the language for assisting the runner, the common practice of "pushing the pile" seems to be in violation of the rule as well.

As far as how that rule applies to the Cobb TD return, it once again seems a clear violation of the assisting rule. But it only seems clear in slow motion retrospect. In real time Cobb hit a knot of players and the next thing you know he was up in the air and flipped back onto his feet on the other side of the pile. The first concern of the refs was probably looking to see if the runner was down, and he was clearly not. If any ref noticed the assist by Kuhn he just said, "Wait...wut?" and the two beat delay was enough to make him think, "I could have thrown a flag but dammit. I'd look like an idiot if I throw it late and now that I think about it I should have thrown it late anyway because it really was assisting but now 18 scored a touchdown and I'd look like a real douche if I threw it now."

[Deputy Nutz]

Rodgers does need to do a better job of going to his check down than risking a pass down field. He doesn't go late over the middle which is good, but he has guys wide up with room to run if he goes through his progressions.

Favre used his running backs as outlets quite a bit under Holmgren and Sherman, but maybe it isn't the way McCarthy's offense rolls.

[RashanGary]

Favre used his running backs as outlets quite a bit under Holmgren and Sherman, but maybe it isn't the way McCarthy's offense rolls.

I've heard both Philbin and Rodgers hint that they don't like checkdowns. Maybe with Starks and eventually Green, that will change a little bit to fit the strength of his players.

[pbmax]

Rodgers does need to do a better job of going to his check down than risking a pass down field. He doesn't go late over the middle which is good, but he has guys wide up with room to run if he goes through his progressions.

Favre used his running backs as outlets quite a bit under Holmgren and Sherman, but maybe it isn't the way McCarthy's offense rolls.

I've heard both Philbin and Rodgers hint that they don't like checkdowns. Maybe with Starks and eventually Green, that will change a little bit to fit the strength of his players.

I wouldn't like checkdowns either since it seems the Packer checkdown is always immediately threatened with a closing defender. Not sure if its design or fear, but unless its misdirection, the Packer checkdown is usually destroyed after catching and turning.