Ben Braden's best (anti-targeting?) play of the season
Just wanted to give credit where credit's due. I was re-watching the Indiana game and caught this on the replay when Smith lost his helmet in the 4th quarter:
It's common to see an O-lineman in this position grab and pull his RB for a few extra yards, but in this case he basically stops playing football, puts his hand on Smith's exposed noggin, and cups it all the way to the ground.
He actually does a good job keeping Smith's neck straight while Smith is being tackled. Means his arm is loose (edit: apparently not, see below). He's basically sacrificing his hand in case another helmet comes flying at Smith's skull.
He isn't going to get UFR points for this because it's not a "football" play, but excellent, excellent thinking on his feet and concern for his teammate's safety.
P.S. Smith, you're an RB; get your helmet fixed! This ain't the first time!
EDIT: OK, this thread is taking a very ugly turn so let me turn your attention to two other details. One, look at Braden's right hand in the first shot. It's Ben Braden pressing the Indiana defender's helmet into Smith's face to prevent it from slamming into Smith's head on the way down (Braden would then push away the helmet just before impact, h/t to SugarShane for pointing that out). He probably shouldn't have tackled at all but the whistle was late. Second, the guy who pulled off Smith's helmet -- Covington -- wrapped high but well under the helmet, just couldn't get an arm under Smith's shoulders and even recovered the helmet after it went flying. There is zero evidence of dirty Indiana play. I'm trying to celebrate a good thing here, so please cease with the accusations.
November 21st, 2016 at 9:16 AM ^
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November 21st, 2016 at 9:17 AM ^
Should have been a facemask penalty on that play, but props to Braden in any case!
November 21st, 2016 at 9:45 AM ^
Not only no facemask, but by rule Smith had to leave the field for the next play. I understand the "no showboating" nature of the helmet removal rule, but it's maddening to see an opposing team rewarded for ripping a player's helmet off.
November 21st, 2016 at 9:45 AM ^
Actually, the rule isn't anti-showboating, it's a way to put into the rules a chance for a player to be given a concussion test. And to fix his helmet so it stays on. They don't want someone to have his helmet come off, get bashed in the head, and act like he's fine and stay in the game and have no chance to be evaluated. If they'd called the face-mask penalty like they should've, Smith wouldn't have had to leave for one play because the requirement is waived if the opponent does indeed rip the helmet off and a penalty is called.
The fix for this situation is simple: Competent refereeing.
November 21st, 2016 at 9:51 AM ^
The anti-showboating rule is a 15 yard penalty if a player removes his helmet during a celebration. The rule requiring a player to go to the sideline if their helmet pops off is for player safety.
November 21st, 2016 at 6:19 PM ^
Actually, the rule isn't anti-showboating, it's a way to put into the rules a chance for a player to be given a concussion test.
That, and to provide incentive to adjust the helmet properly. Too many players were just wearing the helmet too loose.
November 21st, 2016 at 9:33 AM ^
I'd have to look at the play again to be sure, but when watching it live, I didn't think it was a facemask. The defender had Smith wrapped up around the shoulders and the general friction of 200+ lb. men playing a contact sport brought the helmet off. Frankly, Smith's helmet looked to be on quite loosely (like many of today's players' helmets) and came off too easily.
I didn't see a hand go in the facemask or any grabbing of the helmet, but I haven't seen a replay.
November 21st, 2016 at 9:48 AM ^
But will anyone mention the dirty ass play by the Indiana player? He saw the helmet off and ground his own helmet into the side of Smith's head all the way to the ground. Busch League play...
November 21st, 2016 at 9:52 AM ^
Everyone, please stop with the accusations of dirty play. You can see Braden pressing the Indiana defender's helmet into Smith's face to further protect it.
November 21st, 2016 at 12:29 PM ^
I think you should watch it again. I watched it on replay a few times, and it seems pretty obvious that the Indiana player was trying to hit Smith on his bare head. Braden actually pushed the guys helmet away from Smith (while also cupping the underside of Smith's head), not into him. The picture in this post is deceiving.
November 21st, 2016 at 10:11 AM ^
I thought the Indiana kid was extremely apologetic immediately after the play and clearly meant no harm. Just one of those plays where it's hard to immediately shut down your instincts.
November 21st, 2016 at 9:51 AM ^
Not head-high, but he had to bear-hug Smith's arms to make a play at all, so when Smith pulled away he wound up with a helmet in his arms. He might've wound up grabbing facemask along the way, but it'd be just as accidental as ripping off the helmet.
FWIW, Covington was the guy who recovered Smith's helmet after it went flying. There's just no evidence he was playing dirty.
November 21st, 2016 at 11:44 AM ^
but the replay shows a bit of a goatse type helmet pull from under the earhole. Nothing gratuitous, but intent doesn't matter with those penalties.
November 21st, 2016 at 12:04 PM ^
November 21st, 2016 at 9:18 AM ^
This is a +1 for in-game awareness.
November 21st, 2016 at 11:02 AM ^
UFR is a football metric and I'm hyping Braden because he stopped playing football the instant he realized something more important. The play should've been blown dead, anyway.
However, it is a good candidate for One Frame at a Time or Known Friends & Trusted Agents, which are feelingsball.
November 21st, 2016 at 9:18 AM ^
November 21st, 2016 at 9:19 AM ^
Watching this play live reminded me of the Jason Witten catch and run a few years back. Deveon was pissed off this weekend, I was glad to not be standing in his way.
November 21st, 2016 at 9:20 AM ^
Again, not a "football" play but a memorable one.
November 21st, 2016 at 9:27 AM ^
I missed that while watching the game, but this is a great display of The Team, The Team, The Team. It shows the instinctive teamwork and love these players have for one another.
What I did notice during that play is Smith was undaunted and kept rushing despite the lack of a helmet. Some credit to IU, too, for not cheapshotting a defenseless player who was carrying Michigan's offense.
November 21st, 2016 at 9:53 AM ^
I remember there was or is a rule in the NFL or NCAA that once your helmet comes off you are supposed to stop play. I couldn't watch the game this weekend, but hoping that he is smart to not get knocked with his helmet off if possible. I know it's a tough guy game, but don't want him to get hurt in the head for a yard or two that would come back anyway.
November 21st, 2016 at 10:00 AM ^
The announcers, FWIW, said that progress was stopped at the point the helmet got removed. That seemed to be the way that they spotted the ball after the play. So I think he did not get credit for the couple of extra yards - and that part of the rule I agree with (although it still rewards the defense for ripping a player's helmet off).
November 21st, 2016 at 10:06 AM ^
He ended up gaining another two yards, but was not credited for it. The ball was placed where the helmet came off.
November 21st, 2016 at 9:27 AM ^
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November 21st, 2016 at 9:36 AM ^
He pushed him away at the last second before he fell over, but even before that, you can see in the first shot:
He's controlling the Indiana defender's helmet all the way to the ground.
November 21st, 2016 at 9:27 AM ^
Saw this during game. Was a respectable move by Braden. Good teammates!
November 21st, 2016 at 9:27 AM ^
November 21st, 2016 at 9:31 AM ^
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November 21st, 2016 at 9:31 AM ^
Not sure what you were looking at, but the Ind guy hit his shoulder. Guy bent over and made a fantastic hit, but not in the head. I don't think he was trying to miss the head because the helmet was off, I think he was just trying to make a good, clean, hard hit. But he did hit Smith in the shoulder.
November 21st, 2016 at 9:43 AM ^
Exonerate the Indiana defender in your head, right quick. Smith was still running so he had to tackle and when he did, Braden pressed his helmet into Smith's head. You can see his right hand on the Indiana guy's neck. Then as SugarShane points out, he pushes the helmet away at the last second.
Not comfortable for Smith, but better to ensure a controlled collision than risk an uncontrolled one. In hindsight his control of the Indiana defender may be the best part of the play.
November 21st, 2016 at 9:47 AM ^
Well, technically, the ball is supposed to be blown dead as soon as a ball carrier's helmet comes off. So the whistle should have blown immediately, and the defender shouldn't have tackled him, even if he didn't hear the whistle.
I'll grant that the whistle was delayed for a split second, and it's tough as a player to make that immediate realization when it's an irregular occurrence for a runner to lose his helmet. But if we're being technical, the defender(s) should have backed off immediately.
November 21st, 2016 at 10:49 AM ^
And I think he should have been thrown out for hitting a helmetless player. That can't be a gray area, intent or not. If Smith slips and helmet meets skull, that's bad news. The Indiana player could've killed him. I'm still angry there wasn't a flag.
November 21st, 2016 at 10:57 AM ^
I don't think there's a rule by which to eject the tackler, and I believe there was no bad intent by Indiana, but it should've at least been a penalty. I've consistently maintained that's how targeting should be called. Late whistle or no, when someone's that vulnerable you have to stop playing football. Of course, the late whistle didn't help matters. Refs -4.
November 21st, 2016 at 11:48 AM ^
If a play is immediately dead when a player's helmet comes off, it should be a penalty for hitting a guy whose helmet is off. I don't fault the guy who grabbed the helmet, that was a fluke play, but that lineman came barrelling in to make the tackle on a helmetless player. I've never seen any enforcement of this, but clearly needs to be addressed. I think it was a dirty play by the Indiana lineman.
November 21st, 2016 at 9:28 AM ^
That was a fantastic move! I saw it live, but wasn't sure if it was Bredeson or Braden - all I caught was the number 7. Really glad Smith took that hit to the shoulder and not his head. That was quite a pop! And a great reaction by Braden, because Smith hit the ground in a hurry after getting hit.
November 21st, 2016 at 9:29 AM ^
Well done, young man.
November 21st, 2016 at 9:30 AM ^
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November 21st, 2016 at 9:37 AM ^
I thought that I saw one of the Indiana players trying to implant his facemask into Smiths skull.
November 21st, 2016 at 9:46 AM ^
Look at Braden's right hand. He's pressing down on the Indiana defender's helmet into Smith's face to ensure it doesn't go anywhere. Having a facemask pressed againt the side of your head isn't comfortable, but it does prevent brain damage.
November 21st, 2016 at 9:55 AM ^
November 21st, 2016 at 9:56 AM ^
When Morris got nailed against Minnesota, it was Braden who almost tenderly held him up and put his arm around him. I don't know anything about him personally, but these two reactions give me an idea of what kind of guy he is.
Off topic, but what kind of coaching is going on up in Minnesota? I believe they took two more targeting calls against Northwestern this week. I don't know for certain, but it seems like they're way above average in plays like that.
November 21st, 2016 at 10:00 AM ^
They're also one of the teams that got flagged for lighting up PSU kicker Joey Julius on a kickoff. So, yeah...they're kinda dirty. They're the new Michigan State.
November 21st, 2016 at 10:08 AM ^
We need less Michigan State, not more
November 21st, 2016 at 11:47 AM ^
I agree but that kicker had it coming.
November 21st, 2016 at 11:47 AM ^
I agree but that kicker had it coming.
November 21st, 2016 at 12:26 PM ^
To be fair, if you just run blindly down the field while returning a kickoff against PSU, there's about a 30% chance that you'll run into Julius. It's just statistics.
November 21st, 2016 at 11:15 AM ^
get to know your player.
s/
November 21st, 2016 at 10:32 AM ^
November 21st, 2016 at 10:51 AM ^
JOK held his hand up expecting them to help him, and they just walked off. Welcome to football.