Targeting calls in tonight's game
There were 2 plays in tonight's game with potential targeting calls
1) Metellus' ejection - player had made a catch, Metellus clearly should be making some kind of play on the receiver. He didn't play through the receiver, as his last step was backing away from the receiver (see his steps relative to the 25? yard line). He did dip his shoulder, but did not extend his arm through the receiver. The receivers head lowers through the hit so that the shoulder contacted the facemask. He backed off the hit, did not launch, and reacted accordingly. Seems like about the minimum that a defender could do in that situation. i.e. the intent of the rule worked perfectly.
2) 4th quarter 12:30 left, McKeon's catch - he took one step and the defender exploded through him, launched, hit him in the chin. The defender posed as he clearly intended the big hit. Seems like the type of hit the rule was intended to limit/remove.
Why is #1 a clear ejection and #2 a great play?
The argument against #2 is that the player was no longer defenseless, I get it. But watching it, I disagree completely.
For Metellus, I'm not sure what else he could realistically do there.
September 2nd, 2018 at 2:56 AM ^
I wanted a replay of #2 because I thought the same. It looked like he took a step and when he turned he took a helmet to his head.
Maybe I'm biased because I played DB in my playing days, but calling Metellus in that spot is pretty much telling a safety you can't do anything more than use your hands when a Wr is diving like that. Because where he was, in relation to the diving TE, he any contact would be higher because of the dive. Moreover, you are right, he sure looked like he held off on really delivering a blow (unlike the guy in example 2). Basically the safety can only try to dislodge the ball with his hands, in that situation, I guess. Which makes it pretty shitty they allowed the hit on McKeon later in the game.
September 2nd, 2018 at 6:33 AM ^
I'm really not sure what option a defender has in that position. Flying kick to the nads?
September 2nd, 2018 at 11:53 AM ^
I am not quite sure, but I think the ol' fly kick to the nads, would also end in ejection. Lol
September 2nd, 2018 at 3:47 AM ^
Don’t recall the second play. However, the hit by Metellus was dirty and has no place in this game. He was totally out of position, and should not have tried to make up for it by decapitating the offensive player.
September 2nd, 2018 at 8:11 AM ^
Did you even watch the replay? There was nothing "dirty" about the hit, but merely a last second move (likely by instinct to guard against the coming collision) that ultimately resulted in the contact being helmet-to-helmet. There did not appear to be any ill intent in the hit, and I highly doubt that Mettelus was trying to "decapitate" the receiver - just an unfortunate play. The punishment for the rule is unjust - one strike (even unintentional) and you're out.
September 2nd, 2018 at 10:51 AM ^
I thought it was marginal. It looked to me like the ND guy was falling down as Metellus hit him, and otherwise it would have been shoulder-to-shoulder.
September 2nd, 2018 at 12:09 PM ^
I didn't think it was dirty. Looked like a typical shoulder hit. I don't think that's a penalty in Ann Arbor.
September 2nd, 2018 at 5:57 AM ^
Also at the end of the game the play clock hit 0 2 separate times for ND and no delay of game was called. The targeting call was horseshit as well.
September 2nd, 2018 at 8:11 AM ^
Noticed that too.
September 2nd, 2018 at 11:11 AM ^
The play clock hit zero on ND's field goal. I was screaming at the TV that it was delay of game.
September 2nd, 2018 at 7:13 AM ^
The Metellus hit was just football. It was targeting, I guess, under the rules, but the rule is fucking stupid. I saw quite a few of good football plays this weekend result in ejection. The rules continue to evolve toward removing football from football. Next is the removal of kickoffs. We are headed toward flag football.
September 2nd, 2018 at 11:59 AM ^
I agree completely. I'm sorry, I just can't see that play being what the rule wanted to get out of the game. But like you said, it is targeting.
September 2nd, 2018 at 8:13 AM ^
There was also the play where Shea got drilled helmet-to-helmet right in front of the ref, but no call. And don’t get me started on the linesman spotting the ball incorrectly multiple times. There was the play that replay overturned and we got a 1st, but on a previous drive ND was given a full extra yard, making it 3rd and 1 instead of 2, and on third down we stopped them a foot short but they gave them the 1st down. No replay, extending the ND drive.
September 2nd, 2018 at 12:10 PM ^
They didn't even measure after 3rd down. Which was horrible considering the line judges back foot was clearly short by a foot and hishback foot is typically what they use to indicate where the ball should be spotted. Then that is exactly how the spotted it (as in where his back foot was) and the instantly signal first down.
Maybe the ACC refs are just shit, after all it was not to many seasons ago that one of their crews botched a replay of an end of game kickoff return that the commissioner needed to write a written statement apologizing to the team that got screwed.
September 2nd, 2018 at 8:55 AM ^
Metellus' incident was basically being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
While TECHNICALLY speaking the targeting call was correct, it's also an unfair expectation to the extent that getting out of the way in a "bang-bang" play like that is realistic.
September 2nd, 2018 at 9:15 AM ^
Both were penalties. Both should have been called. Our players were bad. So were our coaches. So was the officiating. So was NBC coverage and bias. It all fucking sucked
September 2nd, 2018 at 9:15 AM ^
Both were penalties. Both should have been called. Our players were bad. So were our coaches. So was the officiating. So was NBC coverage and bias. It all fucking sucked
September 2nd, 2018 at 11:01 AM ^
I lost a lot of respect for Tirico when he signed on to do ND games. You're a glorified cheerleader now, Mikey. You sit in the booth and slurp on Brian Kelly for three and a half hours. You're pathetic.
And let's not forget about you, Flutie. You played for Boston Freaking College! Now you pander to the fanbase of the other major American Catholic university. What a fucking joke.
Then you have that never-was, did-nothing asshole Chris Simms trying to act like his daddy didn't get him that job because he was tired of Chris sleeping in his guest house. And who was that other red-haired jibroni? They all suck!