NEW YORK — In the offseason, the NFL will once more deliberate on the “tush push” as it seeks to abolish the hip-drop tackle.
On Tuesday, League executive Jeff Miller stated that the risk of injury from a hip-drop tackle is 25 times higher than that of a standard tackle.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith briefly left a game against the Giants in Week 4 after getting hurt by a hip-drop tackle.
“At the league meetings, Miller stated, “The behavior is relentless and something we should attempt to identify and eliminate from the game. To illustrate its impact, we observe an injury almost every week during the regular season due to the hip-drop.”
Several years ago, the league outlawed the horse-collar tackle due to the increased injury risk it posed by placing a defender’s body weight on the legs of the ball carrier. Rich McKay, who chairs the NFL’s competition committee, compared the hip-drop tackle to the horse collar, referring to it as its “cousin.”
McKay explained that during the hip-drop, the defender is surrounding the runner to tackle them, then using their weight to swing and fall on the side of their leg, specifically their ankle or knee.
When they employ that strategy, its purpose becomes apparent – it’s often a smaller individual trying to overpower a larger one, as that’s the essence of the game. However, this tactic leaves the runner vulnerable and unable to fend for themselves. This is where the issue lies. The injuries occur when the runner’s ankle gets caught under the defender’s weight.
The league is collecting information and carrying out a study on the hip-drop to make a decision. McKay acknowledges that defensive players may not be pleased if an additional tackling method is prohibited.
We indeed discussed it extensively last year. Given the sufficient number of teams at the time, we decided to observe it for a year and refrain from interfering. We did just that, and I’m confident the topic will resurface. However, I don’t want to venture into making predictions, as I genuinely don’t know what the result will be. What I am certain of is that it will be a topic of discussion again.
COACHING INTERVIEWS DELAYED
Owners voted to push in-person head coaching interviews back one more week until after all divisional playoff games have been completed. The goal is to slow down the hiring process and increase diverse hiring.
The timeline for virtual interviews stays unchanged, with the possibility of earlier interviews for internal candidates or those not associated with a club or the NFL.
NFL executive Dasha Smith stated that the data indicates a more diverse outcome when the process is more intentional. “Our ultimate goal is to foster a more inclusive and diverse atmosphere across the entire NFL, particularly in senior leadership roles such as head coach and GM,” Smith added. She emphasized their current focus on diversifying the head coach position.
INTERNATIONAL GAMES
Peter O’Reilly, an NFL executive, has stated that the league is currently considering the option of hosting an international game in Spain or Brazil next season. This comes as the stadium in Mexico, where they would usually play, is under renovations and will not be ready for use for the second consecutive year.
“O’Reilly said we’re focusing on Brazil and Spain due to the size of their fan base and market potential.”
O’Reilly anticipates an announcement in December or January about a decision on a fourth international game for 2024. Currently, two games are slated for London and one in Germany, but there is no set timeline for this decision.
O’Reilly commented on the idea of a Super Bowl in London, stating: “That is not a near-term focus of ours.”
CONCUSSIONS REDUCED
The NFL reports that the use of Guardian caps resulted in a seven-year low in training camp concussions. Players in positions such as offensive line, defensive line, tight ends, running backs, and linebackers who wore these protective head covers over their helmets saw a 46% reduction in concussions compared to their three-year average. However, players in positions who did not use the caps experienced a 50% increase in concussions.
“Indeed, there’s a significant advantage,” stated Miller. “As we progress, we will definitely have a dynamic conversation about the following steps concerning that matter.”
Dr. Allen Sills, the Chief Medical Officer of the NFL, stated that the subsequent move would be to broaden the use of the Guardian cap to players in different positions.
Sills suggested that the focus is not specifically on the Guardian cap, but rather on improving the overall helmet design. The lessons learned from the Guardian cap can be incorporated into these designs. He indicated that this innovation is already happening, with ongoing conversations and the development of new helmet add-ons. He expects this area to continue to innovate in the coming seasons based on what has been learned so far.
Copyright The Associated Press 2023
