NEW YORK — The NFL intends to do away with the hip-drop tackle and will revisit the discussion on the “tush push” during the offseason.
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.
Miller stated during the league meetings, “This behavior is merciless, and it’s something we need to identify and eliminate from the game. To put it in perspective, we witness an injury from the hip-drop pretty much every week during the regular season.”
Several years ago, the league outlawed the horse-collar tackle as it put the defender’s body weight on the legs of the ball carrier, increasing the likelihood of injury. Rich McKay, the chairman of the NFL’s competition committee, likened the hip-drop tackle to a “cousin” of the horse collar.
McKay explained that during the hip-drop, the defender is tackling the runner by encircling them, then leveraging their weight to fall on the side of their leg, specifically the ankle or knee.
The use of that strategy becomes understandable when witnessing a smaller player tackling a larger one, as their goal is to bring the opponent to the ground – the essence of the game. However, this approach leaves the runner defenseless, unable to free themselves. This is the crux of the issue, and the point at which injuries occur, as the defender’s weight can trap the runner’s ankle.
The league is collecting data and carrying out a study on the hip-drop to make a decision. McKay acknowledges that defensive players may not be pleased if another tackling method is prohibited.
We had numerous discussions about it last year. Given the sufficient number of teams, we decided to test it for a year and then leave it be, which we did. I anticipate it will come up again. However, I am reluctant to make predictions, as I cannot foresee the outcome. What I can say for certain is that it will be a topic of conversation.
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 schedule for virtual interviews remains unchanged. However, internal candidates or those not employed by a club or within the NFL may have their interviews earlier.
“The statistics indicate that a more deliberate approach leads to a broader range of outcomes,” stated Dasha Smith, an NFL executive. “Our primary objective is to foster a more inclusive and varied environment, especially in positions such as head coach, GM, and senior leadership throughout the entire NFL. Currently, we’re specifically concentrating on diversifying the head coach position.”
INTERNATIONAL GAMES
Peter O’Reilly, an NFL executive, revealed that the league is contemplating hosting an international game in either Spain or Brazil next season. This comes as an alternate plan since Mexico’s stadium, which is currently under renovation, will be unavailable for the second consecutive year.
“O’Reilly said that we’re considering Brazil and Spain due to the size of their fan base and market potential.”
O’Reilly anticipates an announcement regarding a potential fourth international game in 2024 to be made in December or January. As of now, two games are scheduled to be held in London and one in Germany, but the timeline for the decision on the fourth game remains uncertain.
O’Reilly stated about a Super Bowl in London: “That is not a near-term focus of ours.”
CONCUSSIONS REDUCED
The NFL reports that it hit a seven-year low in training camp concussions due to the Guardian caps usage. There was a 46% concussion reduction over the three-year average for players in the offensive line, defensive line, tight ends, running backs, and linebackers who wore this protective headgear. Conversely, positions that didn’t use them saw a 50% increase in concussions.
“Indeed, there is a significant advantage,” declared Miller. “As we progress, there will undoubtedly be a dynamic conversation about the subsequent stages related to this.”
Dr. Allen Sills, the Chief Medical Officer of the NFL, stated that the next phase would involve increasing the use of the Guardian cap among players in different positions.
Sills stated that the focus is not specifically on the Guardian cap, but rather on improving helmet design in general. He emphasized the importance of learning from the Guardian cap’s design and integrating those lessons into future helmet designs. He noted that innovations and discussions in this area are already taking place. In addition to this, new types of helmet add-ons are being developed. Sills believes that based on current learning, helmet design will be a major area for innovation in the upcoming seasons.
Copyright The Associated Press 2023
