Ankle tackle = roughing? Time to get a new fall hobby!

[donttread]

So the 49ers and the Bengals have a pretty good game going through one. But they just called a niner (Thomas somehow) for an attempted , almost gentle shoe string tackle attempt on the QB.
You know they have always had the ability to protect the QB . Always! It's called unnecessary roughness. Literally a level of roughness that wasn't required to make the play. they never need the "put skirts on the QB rules". NEVER. Just had to enforce when the hit was out of line with the play.
Now we are getting mandatory calls when a guy was trying to be everything but rough. How long before the players figure "Well I'm going to get flagged anyway, I might as well drill the SOB?"

[texan]

Yeah some of that stuff has gotten ridiculous

[The Xl]

Modern football sucks

[Captdon]

QB's are the stars. The networks want them unharmed. They want passing and more passing. They make the old AFL look like they didn't ever pass.

[donttread]

It's getting to the point where there are 21 football players and a QB on the field. If you let running backs play under that protection they'd be the stars. AND I like passing.
I do see some teams using the run without a slow down offense, like it's a weapon instead of a way to kill time.

[donttread]

QB's are the stars. The networks want them unharmed. They want passing and more passing. They make the old AFL look like they didn't ever pass.

True enough but to me a 2 yard pass to a double covered tight end on 3rd and 8 is just stat padding. When Montana who didn't play under today's QB friendly rules, threw a 2 yarder on 3rd and 8 it was to Roger Craig in the open field with a 50/50 chance for a first down. But the uneccesary roughness could be used to protect all and not over protect the QB.

[texan]

It’s all about TV

[donttread]

It’s all about TV

It's actually driving some fans away, between the inconsistencies , the poorly managed replay and the constant game stoppages. But I believe part of it is no one's fault. Technology is so good and there are so many cameras that what used to be called "a bang bang play" is now disected in ways that leave the spirit of the rule in the dust.

[Tahuyaman]

I agree that the "targeting" call is out of control and inconsistent. However, I've never seen anyone called for unecessary roughness for making an ankle tackle unless they were trying to purposely twist their ankle and break it.

[donttread]

I agree that the "targeting" call is out of control and inconsistent. However, I've never seen anyone called for unecessary roughness for making an ankle tackle unless they were trying to purposely twist their ankle and break it.

Now it's going below the knees , mandatory.